QUOTES: U4 AOS1 -> WW2

Question 1

Historian Kate Darian-Smith on the reactions to WW2

Answer 1

“general sense of foreboding amongst civilians”

Question 2

On 3 September 1939, by radio broadcast, Prime Minister Menzies had committed Australia to another world war by declaring:

Answer 2

“Great Britain has declared war upon her, and that, as a result, Australia is also at war.”

Question 3

STATISTICS highlighting the unprepared nature of AUS for WW2:

Answer 3

the average of the readiness of Australian forces for war was 40% which had serious implications for the home front as well (Adcock et al.)

Question 4

Prime Minister Curtin grimly said on the impact of the Fall of Singapore:

Answer 4

“The Fall of Singapore opens the Battle for Australia.”

Question 5

Admiral Yamamoto himself, who expressed utter amazement about how unprepared Darwin was. He said that the attack was so easy:

Answer 5

“it was like smashing an egg with a sledgehammer.”

Question 6

STATISTICS ON THE NUMBER OF DEATHS CAUSED BY THE BOMBING OF DARWIN:

Answer 6

Around 243 people died including civilians and Australian and American servicemen

Question 7

HISTORIAN PERSPECTIVE ON WW2:

Answer 7

Historian Ann Howard, author of ‘A Carefree War’, argues that one of the most widespread experiences of this war, especially for those living close to the coast, was the fear of Japanese invasion

Question 8

STATISTICS ON THE NUMBER OF AMERICANS STATIONED IN AUS:

Answer 8

By 1943, there were 250,000 Americans stationed in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Rockhampton and Townsville

Question 9

STATISTICS highlighting the necessary of rationing:

Answer 9

By 1944, 50% of canned fruit, 48% of butter and 75% of rice went to the services which explains the importance of rationing

Question 10

Australian War Memorial, ‘Brisbane Line’:

Answer 10

“The ‘Brisbane line’ was an alleged plan to abandon Northern Australia in the event of a Japanese invasion.”

Question 11

Historian Frank Crowley on American control of Australian forces

Answer 11

“With the passage of this bill, the whole of the Australian forces, naval, land and air, will be available to the Commander-in-Chief [General MacArthur]”

Question 12

Historian Frank Crowley on the importance of securing the United States as a military ally:

Answer 12

“No nation, not even Britain, has been in greater danger of invasion and yet lacked the resources with which to defend itself. We possess neither a large navy nor a large air force, and the most effective part of our Army was overseas when Singapore fell.”

Question 13

In March 1942, Prime Minister Curtin welcomed the US troops: GOOD QUOTE

Answer 13

“Great Britain, as the British Prime Minister recently told the British Parliament, could not carry the burden of the Pacific while engaged in a life-and-death struggle with Germany and Italy.”

Question 14

In March 1942, Prime Minister Curtin welcomed the US troops WHILST highlighting the need to use the US for its defence:

Answer 14

“The aid that is given to us from the United States is therefore doubly welcome. We will not be left quite alone.”

Question 15

Artist Albert Tucker on the behaviour of the ‘Victory Girls’ which created concerns for public morality:

Answer 15

“go tarting along St. Kilda Road with the GIs”

Question 16

Minister for Customs (Senator Keane) on panic buying in reaction to the limitations placed on individuals for purchasing goods:

Answer 16

“There is no need for panic buying.”

Question 17

A report in Brisbane’s Courier Mail, 12 November 1943, commented on the difficulty of rationing when near servicemen:

Answer 17

” all the choice cuts and the pork going to the services and cafes, where 90% of the patrons are servicemen.”

Question 18

PM Menzies on strikes:

Answer 18

“weapon of savagery”

Question 19

STATISTICS on striking in WW2

Answer 19

There were 4,123 labour disputes during the war with 90% of them in NSW and focused on the coal industry, conversely in VIC there were fewer strikes than before the war

Question 20

Historian Kate Darian-Smith on propaganda/media/ censorship during wartime:

Answer 20

“Reportage of military events placed the Allied forces in as favourable a light as possible.”

Question 21

Historian Kate Darian-Smith on propaganda/media/ censorship during wartime:

Answer 21

“Distortion of the news, and especially military events, was justified on the grounds that it was necessary to boost morale and prevent civilian panic. However, censorship also meant that civilians were particularly susceptible to unofficial rumours about the military situation.”

Question 22

After WW2 it was clear that a larger population would be beneficial for AUS hence Immigration Minister Arthur Calwell said:

Answer 22

“it is surely that we cannot continue to hold our island continent for ourselves and our descendants unless we greatly increase our numbers”

Question 23

Historian Michael McKernan concludes that, by the end of that war Australian women:

Answer 23

“Australian women had not successfully overcome sex-based prejudices that limited their actions”

Question 24

Historian Samuel Furphy:

Answer 24

“The Second World War had a profound impact on Indigenous Australians.”

Question 25

Historian Claire Phillips on the opportunities presented in WW2 for Indigenous people who participated in Army work on the Homefront:

Answer 25

“living and employment conditions for Aborigines increased greatly”