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Australia and World War Two
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Robert Menzies appointed Prime Minister
On 26 April 1939 Menzies became prime minister with a new, all-U.A.P. cabinet. -
Germany invades Poland
Germany attacks Poland and German troops cross the border, causing Britain and France to declare war on Germany. All countries in the Britain Empire, including Australia, also declare war on Germany. -
Dunkirk starts
The Battle of Dunkirk was fought in Dunkirk, France, during the Second World War, between the Allies and Nazi Germany. -
Menzies spent 4 months in Churchill's war cabinet.
In 1941, Menzies spent four months in England to participate in meetings of Churchill's war cabinet. -
Troops sail to Greece
Over 26,000 Allied troops landed on Crete. Although 15,000 men were evacuated by ships of the Royal Navy, 12,000 Allied troops, including 3,000 Australians, were left on Crete and most became prisoners of war of the Germans. -
Siege of Tobruk starts
The Siege of Tobruk was a battle in Libya during the North African Campaign of World War II. The battle was between Axis and Allied Forces. The battle started when Tobruk was besieged by an Italian and Nazi German force. -
John Curtain elected Prime Minister
John Curtin became Prime Minister on 7 October 1941, after defeating the short-lived government of AW Fadden in a vote on the budget. He remained Prime Minister and head of war cabinet until his death in office on 5 July 1945. -
Siege of Tobruk concludes
The Siege of Tobruk was a battle in Libya during the North African Campaign of World War II. The battle was between Axis and Allied Forces. The battle started when Tobruk was besieged by an Italian and Nazi German force. -
Japan attacks Pearl Harbour
Japan attack on Pearl Harbour and Singapore - war in the Pacific war begins. -
Australia looks to America for help
John Curtin announces that Australia will look to America for help fight the Japaneses as a new threat of domination grows. "Without any inhibitions of any kind, I make it quite clear that Australia looks to America, free of any pangs as to our traditional link or kinship with the United Kingdom. -
Singapore Falls to Japan
The Battle of Singapore, also known as the Fall of Singapore, was fought in the South-East Asian theatre of World War II when the Empire of Japan invaded the British stronghold of Singapore—nicknamed the "Gibraltar of the East". -
Darwin bombed by Japan
Darwin bombed by the Japanese, Australia put on 'total war'footing -
Broome bombed by Japan
The town of Broome, Western Australia was attacked by Japanese fighter planes on 3 March 1942, during World War II. At least 88 people were killed. -
Battle of Bataan
The Battle of Bataan was a battle fought by the United States and the Philippine Commonwealth against Japan during World War II. The battle represented the most intense phase of the Japanese invasion of the Philippines during World War II. -
Battle of Coral Sea
The Battle of the Coral Sea, fought from 4–8 May 1942, was a major naval battle between the Imperial Japanese Navy and naval and air forces from the United States and Australia, taking place in the Pacific Theatre of World War II. Allies stopped Japanese advancement. -
Submarines attacks Eastern coast cities
Submarines belonging to the Imperial Japanese Navy made a series of attacks on the cities of Sydney and Newcastle in New South Wales, Australia. -
Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway was a decisive naval battle in the Pacific Theater of World War II that took place between 4 and 7 June 1942, six months after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor and one month after the Battle of the Coral Sea. -
Kokoda Campaign begins
The Kodoak campaign fought between Australia and Japan in New Guinea starts. -
Sinking of HMAS Canberra
The heavy cruiser HMAS Canberra (I) was sunk during the Battle of Savo Island during the US occupation of Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, from 7 August 1942. -
Kokoda Campaign concludes
The Kodoak campaign fought between Australia and Japan in New Guinea concludes. -
Italy switch sides
On Oct. 13, 1943, one month after Italy surrendered to Allied forces, it declared war on Nazi Germany, its onetime Axis powers partner. Italy was led into the war by Benito Mussolini, the fascist prime minister who had formed an alliance with Nazi Germany in 1936. -
D-Day
D-Day landing of Allied troops in Europe. -
Hitler commit suicide
Hitler commits suicide in Berlin, leading to the surrender of Germany. -
End of war in Europe
VE Day (Victory in Europe Day) - mars the end of the war in Europe. -
John Curtain dies
With the end of the war in sight, his health began to deteriorate seriously and at a rapid pace. On 5 July 1945, Curtin died at The Lodge at the age of 60. -
Frank Forde becomes Prime Minister
Frank Forde became Australia's 15th prime minister, the day after John Curtin died in office. -
Hiroshima bombed
The USA drops two atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima (6 August) and Nagasaki (9 August) leading to Japan's surrender. -
Nagasaki bombed
The USA drops two atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima (6 August) and Nagasaki (9 August) leading to Japan's surrender. -
End of war in Pacific
VP Day (Victory in the Pacific Day) officially marks the end of war in the Pacific. -
World War 2 ends
The end of World War II in Asia occurred on 2 September 1945, when armed forces of the Empire of Japan surrendered to the forces of the Allies. The surrender came almost four months after the surrender of the Axis forces in Europe and brought an end to World War II.
