History - WWII, Fall of Singapore & Kokoda
What were the Causes of WW2
TREATY OF VERSALLIES
Germany had to sign a treay in 1919 which stated:
- disarm their army, nay and airforce
- give away its colonises to France and UK
- Reparations: 6.6 million euros
- War guilt clause
RISE OF THE NAZISM
Adolf Hitler assmebled a group called Natioanl Socialist Party(Nazi Party)
Main beliefs were:
- Germany needs more land
- Treaty of Versallies was too harsh
- Certain groups were superior to others
- Germany should be ruled by one leader
POLCIY OF APPEASEMENT
British Prime Minsiter, Neville Chamberlain visited Hitler and came away from the meeting and made a speech saying he had made a deal whihc would cause peace for out time, the policy backfired and made hitler bolder.
ALLIANCES
Alliance
- UK
- USA
- France
- Russia (USSR)
- Australia and NZ
Axis Powers
- Germany
- Italy
- Japan
Why was Australia Involved?
Australia was loyal to the British Empire and a foegin policy of Britian applied to Australia aswell
If Britian went to war, so did Australia
Where did Asutralians Fight?
- Middle East
- North Africa
- Papua New Guinea
- Asia
- Europe
- Pacific
- Australia
Why did Australians enlist to fight?
- Nationalism: pride on ones country
- Patriotic duty
- Regular Payment
Why was defending Singapore significant to Australia?
British Prime Minster, Winston Churchill had a imprentranle fortess sent up in Singapore that was importsnt to British influnece in Asia and stated that if it were under attack, it was to be defended until the last man
When did the Battle of Singapore begin?
Februray 8th 1942
Why did the battle of Singapore begin?
The japanese advanced from Malaya and resched Johore Strait which separated Malaya and Singapore, they cut off the water supply
What happened on the 7th of December 1941
the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor in Hawaii and invaded South East Asia and took control of Indochina(present day Vietnam and Cambodia)
When did the Battle of Singapore end?
On February 15th 1942, British Lieutenant General Arthur Percival surrended and thousand of British and Australian troops became POWS
What did the Fall of Singapore make Australia realise?
Fall of Singapore made Australia realise, Britian didn't have their best interst at heart as they were occupied with the European War
What did the Fall of Singapore mean to Australia?
Australia was under the risk if Invasion by the Japanese
What happeened on February 19th 1942?
The Japanese bombee Darwin and this led to the invasion of Sydney Habour where the japanese used submarines to invade
What were the Conditions of the Kokoda Track?
cuts through 96 km of dense mountainous trpoical jungle
humid, extreme heat and heavy rainfall
What was Japanese objective of Kokoda?
Take Port Moresby by land and this woukd give them control of Papua and a base from which to attack the Australian mainland and import from US
What was Australia's objective of Port Morseby?
Hold back the japanese forces from taking over Port Morseby as it was vital to the defence of Australia
What were the experiences of the Australians and Japanese?
- both sides had to combat terriable environmental conditions as the region experiences extreme heat and rainfall
- food shortages and communications were diffcult
- sheer mental and physical exhaustion of fighting thei new type of warefare
- carrying wouded and sick soilders on stretchers
- some wouded has to walk the track
Why was Australia important to America
If America wanted to lauch a couteroffensive against the Japnese, they were able to use Australia to retailate back. Australia became a military base for America
When did the battle of Kokoda begin?
21st of July 1942
When did the battle of Kokoda end?
Mid- November 1942
Who was Winston Churchill?
British Prime Minister
Who was John Curtin?
Australian Prime Minster
Who was General MacArthur?
Head of the American Military
head of anerican military
Who did Australia rely on?
USA
How did the local Papuans help Australians?
cared for the retreating wouded Australian soikders who nicknamed rhem Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels