WW2 Flashcards
Short term causes that led to the outbreak of world war 2
invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany on September 1, 1939,
Munich agreement
Pearl Harbor Attack (1941): Japan attacked the U.S. naval base, leading to the U.S. entering the war.
long term causes that led to the outbreak of WW2
The treaty of versailles, great depression, failure of the league of nations, the rise of fascist ideology and dictatorships.
Reasons for Australia entering WWII
Support Great Britain (loyalty)
Defense (if war was inflicted on Australia Britain would help in return)
Duty and Nationalism
Australia’s military response to war (5)
Home Front Efforts: rationing, manufacturing weapons etc (all in effort)
Sending troops
Alliance with the United States
Prime Minister Robert Menzies announced Australia’s commitment to the war effort, stating that “Australia is also at war.”
National Security Act “enemy aliens”
Pearl harbour: WHEN, WHERE, WHO, WHAT, SIGNIFICANCE?
WHEN: December 7, 1941
WHERE: Ohahu, Hawaii, base of the US Pacific Fleet.
WHO: Imperial Japanese
WHAT: around 5,000 americans either died or were severly wounded,
100 japanese dead, several battle ships destroyed, attack last only a few hours
SIGNIFICANCE: Three days later, Japan’s allies, Germany and Italy, declared war on the United States, further solidifying America’s entry into the global conflict.
The Fall of Singapore: WHEN, WHERE, WHO, WHAT, SIGNIFICANCE?
WHEN:February 15, 1942.
WHERE: Singapore
WHO: Japanese attack, defence britain and allies
WHAT: 80,000 British, Australian, and Indian troops taken as prisoners of war
SIGNIFICANCE:It gave the Japanese control over a vital naval base and opened the way for their further expansion into Southeast Asia, it also embarrassed Great Britian
Bombing of Darwin: WHEN, WHERE, WHO, WHAT, SIGNIFICANCE?
WHEN: February 19, 1942 however experienced many bombings through to November 1943
WHERE: Darwin, Australia
WHO: Japanese, Australia, Allied forces
WHAT: The Japanese launched a coordinated air raid on Darwin, targeting the city’s harbor, military installations, and infrastructure
SIGNIFICANCE: strengthen allies as well as made Australia more resilient
What are the allies and axis power
allies: USA, USSR, Britain, France
Axis Power: Japan, Italy, Germany
Australian Prime Ministers during World War Two
Robert Menzies
Arthur Fadden
John Curtin
What were the impacts of the Security Act (1939)?
Censorship of the media, surveillance of citizens, and limitations on freedom of speech, assembly, and movement.
How did the government use propaganda during the war?
Propaganda campaigns portrayed the enemey negatively, dehumanizing them and justifying the war effort.
‘All In’ effort’ - define and provide specific examples
coordination of society’s resources—both industrial and human—towards the support of a military force.
Women industry while men were away
Women in armed forces (creation of forces)
Women undercover and spies
Change and continuity
Rationing
How did Australians respond to government controls over the course of the war? Positive and negative.
Positive:
Reduced unemployment
Brought the nation together (all in effort)
Negative:
Discrimination against immigrants trying to escape the war (germans, italians and japanese living in australia)
Who were the internees (prisoners people confined ) during the internment ( confinement ) of enemy aliens in Australia?
Germans and Austrians: Immigrants from Germany and Austria.
Italians: Italian immigrants, especially those not yet citizens.
Japanese: Japanese residents and Japanese-Australians.
Where were the internees held during the internment of enemy aliens in Australia?
In camps around Australia, often in remote locations.
How were internees treated during the internment of enemy aliens in Australia?
Treated with disrespect, including physical abuse such as flogging, shooting, and stabbing, as well as undergoing unsanitary conditions.
On what basis were people interned during the internment of enemy aliens in Australia?
Based solely on their nationality, even if they had done no wrong.
Roles that Australian women could play on the Homefront
women filled manufacturing and agricultural positions on the home front.
Others provided support on the front lines as nurses, doctors, ambulance drivers, translators
- Women Army corpse
- Women spies
-WASP ( women airforce service pilots )
- WAAF ( womens auxiliary armed force )
Individual Cases of Female Heroism
( vivian Bullwinkel )
Vivian Bullwinkel
- Vivian Bullwinkel born December 18, 1915, in Kapunda, South Australia.
- Trained as a nurse and midwife in, New South Wales.
- Began nursing career in Hamilton, Victoria.
Moved to Jessie McPherson Hospital in Melbourne in 1940. - Sole survivor of the 1942 Banka Island massacre during World War II.
Individual Cases of Female Heroism
( nancy wake )
- Nancy Wake: Brave leader in WWII.
- Born in New Zealand, raised in Australia.
- Joined French Resistance, nicknamed “White Mouse” for evading capture.
- Helped Allied soldiers escape, provided vital intelligence.
- Received George Medal (UK) and Medal of Freedom (US).
- Post-war: Worked as journalist, active in politics.
- Inspiring symbol of courage, resilience.
