2.+Reasons+for+Australia's+involvement

Australia's Involvement in WWII Welcome to the Year 9 History wiki page. This wiki page will focus on Australia's Involvement in World War II. The causes of the war can be attributed to Adolf Hitler and his antics to expand German territory. Of course, Hitler may not have been as successful if it had not been for World War 1 and The Great Depression. Britain and France were keen to try and deal with Hitler peacefully, thus introducing the Policy of Appeasement. When Hitler broke the Treaty of Versaille put against Germany after World War I and seized the whole of Czechoslavakia Britain and France realised that the policy had not been successful and that Hitler could not be reasoned with.

Poland sought support from Britain and France in the instance of German invasion upon her. On the 1st of September 1939, this exactly happened when Germany sent soldiers in to occupy Poland. Two days later on the 3rd of September 1939, Great Britain and France declared war on Germany. A few hours after Neville Chamberlain had declared war against Germany, Prime Minister Robert Gordon Menzies announced that if Britain was at war then Australia would also be at war. He stated, //Fellow Australians// //It is my melancholy duty to inform you officially that, in consequence of the persistence of Germany in her invasion of Poland, Great Britain has declared war on her, and that, as a result, Australia is also at war....// //There was never any doubt as to where Great Britain stood..... There can be no doubt that where Great Britain stands, there stands the people of the entire British world.//

Australia declares war
Australia was the first country in the British Empire to declare war. The Australian public, although upset, were loyal to Britain and its decision to go to war. Many Australians still held strong bonds to Britain and saw it as the 'Mother Country'. Activity 1 By now you should understand: After you have watched the video to the right → answer the following questions into your workbooks with a heading: "Australia at War - Here we go agamedia type="youtube" key="XRVvGfg4NPk?fs=1" height="241" width="300" align="right"in!" Part 1 1.What did Australians believe about World War 1? 2. Why did Australian soldiers in WW2 know what to expect this time around? 3. Why did Private Ray Brown got to WW2? 4. How did the soldiers learn the values of resilience and initiative? 5. What caused the running down of the defence system during the 1930's? How was the defence system in Australia compared to Germany and Japan? 6. Why were Australia's leaders 'deeply worried'? 7. Explain what is said by the Prime Minister Robert Menzies in his speech addressing the public in 1939. 8. What was the Australian attitude towards entering the war. 9. What brought on the increase in propaganda? 10. How long did it take to get 20,000 volunteers? 11. For what three reasons did Australian men join the army?
 * Why Britain and France declared war on Germany
 * The efforts that Britain and France went to avoid another war - Policy of Appeasement
 * Why Australia declared war against Germany
 * How men felt about enlisting
 * The Australian public's reaction to sending men off to war

Part 2 media type="youtube" key="Wlf5C789Kt0?fs=1" height="231" width="286" align="right" 1. Where did most soldiers go in WW2? 2. Where did these soldiers train? 3. What happened to London? 4. How many Australians fought in the Battle of Britain? 5. What role did Australia play in the Mediterranean? 6. What was the Italians plan in Northern Africa? 7. Why do you think the mood in Australia changed towards war? 8. What country did Australia meet the Italians? 9. What role did women play back home in Australia during the war?

Part 3media type="youtube" key="fpoKRk-eubI?fs=1" height="241" width="300" align="right" 1. Why was there a fear of Japan? 2. Why did Australians feel a sense of safety? What did they feel would protect them? 3. Why were some men sent to Singapore?

Activity 2
click on the link below and complete the internet task. Answer the questions in your book and print out the question sheet or type the answers straight on to word document and print it out and stick it into your books.