Enemy aliens ww1 and ww2 Flashcards
(17 cards)
What act did the Australian government pass in 1914 to detain enemy aliens?
War Precautions Act
This act allowed the government to detain and restrict individuals from countries at war with Australia.
How many people were interned in Australia during World War I?
Over 6,890 people
Mainly Germans, Austrians, and Turks were interned in camps.
What was the main legislative measure used by the Australian government during World War I to control enemy forces?
Legislative measures and administrative actions
Australia operated under British military authority while implementing domestic controls.
Who was assassinated on 28 June 1914, triggering the events leading to World War I?
Archduke Franz Ferdinand
He was the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne.
What was the Trading with the Enemy Act?
Cancelled all trade agreements with Germany and its allies
Restricted commercial interactions with enemy nations.
What was the purpose of the War Precautions Act?
Classified individuals of German ancestry as ‘enemy aliens’
Enabled internment of suspected threats and provided a framework for civil liberties restrictions.
What was the internment system implemented by the Australian government during World War I?
Nearly 7,000 Germans were detained
Approximately 4,500 had lived in Australia before the war.
What cultural actions were taken against Germans in Australia during World War I?
Closure of German businesses, schools, and churches
Renaming of German food and places, and a ban on German music.
What military operations did Australia engage in during World War I?
Occupation of German New Guinea and sinking of German cruiser Emden
First naval victory for the Royal Australian Navy.
What significant social impact did the Australian government’s control measures during WWI have?
Effectively dismantled the German Australian community
Led to thousands leaving Australia voluntarily or through deportation.
What act allowed the internment of aliens during World War II?
National Security Act
This act allowed internment of Germans, Italians, and Japanese.
How many people were interned in Australia during World War II?
Over 12,000 people
Interned in camps such as Tatura and Loveday.
What were the manpower controls during World War I?
Conscription debates and redirecting workers to war industries
Enlistment was initially voluntary but changed as the war progressed.
What was the term ‘enemy alien’ used to describe?
Citizens of states legally at war with the British Empire
Included immigrants from the German Empire, Austro-Hungarian Empire, Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria.
What happened to Japanese residents in Australia after the attack on Pearl Harbor?
Interned en masse
This included Japanese pearl fishermen and civilians from the Dutch East Indies.
What was one reason for the classification of ‘enemy aliens’ in Australia during WWI?
Fear of possible German-Australian ‘conflicted loyalties’
Led to regulations under the War Precautions Act, including mandatory registration.
What was the outcome for most internees after World War I?
Most were deported from Australia
They had no recourse to judicial appeal and many did not understand why they were expelled.
