Chapter 9

Comparative study: World Wars I and II

INVESTIGATION FOCUS
AND OUTCOMES
In this chapteryour investigation will require
you to:
outline the main causes of both wars
locate and sequence the places where
Australians fought in both wars
explain why Australians enlisted to fight
outline and sequence the changing scope
and nature of warfare from trenches in World
War I to the Holocaust and the use of the
atomic bombs to end World War II
using sources, investigate prisoners of war,
a specific campaign, the role of women, and
participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander peoples and a specific event/incident
outline the Australian governments control on
the home front in both wars for conscription,
use of government propaganda, changing
roles of women, enemy aliens and wartime
controls
analyse the changing relationship of Australia
with other countries after World War II
explain the impact of the war on returned
soldiers/civilians
explain how and why Australians have
commemorated the wars.
2012 Board of Studies NSW for and on behalf of
the Crown in right of the State of New South Wales

Major General HCH Robertson signing the surrender document marking the
defeat of the Japanese, September 1945

Inquiry questions
1 What comparisons can be made about the causes of
the wars, why men enlisted and where Australians
fought?
2 What comparisons can be made about the nature and
scope of warfare?
3 How do the events and experiences of Australians in
World War I compare to those in World War II?

4 How did the impact of World War I on Australia compare

with the impact of World War II?
5 What was the significance of World Wars I and II to
Australia?
6 What comparisons can be made about how World Wars I
and II are commemorated?

Introduction
HISTORY 9 THE MODERN WORLD AND AUSTRALIA

WORLD WARS I AND II were significant events of the 20thcentury. Although only 25 years
passed between the outbreak of each, major changes in technology had occurred during
this time. These changes would influence the nature of warfare during World War II. However,
aspects of World Wars I and II were similar.
In this study, you will use your historical skills to compare the causes of each war, how
each war was fought, the events and experiences of those involved, and the impact and the
significance of each war.
The cause of World War I can be linked to rivalry over territory and colonies by imperialist
powers. Both sides need to share some of the blame. World War II, however, was caused by a
clash of ideologies, particularly fascism, and the aggression of Germany.
Although World War I is called a world war, our study in chapter7 showed that this war
was fought mainly in Europe. Most of the fighting in the early stages was done by the infantry
in trenches. World War II, however, was fought on a larger scale, taking in Asia and the Pacific.
The method of fighting also changed dramatically. The development of aircraft, tanks and other
weapons led to a far more destructive war. The civilian populations on both sides suffered to a
much greater extent in World War II, and the dropping of two atomic bombs on Japan signalled
how deadly the use of technology had become.
Some historians believe World War II was really an extension of World War I. Germany still
held ambitions to be a world power, and Britain and France were challenged by this. Other
historians see World War II as being caused by the failures and severity of the peace treaties
that followed World War I. When interpretations of the past vary, this is called contestability.
As you work through the inquiry questions in this chapter, keep in mind the similarities and
the differences between the two world wars.

KEY TERMS
archives

collections of public records, documents and so on, and/or the place(s)

where they are stored

compare

to identify similarities between two or more people, objects or events

contestability

when interpretations of the past vary because of different perspectives and/or

use of different evidence

continuity and change

aspects of the past that have remained the same over a period of time or
have altered over time

contrast

to identify differences between two or more people, objects or events

evidence

information contained within a sourcethat supports an historical argument

interpretation

a way of understanding and explaining what has happened in the past; more
than one view of what has happened and why it happened is often possible

significance

the importance given to a particular aspect of the past such as events or sites

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CHAPTER 9 COMPARATIVE STUDY: WORLD WARS I AND II

Veteran of both World Wars I and II, Mr Claude Choules

Timeline of key dates

1916

1945

British Mark I tank developed;

maximum speed 4.5km/h,
range 37km

First use of an
atomic bomb

1943
German Messerschmitt
Me 209 II fighter aircraft
introduced; top speed
678km/h

1915

1917

1939

First aerial
victory using a
synchronised
machine gun

British Armstrong-Whitworth
fighter aircraft introduced;
top speed 153km/h

German Panzer III

tank developed;
maximum speed 40km/h,
range 155km

1900

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1950

369

Focus on history skills

HISTORY 9 THE MODERN WORLD AND AUSTRALIA

SKILL 8
Comparing and contrasting
Undertaking a comparison involves looking for
things that are alike. If you were to compare a
dog and a cat, the things that could be identified
as being alike include the following: both have
four legs, both can be pets and both come in a
variety of breeds.
Sometimes comparing can also include
contrasting, which means looking for differences
between people, objects or events. For example,
contrasting dogs and cats would identify
differences such as dogs being part of the canine
family whereas cats are part of the feline family.
Historians compare and contrast for two
purposes. These are to:
explainto show why people, objects or

events are similar and/or different

evaluateto describe why one person,

object or event is better than another

Words for comparing

Words for contrasting

like, similar to

unlike, differs from

same as

in contrast to

as well as

however

also, too

but, except

as do, as did, as does

as opposed to,
on the other hand

SOURCE H9.1 Useful words for comparing and

contrasting

When planning a compare and contrast text,

a Venn diagram with two overlapping circles
can help you to organise information about the
people, objects or events you are comparing
andcontrasting.
Write the features of the subjects inside each
of the circles. Features that are the same for both
go into the overlapping section (centre) of the
two circles.

Orange juice

Milk

Orange
in colour

White in
colour

Liquid

Comes from
a tree

Healthy

Best served cold

Good source
of Vitamin C

Often
part of
breakfast

Comes from
an animal
Can be added to
tea and coffee
Can be served
hot or cold

Similarities
SOURCE H9.2 Using a Venn diagram to plan a
comparison text

When you have finished, your information will

be divided into similarities (the overlapping part)
and the differences. Source H9.2 compares and
contrasts orange juice and milk.
Another method for planning a compare and
contrast text is to use a graphic organiser, as
shown in sourceH9.3.
Orange juice

Milk

How are they alike?

