Australians At War

Question 1

Why did Australia fight in WW2?

Answer 1

Because they were British Allies

Question 2

At one point in 1942, what was the percentage of all Australians in the army?

Answer 2

6% of all Australians

Question 3

What other reasons did Australians fight in WW2?

Answer 3

Unemployment (after the Great Depression), Britishness, adventure, employment, Japanese threat, British protection and the fall of France

Question 4

What does RAF stand for?

Answer 4

Royal Australian Force

Question 5

What does ‘blitzkrieg’ refer to?

Answer 5

lightning war to describe Germany’s skilful tactics

Question 6

How many Australian fighter pilots took part in the battle of Britain?

Answer 6

35

Question 7

What resources are crucial in desert warfare?

Answer 7

water, ammunition and oil

Question 8

Where was the location of the British naval base (1942)?

Answer 8

Singapore

Question 9

What does POW stand for?

Answer 9

Prisoners of war

Question 10

When did Singapore surrender?

Answer 10

15th February 1942

Question 11

When did the attack on Sydney harbour occur?

Answer 11

The night of May 31st and June 1942

Question 12

What was the outcome of the Sydney Harbour attack?

Answer 12

The Japanese only managed to sink HMAS Kuttabul, killing 21 people. All 3 submarines were destroyed

Question 13

What were the Japanese objectives in New Guinea?

Answer 13

To capture the capital, Port Moresby. This secures the Japanese position in the region, providing the perfect launch pad for bombing raids against allied bases in northern Australia and disrupt supply lines.

Question 14

What was the name of this campaign?

Answer 14

Kokoda Campaign

Question 15

TRUE OR FALSE: From October 1942, the Australians began to slowly push the Japanese invaders back along the track

Answer 15

FALSE

Question 16

TRUE OR FALSE: The New Guinea campaign put an end to Japanese advances in Asia Pacific

Answer 16

TRUE

Question 17

How many Australians became (POWs) between 1940 and 1945?

Answer 17

30, 000

Question 18

How many Australians did the Germans and Italians imprison?

Answer 18

8000

Question 19

How many of POWs died in German and Italian captivity?

Answer 19

265

Question 20

How many Australians did the Japanese capture?

Answer 20

22 000

Question 21

How many of the prisoners at Japanese territories had died?

Answer 21

One third (13 000)

Question 22

What conditions did POW endure under Japanese captivity?

Answer 22

Inadequate food and healthcare (they became malnourished), long hours of hard labour (building railways, roads and airfields)

Question 23

What conditions did POWs endure under German and Italian captivity?

Answer 23

They had it a bit easier. They were given more food, and they received medical care that followed the rules of the Geneva Conventions. The prisoners could look forward to regular parcels from the Red Cross, which had things like luxury food items such as chocolate, biscuits and dried fruit as well as other supplies to help them.

Question 24

What kind of jobs did the German-Talians make the POWs do?

Answer 24

Farming and factory work

Question 25

What is the Geneva Convention?

Answer 25

Outlines how soldiers and civilians should be treated in war.

Question 26

What kind of supplies and equipment were used in WW2?

Answer 26

machine guns, stretchers, grenade, fire, Tommy gun, Bren gun

Question 27

What environment did the Australian soldiers fight in in the Kokoda?

Answer 27

Crocodiles, snakes, spiders, leeches, lice, mosquitos, flies, rotten fungus, pungent stench, mould, wet, dry, cold, humid, slime, mud, maggots.

Question 28

What was the nature of fighting in the Kakoda?

Answer 28

It was hard to catch a glimpse of the enemy, wounded were left to die; soldiers saw soldiers die before their eyes, and cannabilism

Question 29

What the kinds of diseases did soldiers experience?

Answer 29

Malaria, typhus, dysentery, obscure diseases, fever, vomiting, nausea.

Question 30

Did Papuans involve themselves in the campaign? If so what was their role?

Answer 30

Yes. Teams of Papuan bearers were responsible for a patient. They gave sick patients water, shelter, food and care

Question 31

What cheeky things would Australian soliders do?

Answer 31

Steal food while the Japanese soldiers were sleeping and tried to escape from POW camps

Question 32

What were the behaviours of the Japanese?

Answer 32

Uncaring, vicious, disciplined, patriotic. Some Japanese ate the flesh of dead Australian soldiers

Question 33

How did the Japanese punish the POW?

Answer 33

Beatings