How did World War II change Australia?

Answer 1

They were brought into the war by Great Britain. They were a commonwealth of the UK at the time, and were automatically dedicated to the war effort as such. Other commonwealths of Great Britain forced into the war included Canada, India, New Zealand, etc.

• 1. As an ally of Great Britain and part of the British Commonwealth, Australian Prime Minister Robert Gordon Menzies declared war against Germany on 3rd September 1939 following the German invasion of Poland on 1st September. 2. Australian troops defending Malaya where subject to a surprise attach by Japanese troops putting them at defacto war without an official declaration on 7th September 1941.

• Australia was an independent dominion within the British Commonwealth since the statue of Westminster in 1931. Australia was such a close Ally of Britain that there was really no question they would be involved. British & Australian troops where fully integrated with many Commonwealth defending SE Asia. As soon as the British declared war on Germany, Prime Minister Menzies announced that "Australia was also at war". There was a fear that Japan might try and expand its power in SE Asia. Australia had to make a decision, how to balance its home defence, and commit troops to the European & African theatre. Australia entered the European war soon after, Japan assured it would stay as a neutral country and England assured Australia was secure from Japan - the British naval base at Singapore would stop any Japanese advance towards Australia. But the defence line back in Australia was still there.

• Australia went into WWII with Britain. This was in hope that if Australia was under the threat of invasion Britain would back them up in return. Only until the fall of Singapore, when Australia lost trust in Britain's ability to protect Australia's shore line. We then turned to the United States of America and haven't turned back since (like we are helping them in Iraq right now). Creating the (ANZUS) Australia Newzealand and United States treaty.

• Australia was nominally independent at the outbreak of war but only a small minority of the population considered it as such. Rather, it would be more accurate to describe it as a self-governing jurisdiction within the British Empire. On questions of foreign affairs and defence Canberra deferred to Whitehall. Indeed, until the late 1930s Australia's only foreign mission was to London. Seen in this context, the Prime Minister's 1939 assertion that, "as a result [of Britain's declaration of war] Australia is also at war," becomes understandable. The failure of Imperial Defence to halt Japan in 1941/42 forced Australia to adopt a more independent foreign policy.

• Australia was drawn in to World War II because the country itself felt an obligation in helping Britain as it was Australia's Mother Country. Australian leaders, The Menzies Government, also felt compelled to send soldiers to fight for Britain because the defeat of Britain also meant the defeat of the British Empire. Australian soldiers fought in two separate locations during the short period of 1939 - 1945. These were : North Africa - Europe Asia and the Pacific

• Japan started it and threatened Australia! so Australia and America finished it and got them back! Burrough Clarke Adelaide: I propose this answer be removed as it is shallow and inflammatory.

• Didn't the bombing of Darwin impact upon Menzies for declaring Australia's interest with World War 2?

• We made an appearance in the war because we where afraid of our own invasion by japan..... we needed to show our own strength..

• In September 1939 Germany had invaded Poland. Great Britain delivered an ultimatum to Germany. That was that Germany should withdraw from Poland or a state of war would exist between Britain and Germany. Germany did not withdraw from Poland and Britain declared war on Germany. Shortly after, Prime Minister Menzies made a speech to the Australian people saying that Britain was at war and that consequently Australia was at war. Australia was part of the British Empire and it was generally accepted that if Britain was at war then Australia would be at war. Australia also recognized the danger of Nazi Germany. The Germans were a threat to all of Europe and even though Australia was a long way from Europe and only a relatively small country the government still believed it had a responsible role to play in a war against tyranny and aggression. Even though there was no direct threat to Australia the Government believed that it was necessary to stand up to the threat of National Socialism which was the doctrine of Nazi Germany. It must also be said that many people in Australia, particularly young men, still saw war as being something of an adventure. Those people didn't need much convincing about the reasons for going to war and it could be argued that in1939 a lot of people that went to war at that time did not fully understand the reasons behind the war.