Both are liquids, are healthy drinks,
often served with breakfast
How are they different?

Comes from a tree

Orange in colour
Best served cold
Good sourceof
Vitamin C

Comes from an animal

White in colour
Can be added to
tea and coffee
Can be served
hot or cold

SOURCE H9.3 Compare and contrast graphic organiser

370

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CHAPTER 9 COMPARATIVE STUDY: WORLD WARS I AND II

Focus on history skills activities

Read the following text, which compares
and contrasts aspects of World War I and
World WarII, and then answer or complete
thefollowing:
1 Which paragraphs compare World Wars I

and II?

4 Referring to the list of contrasting words, how

many of these can you find in the text?

5 Draw a Venn diagram showing the similarities

and differences included in the text.

6 Create a graphic organiser to show the

similarities and differences included in the text.

2 Which paragraphs contrast World Wars I

and II?
3 Referring to the list of comparing words, how

7 Which method do you prefer for planning a

compare and contrast texta Venn diagram

or a graphic organiser? Explain your choice.

many of these can you find in the text?

COMPARING AND CONTRASTING WORLD WARS I AND II

During the 20thcentury, two major wars
were fought that became known as world
wars. Although 25 years apart, a number of
similarities and differences can be identified
when World War I and World War II are
compared and contrasted.
In both wars, Germany can be viewed
as the aggressor. In 1914, German militarism
was blamed as one of the main causes of
WorldWarI. Similarly in 1939, Germanys
militarism under the Nazis led to the outbreak
of World War II.
Germany forming alliances with Italy
is also another similarity. In World War I,
Germany and Italy were part of the Triple
Alliance. In World War II, they were members
of the RomeBerlin Axis.
Britain and France were victors in World
War I and in World War II too. America did not

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enter World War I at the outbreak. This was

the same as World War II. Australia supported
the British Empire in World War I, as it did in
World War II.
The location and methods of fighting differ
between World Wars I and II. In World War I,
most of the fighting was on the Western Front
involving trench warfare. However, in World
War II, the fighting occurred in Europe, the
Pacific and Asia. In contrast to World War I,
World War II used more advanced weapons
such as bomber aircraft and the atomic bomb.
Unlike World War I, Australia was directly
threatened in World War II. Japanese aggression
led to the bombing of northern Australia and
midget submarine attacks in Sydney Harbour.
Therefore, both similarities and differences
can be found when World War I and World
War II are compared and contrasted.

Focus on history skills

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HISTORY 9 FOR NSW THE MODERN WORLD AND AUSTRALIA

What comparisons can be

made about the causes of the
wars, why men enlisted and
where Australians fought?
Comparison of causes
In preparation for undertaking this inquiry
question, you will need to have completed
the sections What caused World War I? (see
chapter7, pages 274 to 279) and What caused
World War II? (see chapter8, pages 324 to327).
The study of history involves an
understanding of the concept of cause and effect.
This requires identifying events, decisions and
developments in the past that later result in
actions and outcomes. In comparing the causes of
World Wars I and II, we first need to identify the
background causes of each war. Next, we need
to compare the immediate cause of each war.
This involves identifying the event that triggered
the declaration of each war. You will do this in
activity 1.

SOURCE 9.1 Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini in

Kufstein, German Reich, Europe, in 1939

Chronology of background causes of World War I: alliances

1879

The Dual Alliance: Germany and AustriaHungary make an alliance to protect themselves from Russia

1882

The Triple Alliance: Germany and AustriaHungary make an alliance with Italy, primarily to stop Italy joining sides
withRussia

1894

FrancoRussian Alliance: Russia makes an alliance with France to protect herself against Germany and
AustriaHungary

1907

AngloRussian Entente: Britain and Russia sign a friendship agreement

1907

Triple Entente: Britain, Russia, and France sign an agreement as a reaction to the growing threat ofGermany

Chronology of background causes of World War II: alliances

1936

RomeBerlin Axis: Germany and Italy sign an agreement for a common foreign policy

1936

Anti-Comintern Pact: Nazi Germany and the Empire of Japan sign an anti-communist pact

193940

RomeBerlinTokyo Axis: The RomeBerlin Axis becomes a full military alliance when the 1939 Pact of Steel
(Germany and Japan), and the 1940 Tripartite Pact (adding Italy) combined the military aims of Germany, Italy
andJapan.

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The military ambitions of Hitler must be considered as

the main cause of World WarII. Almost immediately
from the time he came to power in 1933 he began secretly
building up Germanys army. Hitler ordered his generals
to prepare to treble the size of the army and to commence
building an airforce. His foreign policy was based on
creating a powerful Germany and expanding control over
other countries to gain lebensraum (living space). By
forming alliances with Italy and Japan, he strengthened
his position and isolated his traditional enemy,France.
SOURCE 9.5 Militarism as a background cause of World War II

SOURCE 9.2 Japan and Germany signing the

Anti-Comintern Pact

SOURCE 9.3 RomeBerlinTokyo Axis

SOURCE 9.6 Immediate cause of World War I

Archduke Franz Ferdinands bloodstained uniform
following his assassination in 1914

The formation of rival alliances left Europe divided into two opposing sides prior to the outbreak of World
War I. At the same time an arms race between the main countries had developed. The armies of both
Germany and France more than doubled between 1870 and 1914. Competition between Britain and Germany
for control of the seas led the British to introduce the Dreadnought class battleship in 1906. The Germans
reacted by introducing their own powerful battleships.
The motivation of Germany can be linked back to Weltpolitik (world policy), the policy of Kaiser
Wilhelm II of Germany who, in 1897, agreed to a foreign policy where German should claim our place in the
sun. To avoid fighting a war on two fronts, the German general Von Schlieffen also developed a military plan
that involved first attacking France though Belgium, then attacking Russia.

