Australian military service in and around Australia in World War II

Japan enters the war

In late 1941, Japan entered the war with the invasion of Malaya (then a British territory) and the attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December. These attacks led Australia to declare war on Japan on 8 December 1941.

Prime Minister John Curtin was clear that Australia was threatened by Japanese forces in the Pacific.

I say, then, to the people of Australia: Give of your best in the service of this nation. There is a place and part for all of us. Each must take his or her place in the service of the nation, for the nation itself is in peril. This is our darkest hour.

[Excerpt from speech declaring war on Japan, Australian Prime Minister John Curtin, 8 December 1941.]

Japanese forces advanced quickly into South-East Asia. By mid-1942, they had attacked Malaya, Singapore, Hong Kong, the Philippines, New Guinea, Burma (now Myanmar), Borneo, Solomon Islands and the Netherlands East Indies (now Indonesia). Many Australians were afraid an invasion was likely.

Threat of invasion

Australia’s focus had been on helping the United Kingdom in the Middle East and Europe. After Singapore fell to the Japanese, the Australian Government sought help from the United States to strengthen regional defences. Attention shifted to defending Australia.

On 19 February 1942, Japanese aircraft bombed Darwin. It was the first of many attacks against mainland Australia. The attacks were aimed at diverting troops and resources to defending Australia. They also aimed to disrupt supply lines.

In Parliament on 22 June 1943, Prime Minister Curtin announced that the invasion threat had passed. Even so, Axis activity continued in the Pacific until 1945.