User:Ian Rose/Draft3
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Australia entered World War II shortly after the invasion of Poland, declaring war on Germany on 3 September 1939. By the end of the war almost a million Australians had served in the Australian armed forces and Australian military units had fought in Europe, North Africa, and the South-West Pacific. In addition, Australia came under direct attack for the first time in its history. 27,073 Australians were killed and 23,477 were wounded by enemy action during the war.
In effect Australia fought two wars between 1939 and 1945,[1] one against Germany and Italy as part of the British Commonwealth's war effort and the other against Japan in alliance with the United States and Britain. While most Australian forces were withdrawn from the Mediterranean following the outbreak of war in the Pacific, large numbers of Australians continued to take part in the air offensive against Germany. From 1942 until early 1944 Australian forces played a critical role in the Pacific war, making up the majority of Allied strength in the South West Pacific. The Australian military was largely relegated to subsidiary fronts from mid-1944 but continued offensive action against the Japanese until the end of the war.
World War II contributed to major changes in Australia's economy, military and foreign policy. The war accelerated the process of industrialisation, led to the development of a larger peacetime military and began the process with which Australia shifted the focus of its foreign policy to closer allegiance with the United States rather than Britain. The effects of the war also fostered the development of a more diverse and cosmopolitan Australian society.