SOURCE 9.4 Militarism as a background cause of World War I

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HISTORY 9 FOR NSW THE MODERN WORLD AND AUSTRALIA

and Why did Australians enlist to fight in

WorldWar II? (see chapter8, pages 330 to 332).
By studying the sources below and completing
activity 2, you will be able to compare the reasons
Australian men enlisted in each war.
Australians had an image of themselves as
tough pioneers. In an era that uncritically
viewed the occupation of Indigenous lands,
Australians found their most persuasive stories
in settlement, exploration and the gold rushes.
Poetry and paintings celebrated abilities like
riding a horse and shooting a rifle. There was a
powerful mythology of war being the event that
turned boys into men.
SOURCE 9.7 Immediate cause of World War II
monument to the September Veterans near Krakw,
Poland, commemorating those who died during the
German invasion of Poland in 1939

The rush to enlist, http://ergo.slv.vic.gov.au/explorehistory/australia-wwi/home-wwi/rush-enlist

SOURCE 9.8 The rush to enlist in World War I

ACTIVITY 1

Comprehension: chronology, terms and

concepts
1 Draw a timeline of the alliances and ententes

shown in the chronology for World War I on

page372. (Be sure to use a scale.)
2 Draw a timeline of the alliances and pacts shown

in the chronology for World War II on page 372.

(Again, use a scale.)
3 Read the captions for sources 9.6 and 9.7.

What do they tell us about the immediate cause

of each war?

Explanation and communication

1 Compare and contrast the formation of alliances

The outbreak of war in August 1914 seemed to

unleash a huge wave of enthusiastic support
for Britain, and support for Australias part in
the war. All major political parties, churches,
community leaders and newspapers seemed to
support Australias entry. It was seen as a moral
and necessary commitment. There was a rush to
the recruiting offices, and, at this stage, only the
very fittest and healthiest men were accepted.
Robert Lewis, The Australian Homefront during World War 1,
http://www.anzacday.org.au/history/ww1/homefront/homefront.html

SOURCE 9.9 Reasons for enlisting in World War I

prior to the outbreak of World Wars I and II.

2 Using sources 9.4 and 9.5, explain the similarities

in the causes or World Wars I and II.

3 Using information from this section and from

What caused World War I? (see chapter7,

pages 274 to 279) and What caused World War
II? (see chapter8, pages 324 to 327), compare
and contrast the background and immediate
causes of World Wars I and II.

Comparison of why men enlisted

In preparation for undertaking this inquiry
question, you will need to have completed
the sections Why did men enlist to fight in
WorldWar I? (see chapter7, pages 279 to 280)

In a letter [The Call to Arms] dated 15 December

1915, Prime Minister WM Hughes appealed
directly to all eligible men, Australia turns to
you for help. We want more men. Fifty thousand
(50,000) additional troops are to be raised to
form new units of the Expeditionary Forces. The
pressure on eligible men to enlist was enormous.
This took many forms, including posters, poetry,
newspaper editorials and letters, the activities of
organisations such as the Win the War League,
and pressure from private individuals.
SA Memory, Conflicts: World War One: Recruitment and enlistment,
http://www.samemory.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=1001

SOURCE 9.10 Pressure to enlist in World War I

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There has never been any lack of young men

to respond to the call of wars in far places.
Australian soldiers are outstanding for their
passionate regard of the adventure itself to be
discovered in these distant wars.
George Johnson, My Brother Jack, Thomas Nelson, Australia, 1986 edition
(first published in 1964), p. 300

SOURCE 9.13 Reasons for enlisting in World War II

the call of far-off places

Why did men volunteer for aircrew? There were

probably as many reasons for this as there were
volunteers: for some it was patriotism, for others
perhaps the novelty, adventure and glamour
offlying.
SOURCE 9.11 The Call to Arms

The road to Bomber Command: the Empire Air Training Scheme,

http://www.dva.gov.au/aboutDVA/publications/commemorative/
bombercommand/Pages/2_BomberCommand.aspx

SOURCE 9.14 Reasons for enlisting in World War II

joining Bomber Command

ACTIVITY 2

Comprehension: chronology, terms and

concepts
SOURCE 9.11 The Call to Arms

1 What reasons are given in sources 9.8 to 9.10 for

men enlisting in World War I?

2 What reasons are given in sources 9.12 to 9.14

A strong sense of duty to Britain meant that

Menzies declaration [for Australia to join the
war] was met with almost total support. I
dont think there was a single voice of protest
raised in the federal parliament, and almost no
newspaper questioned his decision, says Dr John
Knott, a historian at the Australian National
University in Canberra. Most Australians
identified with Britain; they saw themselves, in
a sense, as British.In the early stages of the
war, Australians who remained at home felt
little direct threat. But that all changed with the
growing fear of Japan, John says.
Beau Gamble, On this day: Australia at war, 2 September 2011,
http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/
journal/on-this-day-history-australia-enters-world-war-ii.htm

SOURCE 9.12 Reasons for enlisting in World War II

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for men enlisting in World War II?

Explanation and communication

1 Compare the reasons given in sources 9.8 to

9.10 and 9.12 to 9.14 for men enlisting in

World Wars I and II.
2 Using information from this section and from

Why did men enlist to fight in World War I?

