Australia During World War One
Australian author Ted Egan (2014, p.7), displaying a personally-motivated inclination for the ANZAC troops, remarks, “Here were two ‘young’ nations that had never had an opportunity to show the rest of the world just how good they were in terms of nationalistic pride and military prowess.”
Having only established itself as a federation of former British colonies in 1901, the British Empire’s entry into the World War One saw Australia, remaining loyal to the empire, thrusted into its first war as a nation. The impact of Australia’s successful campaign in The Great War that sparked deep-seated developments bears significance in Australian history. The event’s impact on the Australian community is exhibited through
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Australian troops fought their first major battle as a nation in the shores of the Gallipoli Peninsula, which resulted in a catastrophic failure. Despite the failure, the cultural significance of the first day of landings is reverberated by McKernan (1980, p.214), who informs that, “In 1925, the government introduced a bill to make Anzac Day [25 April] a public holiday… all shops, hotels… theatres and cinemas would be closed.” The information highlights the significance of the event through its declaration of being a national holiday for a recently federated nation, given it was the first time the people of Australia fought as a country. The combination of the timing of the battle and the characteristics of ANZAC soldiers also implies that it is observed as the national and cultural identity of the Australian people. Moreover, Australia’s perception of warfare transformed as years passed with high casualties and minimal progress. Some historians (Mason, 2002; Wilcox, 2011) agree that there was social division amongst the community concerned over conscription and the importance of the war effort, although McKernan (1980) and Lawless, Young & Cameron (2000) outlines the disconnection between the returning soldiers (who would form the Return and Services League) and the rest of the community. The social divide is a reflection of Australia’s maturation and realisation of the …show more content…
Despite the economic losses incurred from the vast war effort, the Australian government were intent on recreating and exceeding Australia’s economic prosperity prior to the event. These intentions are denoted by Lawless, Young & Cameron (2000, p.69), in the following claim: “Money was accessed by governments, both Commonwealth and State, by taking out large overseas loans to help pay for the ‘boom’ economy.” This statement is a suggestion that the government and public sought to forget the horrors of the war through a more lavish, technological lifestyle that became a cultural phenomenon known as the ‘Roaring Twenties’. However, the huge loans that potentially led to the Great Depression would have led to extensive improvements in handling finances in Australia. For returning servicemen, employment was futile as women were preferably retained in their roles due to low maintenance, and thus the government intervened to ease their transition into life at home. Both McKernan (1980) and Lawless, Young & Cameron (2000) agree that a large investment went into repatriation schemes, with figures up to nearly hundreds of millions. These investments would have eased unemployment in the country, but would worsen the debt already incurred from huge loans and the losses from the Great War. Hence, lingering economic consequences in the 20th century can be attributed to
Impacts in, and on Australia were felt almost instantly, and can still be noted in today's modern society where the relationships between Australia and the United Kingdom, and Australia and America are fortified internationally. Prior to World War Two, Australia was apart of the British commonwealth, and still is today, but during the war, Australia was at great risk because of it's geographical location. Many felt that support from the British was scarce, and as the Japanese continued fighting in the Pacific, the risk of attack on Australia was imminent. This was shown by the infamous bombing of Darwin on the 19th of February 1942. Source 1 shows a map of Japanese occupied areas in the Pacific at it's peak.
World War One began on the 1914, which Germans and the Britain’s started. Australian and New Zealand troops known as the ANZAC, help fight with the British Army. Many Australians died fighting for the Britain’s, also many died in their own homes, or coming back. They died either from a disease, or they ended up taking their own lives with all the memories they had. Those who survived, didn’t live a happy life.
The Australian government control on the home front in World War one differed to the second World War in a variety of ways. In Australia, the home front played a significant role in both World Wars, with the citizens contributing to the war effort in a variety of ways. Three ways they differed were through enemy aliens, rationing and censorship. During World War one the Australian government used the war precautions act in 1914. This allowed the government to intern anyone that was suspicious or an “enemy alien”.
Prompt: Why is Gallipoli remembered so fondly in Australia? Shouldn't it be remembered for the disaster that it actually was? Gallipoli has a very deep significance to most Australians. They are forced to remember the terrible past of their long lost relatives.
In 2014, over 920 000 people visited the Australian War Memorial. These people are all contributing to the growth of the ANZAC Spirit. This proves that great amounts of people are increasing their knowledge of the ANZAC Spirit and Australia’s relationship to war through the Australian War Memorial. The director of the Australian War Memorial, Brendan Nelson, was quoted in saying “The Australian War Memorial reminds us that in the end there are some truths by which we live that are worth fighting to defend”. This quote shows that the Australian War Memorial is something that reminds us of the sacrifices made by the ANZACs and that they fought to protect something that was worth defending, Australia and its population.
