History: Total War

The Treaty of Versailles was the peace settlement signed after World War One had ended in 1918 and in the shadow of the Russian Revolution and other events in Russia. The treaty was signed at the vast Versailles Palace near Paris between Germany and the Allies.

The Treaty of Versailles was one of five treaties formulated at the Paris Peace Conference as part of the peace negotiations at the end of the First World War. The Treaty of Versailles related to establishing the conditions of peace with Germany.
Australia’s representatives at the Paris Peace Conference are listed and copies of documents provided

Role of women in the military to free soldiers for combat.
Women in Australia taking on jobs previously done by men.

Women entering the work force; includes establishment of Women's Land Army.
Women bearing witness as artists and writers.
Includes references and further links

Propaganda about Women being asked to do men's jobs either in the services or in industry.

Australian War Memorial briefly looks at the various areas that Australian nurses served during WWII.

Looks at nurses in Singapore and Sr Vivian Bullwinkel's story

National Archives of Australia fact sheet on the bombing of Darwin by the Japanese in 1942-43. Provides links to a range of documents from National Archives, Australian War Memorial, Inquiry into and report by Mr Justice Lowe..

Includes links to videos, students resources, 70th anniversary commemorations.

Information about documents held at the NSW Gallery about the bombing of Darwin and a few people involved and the images used for a display.

Attack by Japanese on Kokoda track.

The Burma-Thailand railway (known also as the Burma–Thailand or Burma–Siam railway) was built in 1942–43. Its purpose was to supply the Japanese forces in Burma, bypassing the sea routes which had become vulnerable when Japanese naval strength was reduced in the Battles of the Coral Sea and Midway in May and June 1942.

In 1943 Japan’s high command decided to build a railway linking Thailand and Burma, to supply its campaign against the Allies in Burma.

The railway was to run 420 kilometres through rugged jungle.

Australian prisoners were sent to Sandakan in 1942 to build an airstrip. At first they were treated reasonably well. Gradually, however, rations were reduced and bashings increased.

What Australians at home could do to assist in the war effort - from women taking on roles in industry, joining the women's forces - WAAAF, AWAF, WRANS, , voluntary organisations such as Red Cross.

In 1942, a famous advertisement featuring the Prime Minister John Curtin called on all Australians to assist in the war effort. Men, women and children were called upon to support and protect their homes from the enemy.

Looks at the history of involvement of Indigenous Australians in Australian defence forces over time and the change in attitudes as the war continued.

Looks at concerns some politicians had for including Indigenous Australians in the various services. How some enlisted by denying their aboriginality, how views changed as Australia was threatened.

In the interests of national security the Australian Government interned thousands of men, women and children during World War I and World War II. Most of those interned were classed as 'enemy aliens', that is, nationals of countries at war with Australia. Internees were accommodated in camps around Australia, often in remote locations.

During the First and Second World Wars, nationals of countries at war with Australia who were living in Australia were classed as “enemy aliens”. Many of these were interred in camps around Australia.