(see chapter7, pages 279 to 280) and Why
did Australians enlist to fight in World War II?
(see chapter8, pages 330 to 332), compare the
reasons Australians enlisted in World Wars I and II.
3 Using information on the participation of

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in

World War I (see chapter7, pages 296 to 298)
and World War II (see chapter8, pages 332 to
333), explain how and why policies regarding
their enlisting into the armed services changed.

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HISTORY 9 FOR NSW THE MODERN WORLD AND AUSTRALIA

Comparison of where Australians fought

In preparation for undertaking this inquiry
question, you will need to have completed the
sections Where did Australians fight and what
was the nature of warfare during World War I?
(see chapter7, pages 280 to 284) and Where
did Australians fight and what was the nature
of warfare during World War II? (see chapter8,
pages 333 to 338).
World War I can be considered a European
war because the fighting mostly took place in
Europe. World War II, with the involvement of
Japan on the side of the Axis powers, saw fighting
beyond Europe, and Australians were heavily
involved in Asia and the Pacific theatres. By
completing activity 3, you will be able to compare
where Australians fought in each war.
ACTIVITY 3

Analysis and use of sources

1 Using source7.18 on page 281, identify the

places Australians fought in World War I.

2 Using source8.19 on page 333, identify the

places Australians fought in World War II.

Explanation and communication

1 What were the similarities in the places

Australians fought in World Wars I and II?

Why were there differences in World War II?

What comparisons can be

made about the nature and
scope of warfare?
In preparation for undertaking this inquiry
question, you will need to have completed the
sections The nature of warfare during World War
I (see chapter7, pages 282 to 284) and Where
did Australians fight and what was the nature
of warfare during World War II? (see chapter8,
pages 333 to 338).

The nature and scope of World War I

The outbreak of World War I saw Germany
implement the Schlieffen Plan, with the aim of
rapidly defeating France. However, the German

army met fierce resistance from the Belgian army

and was surprised by how quickly the British
Expeditionary Force reached France and Belgium.
The Schlieffen Plan had not succeeded.
On the Western Front, each side dug in and
built lines of trenches. For the next four years,
the nature of fighting was characterised by the
use of artillery and each side charging the enemy
lines, either on foot or horseback. Any attempts
at real advancement were both impossible and
suicidal because of the deadly power of defending
machine guns.
On the Eastern Front, although the Russian
army was large, the Germans were usually
victorious. This was because the Russians lacked
supplies and the modern weapons needed for
success in warfare.
The British put a naval blockade into place
as soon as the war began. The Battle of Jutland
showed that the German Navy did not have the
strength to defeat the Royal Navy. In order to
disrupt supplies reaching Britain by sea, in 1917
Germany implemented unrestricted submarine
warfare. This involved attacking any Allied ships
and became one of the main reasons America
joined the war against Germany.
The need to break the stalemate led each
side to develop new methods of fighting.
Poisonous gas was first used at the Second
Battle of Ypres in April 1915. The military initially
used aeroplanes for taking aerial photographs of
the enemys position, but, as the war progressed,
so too did the design of aircraft, leading to the
first fighter planes and bombers. But it was a
development of a land craft, the tank, which
was to provide a means of breaking through
barbed wire and advancing towards the
opposingarmy.

The nature and scope of World War II

When World War I began, the nature of
warfare included the use of cavalry and singleshot rifles, and the tactic of charging the enemy
on foot. By 1939, advances in technology meant
that World War II would be fought with modern
equipment. When we compare the tanks, aircraft
and guns used in each war, the differences are
obvious. During World War II, the development

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World War I

World War II

Casualties
The estimated number of deaths
is 10 million military personnel
and about 7 million civilians.

Estimates of the number killed

vary, ranging from 60million
to over 70 million. This can
be broken down to 22 to
25million military deaths and
40 to 52million civilians, which
includes 13 to 20 million from
war-related famine and disease.

Nature of warfare
Fought from lines of trenches
with minimal mobility. Use of
artillery, cavalry, poisonous gas
and machine guns. First use of
aeroplanes and the tank.

Germany used the Blitzkrieg

fighting method. Submarines,
bomber aircraft and tanks
heavily used. Japanese
kamikaze attacks in the Pacific.
Secret codes for communication.
Radar invented for protection
from air attack. Development
and use of atomic bombs.

of radar, the jet engine and the atomic bomb

further changed the nature of warfare.
The nature and scope of World War II also
included deadly and horrific actions by both
sidesfor example:
the Holocaust, where Jews and others
considered undesirable by the Nazis
were placed in concentration camps and
systematically killed by the use of poisonous
gas
working to death and starving of Allied
prisoners of war by the Japanese
fire-bombing of the civilian population
of German cities such as Dresden by
the Allies
dropping of atomic bombs on the Japanese
cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by
the US.
ACTIVITY 4

Explanation and communication

1 Using information from this section and from

The nature of warfare during World War I (see

chapter7, pages 282 to 284) and Where did
Australians fight and what was the nature of
warfare during World War II? (see chapter8,
pages 333 to 338), compare the nature of
warfare in each war.

Analysis and use of sources

1 Using information from source9.15, what

comparisons about the nature of warfare can

bemade?

Research
1 Use the internet and resources from your school

library to find images that compare:

a aircraft in World War I and World War II
b a battle on the Western Front in World War I

and the bombing of Dresden in World War II

SOURCE 9.15 Comparison of World Wars I and II

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HISTORY 9 FOR NSW THE MODERN WORLD AND AUSTRALIA

How do the events and

experiences of Australians in
World War I compare with those
in World War II?

After locating their entry, note which war they

participated in and summarise their experience.

