History Notes for Finals Exam

Multiple Choice
Causes of WW2
Unresolved Issues from WW1
Treaty of Versailles
- The Treaty of Versailles ended World War I between Germany and the Allied Powers.
- Germany had lost the war; the treaty was very harsh against Germany.
- Germany forced to "accept the responsibility" of the war damages suffered by the Allies.
- Treaty required that Germany pay a huge sum of money called reparations.
- Left economy in ruins. People were starving and the government was in chaos.

Fascism
- Countries were taken over by dictators who formed powerful fascist governments.
- First fascist government in power was Italy with Mussolini.
- These dictators wanted to expand their empires and began to look for new lands to conquer.
- Italy invaded and took over Ethiopia in 1935. Adolf Hitler would emulate Mussolini in his take-
over of Germany.

Hitler and the Nazi Party

- In Germany, Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party rose to power.
- Germans desperate for someone to turn around their economy and restore their national pride.
- Hitler offered them hope. In 1934, Hitler was proclaimed the "Fuhrer" (leader) and became
dictator of Germany.
- Hitler resented the restrictions put on Germany by the Treaty of Versailles.
- While talking about peace, Hitler began to rearm Germany.
- In 1936 Hitler took the Rhineland.
- In 1937 Hitler allied Germany with Mussolini/ Italy.
- Hitler looked to restore Germany to power by expanding his empire. He took over Austria in
March 1938.
- When the League of Nations did nothing to stop him, Hitler became bolder and took over
Czechoslovakia in 1939.
- After signing a non-aggression pact with Russia in August 1939, Hitler invaded Poland in
September 1939. The British and French declared war.

Appeasement
- Europe were weary and did not want another war.
- When countries such as Italy and Germany began to take over their neighbours, countries such
as Britain and France hoped to keep peace through "appeasement."
- Tried to make Hitler happy rather than try to stop him.
- Hoped that by meeting his demands he would be satisfied and there wouldn't be any war.
- The policy of appeasement backfired. It only made Hitler bolder. It also gave him time to build
up his army.
Reasons Australia entered WW2.
Part of the British Empire
- Australia was part of the British Empire
- As soon as the French and British declared war on Germany, Australia involved too.

Supporting Democracy
- Fascist government was going to harm the democracy upheld.
- Australia is a democracy and did not like the ideals of the government having all power.

Honour International Obligations

- Member of the League of Nations
- Pressure from international countries to join the war (British Empire)

Potential Of Invasion
- Japan expanded Pacific area territories (going more south)
- Japan became allied with Germany and Italy
- Australians worried that Japan would invade.
- Britain far away so also afraid that there would be less to no support.

Reasons for Enlistment

Introduction:

- At the start of the announcement about the war people did not want to join the war
- Grim faced, anxious, eager for news, but not confident or joyful
- However no anti-war movement
- Australia committed to war; Menzies give no guarantee to Britain about sending support
(Defend from Japan)

A Desire for Adventure

- New generation of Australians grew up in peace.
- Wanted to outdo their fathers that served in the war.
- Wanted to have a sense of enthusiasm and adventure.

A Sense of Duty to Protect Australia

- Japan may invade.
- Australians wanted to fight for their motherland (Britain) but also fight for Australia to make
sure that Japan does not invade Australia.
- If Australia fights quick enough, war will end before Japan thinks of going south.

Military Heritage
- Also wanted to make their parents proud.
- Social Pressure to enlist.
- Wanted to serve with their father/brothers.

Where Australians served in WW2

Country Date Place Against
Europe Oct. 1940 – May 1941 Greece Italy, Germany
Africa Jun. 1940 – May 1942 Sudan, Kenya, Libya Italy, Germany
Pacific 1942-1944 Malaya, Singapore Japan
Middle East 1942 Egypt, Syria Italy
Siege of Tobruk
Introduction
- Italians collapsed in North Africa; Hitler sent troops to intervene.
- March 1941, General Rommel and his Afrika Korps arrived.
- Within months, counter-attacked and driven the British back to the borders of Egypt.
- Garrison mainly Australian’s 9th division, held a part of Tobruk.
- Germans needed Tobruk (Libya) for a supply base for defence of the Suez Canal
- Garrison held the Germans off for 242 days.

Rats of Tobruk
- Nazi propagandist called the Aussies the ‘rats of Tobruk’.
- Became a badge of honour for the Australians.
- Troops faced bitter sandstorms, hot at day, cold at night.
- Tobruk eventually fell to the Germans in Jun. 1942
- 14,000 Aussie troops fought at Tobruk.

Australia Changing Relations with Other Countries During WW2

- Australia was always loyal towards Britain. Later got strained after GB would not send support
to help Australia against Japan
- After Pearl Harbour, US joins WW2.
- Australia looks to strengthen alliance with USA.
Paragraph Answer
The Fall of Singapore
Basic Information
- February 15th marks anniversary of the Fall of Singapore – one of the darkest days in
Australia’s wartime history.

