Test 2 - Extended Response WWII Flashcards
(21 cards)
Fall of Singapore info
8th to 15th of Feb 1942
Japanese Imperial vs British Commonwealth
36k beat 85k
Very significant
Kokoda Trail Campaign info
21st July to 16th Nov 1942
Between Japanese and Australian forces
Where Japan tried to take over Port Moresby by advancing through the Kokoda Trail, in Papua New Guinea
Very significant
Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki info
6th and 9th of August 1945
Where USA dropped two atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, two of Japan’s biggest cities at the time, the bombs’ names were Little Boy and Fat Man respectively.
Very significant
S Singapore 1
Led Australia to turn to US not Britain
Winston Churchill: “Worst disaster and largest capitulation in British history”.
Britain was defeated in just 8 days.
PM Curtin: “I make it clear Australia looks to America
SGP was seen as ‘impregnable fortress’.
S Singapore 2
Many Australians became Japanese POWs
More than 15000 captured
7000 died in captivity
Died due to disease, malnutrition, and neglect
S Singapore 3
Made Australia open to invasion
Focus of Pacific war moved closer to Australia
Darwin was bombed 19th Feb
Killed 230 people
400 wounded
8 ships were sunk
S Singapore 4
Led Australia to create new post-war defence policies
Self-reliance policy
Increased recruitment and mobilization in Army, Navy and Air Force
Increased domestic production of military equipment.
Defence spending grew to 2% of GDP
S Singapore 5
Demoralized troops and wider family
The quick defeat led to sense of hopelessness
Poor discipline in the final days of battle
Soldiers looting and deserting posts
Family were worried sick and were stressed
London newspapers blamed ‘Australian Cowardice’
NS Singapore 6
Japan never planned to launch a full-scale invasion of Australia
Was barely even considered
Japan’s main focus was aquiring resources
General Tomoyuki Yamashita: “To mount an invasion of Australia would be a logistical nightmare”
Japan thought cutting Aus off was fine, but still lost Midway and Guadacanal
S Kokoda 1
First major win for Australians against Japan
Boosted morale of troops
Protected Port Moresby
Australian soldier
Even citizen soldiers, no training, stood up against them
Brigadier Potts: “They looked like scarecrows but fought like tigers”
S Kokoda 2
Strengthened US relationship with Australia
Better international relationship with global superpower at the time
By 1943, more that 1mil US troops had passed through Australia
More than 100 planes and 250 tons of rations from US
S Kokoda 3
Significant symbol of Australian participation in WW2
People undertake the ‘trek’ through the trail as a ‘pilgrimage’
Proof of Australian ‘spirit’ and resilience
The 96km trail and rugged, hilly conditions, with altitude ranging from 160m-2000m
39th Battalion 1000 hastily mobilized troops, not much training
S Kokoda 4
Came at a high cost for Australia
Conditions such as malaria and dysentry
625 Australians killed
500 wounded
4000 ill due to harsh conditions and malnutrition
S Kokoda 5
Led Australia to improve it’s post-war practices
Canungra Jungle Warfare Training Centre
Built lightweight equipment (35kg - 22kg)
Dehyrdrated rations instead of cans
Gun+ammunition weight 2 kg lighter
NS Kokoda 6
Japan never planned to launch a full-scale invasion of Australia
Was barely even considered
Japan’s main focus was aquiring resources
General Tomoyuki Yamashita: “To mount an invasion of Australia would be a logistical nightmare”
Japan thought cutting Aus off was fine, but still lost Midway and Guadacanal
S Japan 1
Ended WW2
Japan surrendered on the 2nd of September
Prevented 268,000 Allied casualties
Prevented millions of Japanese civilian casualties
S Japan 2
Demonstrated power of nuclear weapons
12,119 nuclear warheads now
Started the nuclear arms race
US and USSR started researching hydrogen bombs
Necessary for national security
S Japan 3
Led Japan to adopt pacifist constitution
The trauma led Japan to reject militarism
US occupation also led to Japanese political restructuring
US demilitarized Japan
Article 9 of Postwar constitution: renunciation of war and military force
S Japan 4
Lots of Japanese casualties
Hiroshima 140,000 dead
Nagasaki 70,000 dead
250,000 people homeless
Psychological trauma, guilt, PTSD
Cancer and health problems
Genetic diseases and mutations (mulitgeneterational 3-4)
S Japan 5
Led to scientific and medical advancements
Developed radiation exposure and treatment protocols
Plastic surgery to fix scars of burns (over 1,100 people)
Potassium Iodide to block radioactive cancer
DTPA to remove radioactive metals from body
NS Japan 6
US is not global superpower anymore
Use of the first atomic bomb cemented US as global superpower
China and India both have larger populations
China is leader in technology and has influence acros the world
Both India and China have impressive military capabilities
India and china have fast-growing economies.