In preparation for undertaking this inquiry

question, you will need to have completed the
sections What was the Gallipoli Campaign?
(see chapter7, pages 285 to 292), and The
Kokoda campaign and What were experiences
of Australian prisoners of war? (see chapter8,
pages 335 to 342).
Although Australians fought on the Western
Front and in Sinai and Palestine, the Gallipoli
campaign has become the most significant event
of Australias involvement in World War I. The
experiences of Australian diggers, such as the
landing at Gallipoli and involvement in major
battles on the Western Front including Fromelles,
are recorded in primary sources such as dairies,
sketches and photographs. Many of these sources
are stored in archives.
The events of World War II relevant to
Australians include the fall of Singapore, the
bombing of Darwin and the Kokoda campaign.
Noteworthy experiences that have become a
major part of our history are those of Australian
nurses evacuated from Singapore, Australian
prisoners of war under the Japanese and
Australians who flew in Bomber Command.
Completing activity 5 will allow you to find out
more about these experiences.

e Oliver Trooper Bluegum Hogue

a Evelyn Ernest Owen

b Agnes Betty Jeffrey
c Edward (Teddy) Sheean
d Walter Ernest Brown

Frederick Birks.

2 Using your answers to the previous question,

select one person from World WarI and one from

World War II. Compare their experiences.
3 Select one event from the events listed

in the following table in the column

World War I and another from the
events listed in column WorldWar II.
Research your choices and then compare the
events. How were they similar and different?
(Goto your digital support for links to information
to assist your research.)
World War I

World War II

Battle of Fromelles

Battle of El Alamein

The Battle of the Somme

Battle of the Coral Sea

Battle of Vimy Ridge

Campaign on Bougainville
Island

Battle of Amiens

Aitape-Wewak campaign

4 The Australian War Memorial holds an

outstanding collection of primary sources

on the experiences of Australians in World Wars I
and II. Use its search facility to locate information
on the experiences of Australians in each of
these wars.

ACTIVITY 5

Explanation and communication

1 Using information from What was the Gallipoli

Campaign? (see chapter7, pages 285 to

292) and What were experiences of Australian
prisoners of war? (see chapter8, pages 338
to 342), compare the events and experience of
each war.

Research
1 Go to the People Profiles webpage

on the Australian War Memorial site

(your digital support pack has the
link) and find the following people
who served in World War I and/or World War II.

How did the impact of World

War I on Australia compare with
the impact of World War II?
In preparation for undertaking this inquiry
question, you will need to have completed the
sections What was the impact of World War I
on Australia? (see chapter7, pages 291 to 299)
and What was the impact of World War II on
Australia? (seechapter8, pages 342 to 335).
When comparing the impact of each of the
World Wars on Australia, many similarities

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SOURCE 9.16 Australian War Memorial

can be identified, and this is an opportunity to

examine continuity and change. In the following
activity, you will plan and write an extended
response to answer the inquiry question How did
the impact of World War I on Australia compare
to the impact of World War II?
ACTIVITY 6

Research
1 Locate (in this textbook) information on the

impact of World War I on the role of women in

Australia. Summarise the key points.
2 Locate (in this textbook) information on the

impact of World War II on the role of women in

Australia. Summarise the key points.
3 Locate (in this textbook) information on the

impact of World War I on the Australian economy.

Summarise the key points.

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4 Locate (in this textbook) information on the

impact of World War II on the Australian

economy. Summarise the key points.
5 Locate (in this textbook) information on the

conscription issue in Australia and its impact

on society during World War I. Summarise the
keypoints.
6 Locate (in this textbook) information on the

conscription issue in Australia and its impact

on society during World War II. Summarise the
keypoints.
7 Locate (in this textbook) information on the

impact of government controls, censorship

and propaganda on Australian society during
WorldWar I. Summarise the key points.
8 Locate (in this textbook) information on the

impact of government controls, censorship

and propaganda on Australian society during
World War II. Summarise the key points.

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HISTORY 9 FOR NSW THE MODERN WORLD AND AUSTRALIA

9 Locate (in this textbook) information on the

Australian governments treatment of enemy

aliens during World War I. Summarise the
keypoints.
10 Locate (in this textbook) information on the

Australian governments treatment of enemy

aliens during World War II. Summarise the
keypoints.

For more assistance on writing an explanation

text, see skill 1 from the Focus on history skills
in chapter2, page 38.

Source 9.17 covers how to use an explanation

scaffold for the topic Explain the impact of
World Wars I and II on the Australian home
front. How was the impact similar during
eachwar?.

11 Locate (in this textbook) information on how

Australia came under attack during WorldWarII.

How does this compare to World War I?
Summarise the key points.
12 Locate (in this textbook) information on how

many Australians

An introduction that outlines

the aspects of the Australian home front
that were affected by the wars.

a enlisted in World War I and World War II

b were killed in World War I and World War II.

Explanation and communication

1 From the research you undertook for the

preceding questions 1 and 2, which war do

you think had the greater impact on women?
Explain your answer.
2 From the research you undertook for the

preceding questions 3 and 4, which war do you

think had the greater impact on the Australian
economy? Explain your answer.

A series of paragraphs
that explain the impact of each war
on the role of women, the economy, conscription,
government controls, censorship and propaganda,
and enemy aliens. These paragraphs must
also include comparisons of each
and similarities identified.

3 From the research you undertook for the

preceding questions 5 and 6, do you think

the impact of the conscription debate on
Australian society was greater in World War I
compared to World War II? Explain your
answer.
4 From the research you undertook for the

preceding questions 7 and 8, compare the

impact of government controls, censorship
and propaganda on Australian society during
World Wars I and II.

A conclusion that summarises

your response and signals its end
to your audience.

