Content on World War II 1939-1945

This page lists content tagged with "World War II 1939-1945"

Arthur Stanley Gurney

West Australian, Arthur Stanley Gurney, embarked for the Middle East in July 1941. He was killed in action 12 months later.

Atom Bomb Damage, Hiroshima (Video)

ATOMIC BOMB—A Terrible Weapon (1945) newsclip (Image)

This article tells us about the fear caused by the use of atomic bombs on the Japanese cities Hiroshima and Nagasaki in the Second World War. You can use newspapers as a primary source in research to…

Audio commentaries

Recollections of Japanese treatment.

Aussies Arrive In Britain (1940) newsreel (Video)

In December 1940, the first Australian aircrews trained under the Empire Air Training Scheme (EATS) began to arrive in Britain. In this newsreel footage, we see Australian EATS graduates arriving at…

Aussies evacuate Tobruk (Video)

Australia Aids Coastal Watch AKA Flying Boat Patrols (1940) newsreel (Video)

No 10 Squadron RAAF served in the United Kingdom from the start of the war. It participated in the Battle of the Atlantic and played a vital role in defending the British coast throughout the war.…

Australia and America Drive Japanese from Lae! (1943) newsreel (Video)

This United News footage records the opening of the Allied attack on Japanese forces at Lae, New Guinea. This is where Australian ground troops met with American paratroopers to help secure the area…

Australia and the Second World War

In May and June 1942 the war was brought home to Australians on the east coast when the Japanese attacked Sydney Harbour from the sea.

Australia helps Russia prepare for winter (Video)

Sheep skins shipped to Russia to help clothe Soviet troops

Australia under attack 1940-1945

The Japanese first attacked the Australian mainland on 19 February 1942 when they launched a devastating air raid on Darwin in the Northern Territory

Australia Under Attack: In Their Own Words (Online lesson), (Video), (Student activity), (Educational)

5 Australians & their experiences of air & naval attacks in WWII

AUSTRALIA'S FIRST MAJOR VICTORY IN WAR (1940) newsclip (Image)

This article is about HMAS Sydney's victory over Italian ship Bartolomeo Colleoni in the Second World War.

Australia's Home Defence 1939-1945 (Book)

This publication is a part of the series; Australians in the Pacific War. It briefly shares the history of Australia's defence against the Japanese from 1939-1945. 

Australia's Prime Minister Speaks (1942) newsreel (Video)

With Japan's entry into the war and the bombing of Darwin, Prime Minister John Curtin and his government put Australia on a total war footing. In this newsreel footage, we see the Prime Minister of…

Australia's Troopship (1939) newsreel (Video)

In March 1939, before war's outbreak, Australian militiamen were sent north to Darwin, as part of the Darwin Mobile Force. Their mission was to defend the northern approaches to the country should a…

Australian advance to Eora

13-27 October 1942 After the Japanese retreat from Ioribaiwa Ridge they dug in to defend a series of positions along the Kokoda track from Templeton's Crossing to Eora villag

Australian horsemen at home in the Kelly Gang

The Kelly Gang was one of the most unusual Allied fighting units during World War II. Made up from an assortment of 70 or so men mainly from C Squadron, 6th Division Cavalry, they rode on captured…

Australian Prisoners in the Asia-Pacific

Locations in South East Asia where Australians were captured and the main sites of capture of Australian POWs including maps and descriptions.

Australian Prisoners of War (Student activity), (Educational)

This educational resource provides teachers and students with activities to investigate Australian Prisoners of War using the stories from the Australians at War Film Archive.

Australian Prisoners of War 1940-1945

More than 30,000 Australians became prisoners of war (POWs) between 1940 and 1945. The Germans and Italians captured Australians during the Mediterranean and Middle East campaigns, and also at sea in…

Australian Prisoners of War 1941-1945 (Book)

This is a part of the series, Australians in the Pacific War. It gives a narrative and pictorial account of life in POW camps north of Australia during World War II. Includes Changi, the Burma-…

Australian troop convoys in the Middle East (Video)

Extracts from Fox Movietone News Vol. 12 No. 39. 1. (53 sec) Naval vessels escort troopships in the Mediterranean

Australian Women and the Second World War: Great Debates (Student activity), (Educational)

The Great Debates series is designed to assist teachers with classroom investigations of how war and conflict have affected Australians. This debate resource focuses upon the effects the Second World…

Australians From Balikpapau (1945) newsreel (Video)

Newsreel footage of Australian Imperial Force (AIF) soldiers on Borneo. This would have been shown at cinemas throughout Australia.

Australians in Bomber Command

Australians contributed to, and suffered greatly in, the British Royal Air Force (RAF) Bomber Command.

Australians in the Battle of Bismarck Sea 2 to 4 March 1943

RAAF personnel served in this pivotal Pacific War battle.

Australians' Big Part in Syria (1941) newsclip (Image)

Australian newspaper clipping of the Australians in the Syrian campaign of the Second World War.

AWAS operated secret wireless station at Lesmurdie

Following the Japanese bombings of Northern Australia in 1942, an extensive communication network was urgently needed in Western Australia.

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