Australia 's Historical Fear Of Invasion

In this essay I will be talking about the impact of the fall of Singapore on Australia’s immediate security, and also be giving a brief background of important events during that time.

Along with the American presence, Australia’s treatment of aliens also had the potential to cause considerable divisions. When war broke out, many foreigners, mostly Germans, and other ‘dangerous persons were made to prove their identity and placed under strict rules which they had to adhere to in order to live in Australia. However it was not the government, but the

Australia entered the war in 1939 and it became at their doorstep on the 19th February 1942, Nazi Germany and Japan were major enemies to Australia during the war. Australia’s foreign policy and changing alliance during 1942 impacted our national identity because Australia developed a new relationship with America, while it weakened the strong connection with Britain, which demonstrates that Australia was starting to become its own independent country. At the beginning of war, Australia had a strong relationship and alliance with Britain, making Britain their leaders when entering the war. Secondly, as the war progressed Australia began to look to America as an opportunity for protection from the Japanese, while Britain was fighting their own

Although Australia’s relationship with the British was weakened as the result of actions during WW2 our relationship with the USA was the reciprocal; this period resulted in a strengthening of ties with the Americans. A few key events were pivotal in this change. The first of these was when General Douglas MacArthur took over the defence of Australia and the Pacific Campaign in March 1942, discarding the current battle plan of holding ‘The Brisbane Line’. Instead in his quote “...so I instantly changed the conception (The Brisbane Line) with the basic thought that the ‘battle of Australia’ would be settled in the little islands to the north, north-east and north-west. I would make my fight there - win, lose or draw” explains that the battles, in which the fate of Australia would be decided, were to occur in the Philippines.

Australia’s response to the threat of communism after WW2 was extraordinary. Australia and its politicians immediately recognised what could happen of a result of the domino theory. With the Soviet Union influencing so many countries and causing China, Vietnam, and North Korea to turn Communist it was only matter of time until it reached Australia, and all in all this was when Australia took action.

These had the effect of Australia feeling vulnerable and lonely, and all the traditional beliefs of the mother country, Britain, coming to Australia’s aid in time of need vanished and with the reaction of Britain towards Australia, Australian Government had to accept the fact that they were only expendable part of the British Empire. Australia, led by the Curtin Government at the time, at last realized the limits of British powers, yet desperate in need of allies and protectors, looked up to the United States as the only support to assist Australia. This realization made a great impact in the changes of the relationships between Britain and Australia. United States did come to rescue Australia in 1942 but the motive was for its self interest because Australia was the best place from which the Americans could apply its counter offenses against the Japanese, and when General MacArthur arrived in Australia he was greatly welcomed by the Australia government, seeing as they didn’t have much choice other than follow US military strategies due to the fall of British power.

In the twentieth century after World War 2 the world was threatened by the takeover of communist that had begun to consume the globe. The Australian government identified that the fear ideology communism will take over the country if no actions were taken to stand against and stop it. The Australian government provided support and participated in several military conflicts during the Cold War to reduce the threat of communist around the world. However, the longest of Australia’s military engagement was the Vietnam War from 1965 to 1975. Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War was mainly centred on its fear of the ‘Domino Theory’, and its relations with the U.S through the Foreign policy which involved the ‘Forward Defence’ policy. The

Many historians disagree on which historical event was key in shaping the Australian identity. Two common answers are Federation, and the fall-out of World War One. Both events have had significant impact on the evolving identity of the Australian people. World War I was a military conflict that lasted for the four years between July 1914 and November 1918. World War One was a force of change due to the nature of Australia's involvement at home and in politics. Prime Minister Billy Hughes came to power just six months after the start of the war. This meant that as a politician, he held a significant sway with the Australian public. Both Hughes and the media influences at the time are key aspects of the Australian identity during the war, and

The reason japan raided and attacked Australia wasn't because we were a threat to them and we were going to invade them it was because their leader wanted to invade and attack and colonise Timor how ever Japan thought that if they invaded Timor they somehow thought that Australia would either invade japan of worse ruin their planes and help defend Timor and help fight of the Japanese. This attack was not provoked, Australia was going up against Japan in the war but was not considered a threat to them due to the fact that they were aided with America.

In 1945, after World War II had finished, Australia finally felt at peace – that was until Communism began to have an effect on the entire world. Australia had a lot to fear, with the threat likely to infiltrate the country both domestically (an established Communist Party) and internationally (a geographical location close to countries that had already fallen victim to communism, such as China and Korea). Australia responded to both of these threats in a way that caused a lot of political controversy and has created bonds with other parts of the world that are still activated today.

On the 26th of January 1788, Australia was settled by the British who came in the First Fleet. The First Fleet was made up of 11 ships, holding 1,350 convicts, soldiers and settlers. Australia became the new penal colony as prisons were overflowing in Britain due to America’s Independence and refusal to take more convicts. Recently, there has been much debate over whether this colonisation of Australia was an invasion or settlement. An invasion is an unwelcome intrusion into another’s domain. Whereas a settlement is the process of establishing a settlement or settlements. Clearly, when considering these definitions, it can be seen that the colonisation of Australia was intended to be a peaceful settlement, but soon turned

In conclusion, policies were put into place both nationally and internationally in order to fight communism within Australia and without. Internationally, Australia sought to form closer ties with her strong allies and so formed treaties to bring them together. Doing this helped the Menzies government in their bid to contain communism and stop the Domino Theory. To contain communism the Menzies government needed to introduce Forward Defence and “defend” Australia from the potential threat of communism. Australia entered the Korean War, Vietnam War and Malayan Emergency to do this. Within Australia, the use of propaganda also helped fight the threat. By attempting to ban the Communist Party of Australia and claiming that a Soviet spy ring worked in Australia, the government spread the fear of communism; people thought that communism had to be dangerous if the government got involved with it. With the use of those policies and

Australians have contributed in defense of the country and for allied countries in World War 2, displaying the significance of the fall of Singapore and Kokoda. The fall of Kokoda and Singapore were all related to a series of attacks from the Japanese and were counteracted by various campaigns Australia has formed. The intentions of the Japanese from both battles were distinctive, as throughout the second world war Japan was allied with Germany, who fought against Australia’s allied forces. From Kokoda and Singapore, the position of which alliances take part in are illustrated and the contributions to the various campaigns that are proposed. Thus, the role Australia plays can be distinguished and able to indicate the significance between both

Australia had always acknowledge Britain as the “mother country”. When Britain declared war on Germany for invading Poland, Australia was announced to be at war by the former Prime Minister, Gordon Menzies. “Fellow Australians, it is my melancholy duty to inform you officially that, in consequence of the persistence of Germany in her invasion of Poland, Great Britain has declared war upon her, and that, as a result, Australia is also at war.”

“Australia sent her best men and some of her equipment now sorely needed at home to relieve British needs elsewhere … the United Kingdom turned deaf ears to every plea.” (‘The Fall of Singapore’ 1942, The Canberra Times)