Lesson 7 -Australia Threatened

From last Lesson

Explain using an example why technology was important in WW2

Learning Intentions!!

• Explain the experiences of Australians during World War II (such as prisoners of war (POWs), the Battle of Britain, Kokoda, the Fall of Singapore)

  • Explain the impact of World War II on the Australian home front and the use

of wartime government controls (conscription, manpower controls, rationing and censorship)

!

After Nazi Germany invaded Poland, Britain and France declared war on Germany on 3 September 1939. Australian Prime Minister Robert Menzies immediately announced that 'as a result, Australia is also at war'. Australia raised a Second AIF (Australian Imperial Force) of volunteer soldiers to fight alongside British forces.

How did Australia respond to the outbreak of World War II?

Where were three of the four AIF divisions fighting by 1940-41? Why was the AIF 8th Division sent to Malaya? Why did Japan want to capture British Malaya and the Dutch East Indies?

Why was Singapore of great strategic importance? What was Britain's 'Singapore strategy' and what is the narrator suggesting by stating that the strategy would be 'found to be bankrupt'?

Questions to consider as you watch the next clip

Australians had fought in the wars of the British Empire since the late 19th century and had made enormous sacrifices supporting Britain during World War I. !In what ways do you think that this could have contributed to a false certainty that Britain would always defend Australia? !Was it realistic to assume that Britain would be able to defend Australia while fighting powerful European enemies?

After clip Questions

Australia Exposed

Complete questions 1-4

Exit Question

Why was the “Fall of Singapore” significant to Australia