The Vietnam War proved to be the longest war in both Australian and American history in the 20th century but presented a lot of debate as well as mixed opinions about Australia’s actions and involvement. The USA, who lead the operation and campaign, purely took part in the War to prevent the spread of communism globally, and also to prevent the domino effect from occurring in neighbouring countries in Asia. Furthermore, the Viet Cong were fighting the North Vietnamese government to improve Vietnam, which was under communist rule. However the alliance with America that Australia had, through SEATO and also ANZUS treaties, played a major factor and also a trigger for our involvement. Australia feared communism, and was definitely a key threat which ultimately forced us to contribute to the Vietnam War.
Australia’s response to the returned soldiers was neglectful, ignorant and highly ineffective. As described by author Christina Twomey, ‘Some of the files I’ve seen, where the man’s a patient at a repatriation hospital, he’s been admitted for having a nervous breakdown, unable to continue employment, problems with alcohol—the full picture—sometimes psychiatrists write on the report and say, “I suspect this man is angling for a full pension.”’ This is just one snapshot of the way in which we treated returned soldiers. This countries celebrations and commemorations towards the Gallipoli Campange gives no mention of the hardships of the returned service men and women and their families, it completely turns a blind eye to the trauma that these men suffered even once they’d returned. ANZAC was no victory but a colossally badly managed event that tore families apart and left wives alone with little to no source of
From the 1st of September 1939 to the 2nd of September 1945, life in Australia experienced drastic change. These six years and one day were the catalyst for a radical shift in Australian women’s place in society, ultimately leading to their emancipation from previous roles. The Second World War was instrumental in the liberation of Australian women as their shift away from traditional roles, improved financial equality and increased military participation led to empowerment and new freedoms. The most prominent of these factors in the liberation of Australian women was their emancipation from previous roles. World War Two catalysed the empowerment of women through their emancipation from previous roles in society.
How was conflict created between the Australians and Germans? (Intro) When WW1 was announced in Australia on the 4th of August 1914, every German person living in Australia was treated with hostility and suspicion as Germany was an enemy to Australia, all Australians thought that the Germans would support Germany, thus the conflict was created. Focus questions: 1. What was the impact for Germans living in Australia during WW1?
World War 1 was a devastating period for Australia and Australian’s alike. It was the costliest conflict that Australia has participated in throughout its history, with casualties, both fatal and non-fatal, one of the largest on a per capita basis of the allied nations. 1917 was an arduous year and has been described as “the worst year of the Great War”. There are many reasons why 1917 was a difficult year for all Australians but also why it was not “the worst year of the Great War”. Australian troops, all volunteers, were tough, brave and highly valued in the war.
According to the Curtin Government in order for Australia to survive, they had to “Populate or Perish” (1942). If these actions weren’t taken then it could be said that Australia would be much worse off than it is
Not only the war had a massive effect on the Indigenous in Australia, The war was a huge boom to the Australian economy and as it turned out another massive factor. As many Australian fundamental products were purchased as could be produced, and secondary, subsidiary industries manufactured many ‘modern’ items for the services. Many men and women retired and fled their careers to accompany the armed forces leading to a ‘deficit’ of labour. New commerce and businesses need to have been created to fund the troops with combat weapons, uniforms and ammunition. Scarce goods needed to be controlled by the Australian Government in enhancing better buying and selling and in ensuring that everyone received a fair share.
Introduction Peter Weir’s Gallipoli is based on the historical events from World War One in 1915, in Gallipoli. World War One started on the 28th of July 1914 and continued until the 11 of November 1918, the movie is set in 1915 from about the start of the year until 7th of August 1915 when the Battle of the Nek took place. This essay will discuss the accuracies and inaccuracies of the film Gallipoli compared to the events of World War One in 1915. The accuracies and inaccuracies of how the war started and who started World War One will be examined along with life in the trenches and the Australian attitudes to the war and the propaganda.
During World War One, there was a battle, which, while not as well known as Gallipoli, which finished only 6 months prior, is certainly just as significant to Australians both past and present. The battle of Fromelles saw thousands of soldiers die in less that one day, and although being regarded as a complete and utter failure, has taught Australians the importance of individuals. It has also taught people that war is not fun and games, the way it is romanticized in film and television, but is truly, indescribably inhumane and murderous. Good or bad, the battle of Fromelles cannot be called anything less than significant. The battle of Fromelles is often regarded as the most severe and overtly pointless battle that Australians fought throughout World War One.
Australia’s experiences of World War II were significant for Australia and impacted on the shaping of our national identity. Australia 's response to entry into World War II in 1939 differed from Australia 's entry into World War I in 1914. Reasons for this includes attitudes towards war changing after gaining the knowledge and experiencing consequences of World War I, the conditions and lead up to World War II as well as Australia’s strong support for Britain. Firstly, the attitude of Australians changed due to World War 3I proving that war was not glamourous or exciting like it was assumed. During the lead up to World War II Australians had already struggled to survive through the depression and were now required to survive at war.