• I like the above answer, BUT, As much as a lot of the young people thought of war as an adventure, the memories of WW1 were still alive in many peoples minds, that's how conscription came about. "Didn't the bombing of Darwin impact upon Menzies for declaring Australia's interest with World War 2?" Yeah it did, I'm surprised you know about the Bombing of Darwin. Most people don't. That was hushed down a lot to cause less panic among the people. It happened about a week before Curtin gave his notice that he wanted to bring the Aussie troops back, and make the U.S its keystone, not Britain. And it has stayed that way for a while, though some would argue that it shouldn't have stayed this long.

• Australia became involved in WW 2 when Great Britain declared war upon Germany, Sept. 3, 1939. Australia was a part of the "Commonwealth," simply meaning that she stood beside Gr. Britain, & all that befell her. Other nations were members of the Commonwealth: Canada, South Africa, Rhodesia, India & New Zealand to name a few. But Australia as a land mass was not threatened until after Dec. 7, 1941. As the Japanese moved throughout Southeast Asia, they moved closer to Australia. It was not until the Battle of the Coral Sea, early May 1942, that the Japanese advance toward Australia was stopped.

• The answer above is in part correct, it is technically very simplistic. In short it is forgetting all about the battles for New Guinea (i.e.: The Kokoda Trail etc.) and the bombing of Darwin, all of which happened long after the Battle of the Coral Sea. That was even before The battle of Midway.

• Also, when Japan took Singapore, it was a huge blow to great Britain, who had until that time spoken of Singapore as if it were unmatchable. For the Japanese to simply ride bicycles in and take Singapore was a hammer shattering the bones of Australia and Britain. It was then Curtin decided to pull his troops back and focus them with the Americans.

• Australia was involved in WW2 mainly because of two points: 1) Australia is part of the Commonwealth and will help out its fellow countries whener they need help. 2) Australia thinks that if it helps them then since its such a little country they will help Australia whenever Australia is in need because Australia could be easily taken over.

• Australia was allied with Britain, and sent troops to Europe/North Africa to help British forces there. Australia also sent troops to help Britain in Singapore, and when it was taken by Japan they too became POW's. Australia was also directly threatened by Japan's spread south and into the Pacific, and it was bombed by Japanese air forces in Darwin, in northern Australia.

• Australians became involved in the war for many reasons one of those reasons were that Australia harboured a fear of "yellow peril" They felt that the north Asians were waiting to descend upon them and steal it away from it position as the only European settled country in Asia, In there defence they greatly relied on great Britain because of its size and it position as the mother country. When Germany invaded Poland in September 1939, Great Britain declared war. Because Britain went to war so did Australia had to provide it support so if the situation was reversed Britain would help Australia and also because was there mother country and Australia's support was expected. Another reason for war was Fascism. Fascism is the ideology that advocates extreme nationalism, with a heightened sense of national belonging or ethnic identity. For the Australians survival was there top priority also Australians were afraid of a communist threat. Australians opposes communism and didn't want Vietnam to become communist country. South Vietnamese leaders were corrupt and inefficient they needed Australia's help. Australia went to advocate there national identity and provide Australian security to villagers in South Vietnam and win the hearts and souls of it people.

• Australia got involved in ww2 for a number of reasons. 1. Australia had no real defence force at the time and if there was an invasion Australia would suffer greatly and therefore relied on Britain heavily for support 2. Australia still had close ties with Britain. As stated in the 1901 constitution Australia's defence and foreign policy was basically that of Britain. 3. Australia was still largely inhabited by Britain's who felt a dire need to protect and help the "mother Country"

• As a British Dominion, that is a self governing commonwealth within the British Empire, Australia automatically declared war when Britain did.

• Britain agreed to ally Poland against Germany if they were attacked. Once Germany attacked Britain held their word and declared war on Germany. Prime Minister Menzies was pro-british and he had a large influence over most of Australia who agreed with him to help Britain in the war.

Answer 2

The Biggest change that Australia saw come out of WWII was that they found that they couldn't count on Great Britain to aid their defense and they began to look to the US as their primary defender and they strengthen there defenses along the coast .