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World War 2

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A black and white image of a wartime Naval ship

Australian battlecruiser HMAS Australia in 1914, Alan C. Green, State Library Victoria

Australia's Naval Alliances: John Seymour and Hugh White

In the 1920s and 1930s Australia entrusted its security to Britain's Royal Navy.  In 1941 that proved to be a big mistake. Are we making the same mistake now with America and AUKUS? John Seymour discusses his new book.

Event
Frank Hurley and Masly Williams looking towards Jerusalem

Frank Hurley, Frank Hurley and Maslyn Williams Looking Out Over the Kidron Valley Towards Jerusalem, Mount of Olives, Palestine, 1940?, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-151339245

Hurley Collection

Over 10,000 black and white negatives and colour transparencies, about 1000 exhibition prints, several photograph albums, a group of stereographs, plus maps, diaries and personal papers.

Collection guide
Collection guide
Hertz Collection

Books, pamphlets, photographs, posters and a small number of maps relating to war and aviation.

Collection guide
Collection guide
Hall Collection

Personal papers and about 600 books and pamphlets from 1900-1960 on international relations, political biography, migration and more with a focus on the Commonwealth and United States. 

Collection guide
Collection guide
Baracchi Collection

Papers, pamphlets, books and periodicals relating to communism, socialism, fascism, capitalism, international relations, public finance, politics, World War II, and the Vietnam War.

Collection guide
Collection guide
Radicalism in America

Pamphlets, journals and other publications documenting many strands of American radicalism.

Collection guide
Map of the world during World War II showing Japanese and German influence and occupation, international boundaries, transportation, oil fields etc. Scattered around the map are depictions of war technology including battleships, aircraft and artillery. Some countries have depictions of animals or 'things' relevant to the country eg. in the middle of Australia is a kangaroo, emu, a platypus and sheep. Inset at bottom left and right are close ups of the Mediterranean and Solomon Islands respectively.

Japanese map of World War ll, 1942, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-234704475

Enemy aliens and war with Japan

Topic

As the outbreak of war was announced, police forces around Australia moved swiftly to ensure there were no concerns about security at home.

Digital Classroom
Charcoal on paper sketch of the head and shoulders of a young man. He has hair neatly swept back. He is wearing an collared white shirt with the collar open. He is in profile staring off to the right.

Theodor Engel, Study of a Dunera boy at Tatura, Victoria, 1943, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-152997802

Dunera

Topic

In the years leading to the outbreak of World War II, Hitler and his government’s anti-Semitism became increasingly violent.

Digital Classroom
A black and white photograph of the main garrison gates of the former Cowra Prisoner of War camp. The gates now sit in a grassy park surrounded by trees and bushes.

Brendon Kelson, Garrison Gates Memorial (former entrance to POW camp), Binni Creek Road, Cowra, 1996, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-143115748

Cowra

Topic

Opened in 1941, the Cowra camp was used as a site to house the growing number of Prisoners of War (POWs) from the Mediterranean theatre of war, mainly Italian and German troops.

Digital Classroom
Australian Prime Minister Robert Menzies sits at a desk holding several pieces of paper. He is looking melancholic and stares off camera to the left. He is a middle-aged white man with blonde hair swept to one side. He wears a dark suit and tie with a dark tie. There is a black Bakelite telephone on the table in front of him

The Rt. Hon. RG Menzies PM of Australia broadcasting to the nation the news of the outbreak of war, 1939, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-136636422

Internment, World War 2 (1939-45)

Module

This resource is aligned with the Australian Curriculum: History for Year 10 students. It engages students with a rich selection of sources and challenges them to draw their own conclusions about World War 2. Using the lens of internment, this resource looks at home front human stories, impacts of war and genocide, migration and multiculturalism.

Digital Classroom
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill is seated at a table wearing glasses. He is signing a document. Standing behind him and leaning over his shoulder is Australian Prime Minister Robert Menzies. Both men are wear dark suits with white shirts. Menzies is wearing a dark tie, Churchill a bow tie.

Portrait of Prime Ministers R.G. Menzies and Winston Churchill at Downing Street, London, 1941, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-137388175

War in Europe again - 'My melancholy duty'

Topic

At 9.15 pm on Sunday 3 September 1939, Australia’s Prime Minister, Robert Menzies (1894-1978), gave a radio address, announcing that Australia was at war with Germany.

Digital Classroom
Scrapbook of newspaper clippings, including one full page and a cartoon, about the Gamboa family

Album of newspaper cuttings relating to the Gamboa family from the Papers of the Gamboa family, 1949–99, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn997866

Gamboa: A family defined by race

Follow the story of Lorenzo Gamboa and his fight to return to his Australian-born wife and children after his deportation in 1946. 

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