SOURCE 9.17 Explanation scaffold

5 From the research you undertook for the

preceding questions 9 and 10, compare the

impact of government treatment of enemy
aliens in Australia during World Wars I and II.
6 From the research you undertook for the

preceding question 11, would you agree that

the impact of enemy attacks on Australia was
greater in World War II than World War I?
Explainyour answer.
7 Using your answers to all of the preceding

questions, explain the impact of World Wars I

and II on the Australian home front. How was
the impact similar during each war? Use the
scaffold below to structure your response.

What was the significance

of World Wars I and II to
Australia?
In preparation for undertaking this inquiry
question, you will need to have completed
the sections What is the Anzac legend? (see
chapter7, pages 314 to 316) and What was
the significance of World War II to Australias
international relationships? (see chapter8,
pages 358 to 360).

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CHAPTER 9 COMPARATIVE STUDY: WORLD WARS I AND II

At the end of World War I, about 400000

soldiers returned to Australia with the hope
of resuming normal lives after years of war.
The significance of the war to these men was
very much a personal matter. Some were able
to put their war experience behind them and
return to their regular lifestyle. Other, however,
suffered the effects of war and found it difficult
to adjust. In June 1916, the Returned Sailors and
Soldiers Imperial League of Australia (now called
the Returned and Services League or RSL) was
established. The RSL defended the rights of those
who served and supported soldiers who had
problems returning into society.
To Australians as a whole, World War I
was significant because they believed the war
had put Australia on the world stage. The
Commonwealth of Australia had been formed
less than 20 years previously, when the states
federated in 1901. World WarI was seen as
the new nations baptism by fire. From it the
Anzac legend was born, and this would shape
our national identity over the next 100 years.
However, it must be remembered that Australias
foreign policy and legal system were still strongly
influenced by Britain.
The significance of World War II to the
individual men and women who served the
country was also a very personal matter.
Experiences varied, with the worst possibly
being those who suffered as prisoners of war
under the Japanese. But to the nation, World
WarII led to significant changesespecially in
Australias foreign relations, as summed up by
Prime Minister Curtin in 1941 when he stated
that Australia looks to America, free of any pangs
as to our traditional links or kinship with the
UnitedKingdom.
Through using the following sources and
completing the related activities, you will
undertake a comparison of the significance
of World Wars I and II to Australia. In doing
so, take note of the interpretation presented in
eachsource.

Australia rides safely in harbour to-day, a new

nation. Five years ago the world barely knew her.
To-day, the men who went to fight for her have
placed her high in the worlds regardShe has
been given a place in the conference of nations;
the great world has recognised her right to
mould her future as she pleases.
Quoted in Bill Gammage, The Broken Years,
Penguin, Melbourne, 1990, p. 297

SOURCE 9.18 Speech for Peace Day, 1919, by

General White

[H]idden in homes all over Australia were men

who had gone to World War I and who were
never the same again. For most the disabilities
were physical, but there were plenty who
wereremote or morose or who shouted all
the time. For the worst affected, family life
became punctuated by sudden rages, drinking
bouts and black depressions, but even for the
most stable, there was always a shadow: My
father was in both wars. I didnt think they
had any effect on him until I sat with him in
his last illness. He cried for his friends in the
trenches at Gallipoli and told of his fears. I
realised as children we had only been told the
funny bits.
Janet McCalman, Journeyings, Melbourne University Press, Melbourne,
1993, pp. 8081

SOURCE 9.19 Significance of war to individuals

If we take a random sample of [World War 1

returned soldiers files]it is clear that they
suffered higher rates of employment disruption,
suicide, vagrancy and marital instability than
ordinary AustraliansIt is only to be expected
that men with chronic injuries, ill health, and,
sometimes, mental instability should also suffer
social and psychological problems. Moreover,
these afflictions placed a disproportionate
burden on families, leading in some instances to
divorce and separation.
Stephen Garton, The Cost of War, Oxford University Press,
Melbourne, 1996, p. 28

SOURCE 9.20 The cost of war

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HISTORY 9 FOR NSW THE MODERN WORLD AND AUSTRALIA

I was born in 1913 and some of my boy and girl

friends are thoroughly sick of war pictures, and
especially sick of anything relating to Australian
soldiersWe see nothing to interest us in these
plays and talkies. What we actually see every
day till they have got on our nerves are crippled,
blind and battered wrecks, with brass badges on,
begging in the streets, howling about pension

reductions, while their women and children are

in dire straits, so if there was ever any honour and
glory in the wretched business, it vanished before I
grew upthe general opinion among fellows like
myself is that Australians were very foolish to let
themselves be lured into goingnone of my friends
like returned soldiers.
Labor Daily, 25 November 1931, quoted in Bill Gammage, The Broken Years,
Penguin, Melbourne, 1990, p. 304

SOURCE 9.21 Reaction to returned soldiers

BANKER (to returned soldier): Yes, yes; possibly I DID say something about keeping
your position vacant, but it has lately been capably filled by a charming young woman
(to whom wages are no object); and I feel sure that you, as a soldier, will not be so
unchivalrous as to ask me to discharge her to reinstate YOU!
SOURCE 9.22 Cartoon from The Worker, 10 February 1916

