Curtin Government Australian home front during World War II

1942 australian propaganda poster. australia feared invasion imperial japan following fall of singapore.



the bombing of darwin, 19 february 1942.



hmas kuttabul, sunk japanese midget submarine attack on sydney harbour, 1942.

eight weeks after formation of curtin government, on 8 december 1941 (eastern australia time), japan attacked pearl harbor, naval base in hawaii. on 10 december 1941, british battleship hms prince of wales , battlecruiser hms repulse sent defend singapore sunk japan. british malaya collapsed, shocking australian population. british, indian , australian troops made disorganised last stand @ singapore, before surrendering on 15 february 1942. on 27 december 1941, curtin demanded reinforcements churchill, , published historic announcement:

curtin predicted battle australia follow. australia ill-prepared attack, lacking armaments, modern fighter aircraft, heavy bombers, , aircraft carriers. of australia’s best forces committed fight against hitler in middle east. on 19 february, darwin suffered devastating air raid, first time australian mainland had ever been attacked enemy forces. on following 19 months, australia attacked air 100 times. elements of australian i corps, including 6th , 7th divisions, returned australia in 1942 counter perceived japanese threat australia. ran s ships in mediterranean withdrawn pacific raaf units in middle east remained in theatre.

u.s. president franklin roosevelt ordered commander in philippines, general douglas macarthur, formulate pacific defence plan australia in march 1942. curtin agreed place australian forces under command of general macarthur, became supreme commander of south west pacific . curtin had presided on fundamental shift in australia s foreign policy. macarthur moved headquarters melbourne in march 1942 , american troops began massing in australia. in late may 1942, japanese midget submarines sank accommodation vessel in daring raid on sydney harbour. on 8 june 1942, 2 japanese submarines briefly shelled sydney s eastern suburbs , city of newcastle.

u.s. general douglas macarthur, commander of allied forces in pacific, prime minister curtin



prime ministers curtin, fadden, hughes, menzies , governor-general duke of gloucester in 1945.

in effort isolate australia, japanese planned seaborne invasion of port moresby, in australian territory of new guinea. in may 1942, u.s. navy engaged japanese in battle of coral sea , halted attack. battle of midway in june defeated japanese navy , japanese army launched land assault on port moresby north.

the australian women s land army formed on 27 july 1942 under jurisdiction of director general of manpower combat rising labour shortages in farming sector.

the battle of buna-gona, between november 1942 , january 1943, set tone bitter final stages of new guinea campaign, persisted 1945. macarthur extent excluded australian forces main push north philippines , japan. left australia lead amphibious assaults against japanese bases in borneo.

curtin went on lead federal labor greatest win 2 thirds of seats in house of representatives , on 58% of two-party preferred vote @ 1943 federal election in august. labor won 49 seats 12 united australia party, 7 country party, 3 country national party (queensland), 1 queensland country party, 1 liberal country party (victoria) , 1 independent. labor party won 19 of seats contested senate.

concerned maintain british commitment defence of australia, prime minister curtin announced in november 1943 prince henry, duke of gloucester, brother of king george vi, appointed governor-general of australia. arrived in australia take post in january 1945. curtin hoped might influence british despatch men , equipment pacific, , appointment reaffirmed important role of crown australia @ time.

the british aircraft carrier hms formidable passing through anti-submarine boom in port jackson (sydney harbour) in 1945

as end of war approached, curtin sought firm australian influence in south pacific following war sought ensure continuing role british empire, calling australia bastion of british institutions, british way of life , system of democratic government in southern world . in april 1944, curtin held talks on postwar planning president franklin roosevelt of , prime minister winston churchill of britain , gained agreement australian economy begin transitioning military post-war economy. returned australia , campaigned unsuccessful 1944 referendum extend federal government power on employment, monopolies, aboriginal people, health , railway gauges.

prime minister curtin suffered ill health strains of office. suffered major heart attack in november 1944. facing newly formed liberal party of australia opposition led robert menzies, curtin struggled exhaustion , heavy work load – excusing himself parliamentary question time , unable concentrate on large number of parliamentary bills being drafted dealing coming peace. curtin returned hospital in april lung congestion. deputy prime minister frank forde in united states , ben chifley serving acting prime minister, chifley announced end of war in europe on 9 may 1945.

when curtin died towards end of second world war in july 1945, forde served prime minister 6–13 july, before party elected ben chifley curtin s successor. following 1945 election leader of labor party, chifley, former railway engine driver, became australia’s 16th prime minister on 13 july 1945. second world war ended defeat of japan in pacific 4 weeks later. curtin regarded 1 of country s greatest prime ministers. general macarthur said curtin 1 of greatest of wartime statesmen .