- Having advanced from the Malayan Peninsular into Singapore, a week of heavy fighting and
casualties resulted in the British command surrendering to Japanese forces on 15 February
1942.

- The Fall of Singapore, including the capture of over 15,000 Australians amongst the 130,000
troops taken by the Japanese, remains the largest surrender of British-led military personnel in
history.

- Winston Churchill described the fall of Singapore as “the worst disaster and largest capitulation
in British history.”

- The Island of Singapore endured three and half years of Japanese occupation, which included a
massacre of the Chinese population. The numbers of this massacre are estimated to have been
in the vicinity of 70,000 people.

- Singapore remained under Japanese occupation until soon after Japan surrendered in August,
1945.

Impact of the Fall of Singapore

- Direct shift in Australia’s policy
- No longer rely solely on Britain as a protector.
- Immediately placed Australian forces under USA
- 15,000 troops, 22,000 POWs – 1 in 3 dying.
- Australia now under direct threat

Bombing of Darwin
Attacks
1st Attack
- Deadly attack 19 Feb 1942 at 9:58
- 90 planes sent.
- Eight Ships in harbour sunk.
- Approx. 583 bombs fell on Darwin.
- Targeted port, and post office to prevent communication.

2nd Attack
- 23 America/Australian planes destroyed.
- 243 Australians killed.

Japanese Aims
- Real goal of the attack was to lower morale and destroyed any chance of military opposition to
Japan’s invasion of Timor.
- No intention to invade Australia.
- Japanese wanted to dominate Coral Sea and bomb North QLD – would disrupt Allied counter
attacks and invade Australia.
Japanese Subs in Sydney Harbour
Why did the Japanese attack Sydney Harbour?
- 30 allied ships in harbour on May 31st, 1942
- Sydney harbour had become one of major allied ports after attack on Pearl Harbour.
- May 30 (day before attack), lone Japanese plane flew low over Sydney Harbour – observed ships
in harbour.
- Sketched USS Chicago position in harbour + noted incomplete submarine net in harbour.

The Attack: 31st May 1942

- At 8pm, three midget submarines, armed with two torpedoes, are launched in Sydney Harbour.

First Sub – M27

- Tried to follow a Manly Ferry through the harbour but its propeller got caught in the boom net.
Watchmen from Marine Services Board raised the alarm – ignored.
- Kenshi Chuman blew himself up 10:27pm.

Second Sub – M24

- Entered 9:48pm, spotted Chicago – fired at 10:30pm.
- Sub was fired upon, search lights, air raid siren sound at 11pm.
- 11:14pm, order to darken ships.
- Katsuhisa Ban took sub to the bottom of the harbour until 12:25 am.
- At 12:25 am he fired two torpedoes and hit/sank HMAS Kuttabul.

Third Sub – M22

- Matsuo entered at 11pm.
- Got Attacked
- Matsuo and Tsuzuku (pilots of sub) committed suicide.

Australian Responses
- Residents moved to Blue Mountains, Orange out of fear.
- Resulted in a more serious attitude towards war.
- Gave Japanese pilots a formal military funeral after WW2.
Extended Response
Australia involvement in Europe and North Africa at the start of the war
Why North Africa?
- Italy and Germany wanted to expand territory.
- North Africa provided ports to use int eh supply and defence of Mediterranean.
- Resources – access to oil in the Middle East.
- Opportunity to control Suez Canal – give them access to ‘Australasia’ (or the Pacific)

North Africa
- Italy entered war on the side of Germany in Jun. 1940 and anxious to gain more land.
- In September, Italy began military operations in North Africa, advancing from colony in Lybia to
the British in Egypt.
- Commonwealth forces, under command of General Wavell, able to counter-attack and drive
Italians back to Benghazi.
- Nine divisions destroyed and over 130,000 troops surrendered.
- Part of AIF sailed from Australia to Egypt to be part of General Wavell’s army.

Siege of Tobruk
Introduction
- Italians collapsed in North Africa; Hitler sent troops to intervene.
- March 1941, General Rommel and his Afrika Korps arrived.
- Within months, counter-attacked and driven the British back to the borders of Egypt.
- Garrison mainly Australian’s 9th division, held a part of Tobruk.
- Germans needed Tobruk (Libya) for a supply base for defence of the Suez Canal
- Garrison held the Germans off for 242 days.

Rats of Tobruk
- Nazi propagandist called the Aussies the ‘rats of Tobruk’.
- Became a badge of honour for the Australians.
- Troops faced bitter sandstorms, hot at day, cold at night.
- Tobruk eventually fell to the Germans in Jun. 1942
- 14,000 Aussie troops fought at Tobruk.