Australia's War 1939-1945

Search ww2australia.gov.au Search WWW

Special features

• Rats of Tobruk

  

  On 3-5 January 1941, Australians fought their first major land battle in World War II when men of the 6th Division AIF, with other Allied troops, engaged Italian forces at Bardia which was captured with over 40,000 prisoners taken. more ...

• Air War Europe

  

  When war broke out in Europe in 1939, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) aircrews were among the first Australians to head overseas to Britain's aid serving in both Australian and British squadrons with the Royal Air Force (RAF). more ...

• ‘Ali Baba’ Morshead

  

  ‘Ali Baba’ Morshead, so called by Lord Haw Haw, led the 9th Australian Division in both Tobruk and El Alamein. In October and November 1942, the units of the 9th Division took part in ‘the greatest battle ever fought in the Middle East’. more ...

• Frank Hurley

  

  Official war photographer during two World wars, Hurley was famous for his composite prints and 'showy' film techniques. Images of Australian troops in the Middle East are mingled with evocative images of the local people in the midst of war. more ...

• Indigenous Service

  

  What role did Indigenous Australians play in World War II? Although they were not classed or treated as Australian citizens, many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander servicemen and women fought and died for Australia during World War II. more ...

• Kokoda Track

  

  In repelling a Japanese invasion force, which landed on the north coast of Papua in July 1942, more than 600 Australians were killed and some 1680 wounded. It was perhaps the most significant battle fought by Australians in World War II. more ...

• HMAS Sydney

  

  One-third of the RAN’s officers and men lost during the war were lost on 19 November 1941 when the Sydney was sunk with all hands by the German raider Kormoran heavily disguised as the Dutch freighter Straat Malakaa. more ...

• Nurses Recovered

  

  After the sinking of the Vyner Brooke on 14 February 1942, 12 of the 65 Australian Army nurses on board drowned or were killed in the water. The rest struggled ashore, but some were captured and machine-gunned by the Japanese. more ...

War Posters

Women's Recruitment Posters...

The lives of many Australian women changed dramatically between 1940 and 1945 when there was pressure for young women to participate in the war effort, particularly in the armed services. more ...