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CHAPTER 9 COMPARATIVE STUDY: WORLD WARS I AND II

There were five points during the war at which

we can see Australia either asserting its identity, or
remaining tied subserviently to anothernation.
In 1939, Britain declared war against
GermanyPrime Minister Menzies announced
that we were therefore also automatically at war.
As part of a pre war agreement commitment,
Prime Minister Menzies turned the [Australian]
Navy over to effective control by Britain as part
of the Royal Navy. Menzies also committed
Australias Air Force to British command for use
in the war over Europe, and in effect the RAAFs
main role became training Australian crews to
be used in the RAF. This later severely restricted
the RAAFs capacity to play an effective role in
the Pacific War.
In December 1941, when Japan attacked Pearl
Harbor and then Singapore, Australia declared
war on Japan. We did not wait for a British
declaration, nor did we consider ourselves a part
of the British declaration.
In late 1941 and early 1942, as Japan stormed
into the war and invaded New Guinea, most
Australian troops were in action in the Middle
East. Australian Prime Minister Curtin wanted
the troops to return to Australia, to be sent to
New Guinea. British Prime Minister Churchill
wanted to send the troops to Burma to take on
the Japanese there, assuring Curtin that this was
the better strategy, and that New Guinea could
be dealt with later. Curtins decision won the day.
One effect of that was that the Commonwealth
Parliament passed the Statute of Westminster
Adoption Act. The Statute of Westminster was
a British Act which said in effect that when a
Dominion adopted it, the British Government
could no longer make any decisions for that
Dominion. It had been available to Australia
since 1931, but was only adopted in 1943.
In December 1941, Curtin wrote an article
for the Melbourne Herald, in which he said:
Without any inhibitions of any kind, I make it
quite clear that Australia looks to America, free
of any pangs as to our traditional links or kinship
with the United Kingdom. The United States
needed Australia as a supply and staging post
for its Pacific War efforts; Australia needed the
USA to be active and aggressive in the Pacific
Robert Lewis, The Home FrontWorld War 2,
http://www.anzacday.org.au/history/ww2/homefront/overview.html

SOURCE 9.23 World War II, national identity and

independence

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SOURCE 9.24 Kenneth Parkyns, a former prisoner of

war of the Japanese, being greeted by his mother and his
fiance, on his return to Australia in 1945

In early 1944 Australia and New Zealand signed

a treaty, known as the ANZAC Agreement,
asserting that a regional zone of defence
comprising the South-West and South Pacific
areas, and based on Australia and New Zealand,
should be established and that the two
Governments agree to act together in matters of
common concern in the South West and South
Pacific areas. The agreement covered a number
of areas including security and defence, civil
aviation, migration, dependencies and territories.
The ANZAC Agreement was Australias first
international treaty signed independently of
Britain and was an attempt by Australia and
NewZealand to assert autonomy in their
ownregion.
Lesley Carman-Brown, Independent foreign policy,
John Curtin Prime Ministerial Library, 2004,
http://john.curtin.edu.au/aspirations/foreign.html

SOURCE 9.25 The Anzac Agreement, 1944

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HISTORY 9 FOR NSW THE MODERN WORLD AND AUSTRALIA

Chronology of Australias changing

international relations after
World War II
1945

Australia becomes a founding member of

the United Nations.

1946

Australia becomes a member of UNESCO

(United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organisation). The bodys purpose
was to prevent the outbreak of another
world war through intellectual and moral
unity.

1947

Australia changes its immigration policy

from seeking only British migrants to
accepting refugees from Eastern European
countries, including Estonia, Latvia,
Lithuania and Poland.

1950

Australia supports the establishment of

the Colombo Plan. The purpose of the plan
was to promote cooperation efforts to raise
the standard of living and education of
people in the Asian region.

1951

ANZUS Treaty signed between Australia,

NewZealand and the United States of
America.
The purpose of the treaty was to provide
assistance to each party in the event of
war.

ACTIVITY 7

Comprehension: chronology, terms and

concepts
1 In what year was the Returned Sailors and

Soldiers Imperial League of Australia formed?

2 Explain what you think the term baptism by

fire means in relation to the significance of

World War I and Australia as a new nation.
3 Explain what you think Curtin meant by

Australia looks to America, free of any pangs

as to our traditional links or kinship with the
United Kingdom.

Analysis and use of sources

1 How does source9.18 support the view that

World War I increased Australias reputation in

the world?
2 Use sources 9.19 and 9.20 to find information on

the impact World War I had on returned soldiers.

Make a list of evidence from these sources
that could be used to explain the various ways
theysuffered.

SOURCE 9.26 Migrants from Europe

arriving in Australia, 1954

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CHAPTER 9 COMPARATIVE STUDY: WORLD WARS I AND II

3 In source9.23, five examples are given of

Australias relationship with other countries.

What are they?
4 What evidence does source9.25 provide

about Australia becoming more independent

fromBritain?
5 The preceding chronology provides information

on Australias changing relationship with other

countries after World War II. In what ways is this
information useful to an historian?

Empathetic understanding
1 What is the attitude to returned soldiers

expressed in source9.21? How does it

compare with yours after reading sources 9.19
and 9.20?
2 How might Australians of British origin have felt

when Curtin stated Australia looks to America,

free of any pangs as to our traditional links or
kinship with the United Kingdom?

385

What comparisons can be

made about how World Wars I
and II are commemorated?
In preparation for undertaking this inquiry
question, you will need to have completed the
sections How is World War I commemorated?
(see chapter7, pages 310 to 313) and How is
World War II commemorated? (see chapter8,
pages 360 to 364).
The commemoration of Australias
involvement in World Wars I and II is most
notably done each Anzac Day. Ceremonies are
held throughout the country and the day is a
public holiday.

3 Look at source9.24. Describe how the returned

soldier would have felt having come home after

being a prisoner of war.

Explanation and communication

1 Using sources 9.18 to 9.26 and from reading

What is the Anzac legend? (see chapter7,

pages 314 to 316) and What was the
significance of World War II to Australias
international relationships? (see chapter8,
pages 358 to 360), explain the significance of the
wars to Australia. In writing your answer, ensure
that you:
explain the impact of the wars on returned

soldiers and civilians

analyse the changing relationship of Australia

with other countries after World War II.

Research
1 Source 9.23 mentions the Statute of Westminster

Adoption Act. Locate information about this

Act and its significance to Australias changing
relationship with Britain.
2 Use the internet to find sources that describe

the impact of World Wars I and II on Australian

returned soldiers. Explain how the impact was
similar and different for each war.

SOURCE 9.27 The Roulettes fly over the Hobart Cenotaph for the
commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, 2010

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HISTORY 9 FOR NSW THE MODERN WORLD AND AUSTRALIA

ACTIVITY 8

Explanation and communication

1 Using sources 9.27 and 9.28 and from reading

How is World War I commemorated? (see

chapter7, pages 310 to 313) and How is World
WarII commemorated? (see chapter8, pages
360 to 364 discuss how the wars have been
celebrated. In writing your answer, ensure that
you explain:
how and why Australians have

commemorated the wars

the different perspectives of the Anzac

legend.

Perspectives and interpretations

1 Dale Blair wrote that

The ceremonial tradition of the Anzac legend,

through its powerful and symbolic celebration
of the digger and Empire loyalty, effectively
muted the voices of dissent and veiled the many
individual sufferings and unpleasant memories
of returnedsoldiers and their families.
(Dinkum Diggers, Melbourne University Press,
Melbourne, 2001, p. 194)

SOURCE 9.28 Able Seaman Rebecca Florance with a

special edition of the stamp commemorating 100 years of
the Royal Australian Navy, 2011

What point does Blair make?

Research
1 Go to your digital support for information

The anniversary of particular battles and

events are also commemorated throughout the
year through ceremonies and the issuing of
special mementos. More permanent symbols of
commemoration can be found in memorials,
and sources 9.27 and 9.28 are two examples of
commemoration activities.

on how to organise an Anzac Day

service. Use this to describe the features
of an Anzac Day commemorative
service.
2 Use the internet to locate photographs of the

commemoration of Australias involvement in

World Wars I and II since the first Anzac Day
commemoration held in 1916. From examining
your findings, describe what aspects have
remained the same and what has changed
overtime.

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CHAPTER 9 COMPARATIVE STUDY: WORLD WARS I AND II

History challenges
Critical and creative thinking
Your local RSL club has asked you to design an
exhibition related to Australias involvement in
either World War I or II. Sketch the layout of your
exhibition, labelling the items you would feature in
your display.

Getting the message across

In 1918, Sir Frederic Kenyon described the view
of the British government on how graves in war
cemeteries should be constructed:
what was done for one should be done for
all, and that all, whatever their military rank
or position in civil life, should have equal
treatment in their graves.

SOURCE 9.29 Kranji War Cemetery in Singapore

ISBN 978 1 4202 3219 6

1 What do you think is meant by Sir Frederics

statement?
2 How does source9.29 reflect this statement?

ICT
Go to your digital support to visit the
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
website. Use the site to locate information
on cemeteries where Australians from
both World Wars I and II are buried.

Visual communication
Every year, the Department of Veterans Affairs
produces Anzac Day posters commemorating
a particular theme or anniversary in Australias
wartimehistory.

387

HISTORY 9 FOR NSW THE MODERN WORLD AND AUSTRALIA

1 What is depicted in the 2013 poster (source9.30)?

and to raise awareness and appreciation of the

service and sacrifice of our servicemen and
women. How successful is the 2013 poster in
achieving this purpose?

2 According to its website, the Department of

Veterans Affairs produces Anzac Day posters to

reflect the Departments commitment to engage
the community on Australias wartime history,

3 Design an Anzac Day poster for the Department

of Veterans Affairs, keeping in mind the

departments purpose for the poster.

Figure it out

25 April 2013

AnzAC dAy

1 Calculate the average age of those mentioned in

source9.31
2 What type of graph would you use to show the

number of ranks? Draw your graph.

ian prisoners of war

Commemorating AustralRailway
nd
aila
Th
ma
on the Bur

3 Calculate the year of birth of the seven soldiers

listed in source9.31

alian
almost 10,000 Austr
During World War II
n of the
ed on the constructio
prisoners of war work
cal
ay in appalling physi
re Pass
BurmaThailand Railw
n of the notorious Hellfi
ructio
Const
tions.
condi
1943.
April
began in

Intercultural understanding
In both World Wars I and II, the Australian
Government interned thousands of men, women
and children who were considered enemy aliens.
Most of these people were living in Australia. In
World War I, Germans made up the majority of the
7000 internees. During World War II, up to 12000
Germans, Italians, Japanese and people from over
30 other countries were placed in internment camps
in Australia.
We no longer intern people during wartime
conflicts. What attitudes would have led to the
policy of interning enemy aliens in the past? Why
would this policy no longer operate in Australia?
Write a one-page response.

Australian War Memorial

www.dva.gov.au/anzac

images: P00406.026

and 122309

P02436

388

Talking points
Hold a class discussion on the topic Does Australia
do enough for its war veterans?

SOURCE 9.30 Department of Veterans Affairs Anzac Day

poster for 2013

Name

Rank

Date of Death

Age

Regiment / Service

BARNES, WILLIAM JOHN

Private

12/04/1919

21

Australian Army Medical Corps

BARTON, FRANK

Private

23/08/1915

42

Australian Infantry, A.I.F.

BARTIER, ROY OSWALD

Private

15/08/1915

22

Australian Infantry, A.I.F.

WARE, VERNON

Sergeant

3/04/1916

37

Australian Light Horse

DOWSE, VICTOR FAIRFAX

Trooper

24/06/1916

19

Imperial Camel Corps

DOWNEY, CHARLES

Trooper

18/04/1919

26

Australian Light Horse

PAUL, GEORGE FRANCIS

Sergeant

18/04/1916

25

Australian Army Service Corps

SOURCE 9.31
Sample of Australians
buried in the Cairo
Memorial War
Cemetery

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