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Gallipoli landings
On 25 April 1915 Australian soldiers landed at Anzac Cove on the Gallipoli Peninsula. For the vast majority of the 16,000 Australians and New Zealanders who landed on that first day, this was their first experience of combat. By that evening, 2000 of them had been killed or wounded. -
The treaty of versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was to establish the conditions of peace ending World War I, but Australia's role as a signatory and full member of the League of Nations marked the first step to recognition of the full national status of the Commonwealth of Australia. -
League of nations was formed
The League of Nations was the forerunner to the present United Nations. The Treaty of Versailles, including the Covenant of the League of Nations was signed on 28 June 1919 and was the first political treaty signed by Australian officials since Federation. -
the great depression
Australia suffered badly during the period of the Great Depression of the 1930s.As in other nations, Australia suffered years of high unemployment, poverty, low profits, deflation, plunging incomes, and lost opportunities for economic growth and personal advancement. -
Poland invasion
The action by Germany that began World War II in 1939. Germany invaded Poland only days after signing the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact, under which the Soviet Union agreed not to defend Poland from the east if Germany attacked it from the west. -
Australia joins WW2
Australia entered World War II on 3 September 1939. On 14 September Prime Minister Robert Menzies announced that 40,000 members of the Militia would be called up for training and a 20,000-strong expeditionary force, designated the Second Australian Imperial Force, would be formed for overseas service. -
Conscription introduced
Conscription was effectively introduced in mid-1942, when all men aged 18–35, and single men aged 35–45, were required to join the Citizen Military Forces . The Papuan campaign of 1942 led to a significant reform in the composition of the Australian Army. -
Royal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy participated in operations against Italy after its entry into the war in June 1940. A few Australians flew in the Battle of Britain in August and September. -
The Italians invade British-controlled Egypt from Italian-controlled Libya
The Italian invasion of Egypt was an offensive in the Second World War, against British, Commonwealth and Free French forces in the Kingdom of Egypt. -
Battle of Britain ends in defeat for Nazi Germany
By the end of October 1940, Hitler called off his planned invasion of Britain and the Battle of Britain ended. Both sides suffered enormous loss of life and aircraft. Still, Britain weakened the Luftwaffe and prevented Germany from achieving air superiority. It was the first major defeat of the war for Hitler. -
Australia declares war on Japan
On 7 December 1941, the Japanese launched its Pacific offensive with Thailand, Malaya, the Philippines and Pearl Harbour, Hawaii, all suffering attacks. On 9 December 1941, Australia's governor-general, Alexander Hore-Ruthven, declared that Australia was at war with Japan. -
Battle of Coral sea
The Battle of the Coral Sea was a series of naval engagements off the north-east coast of Australia between 4 and 8 May 1942. It was fought by Allied (United States and Australian) and Japanese aircraft against four different major groups of warships. The battle stopped the Japanese sea-borne invasion of Port Moresby. -
Submarine attacks on Sydney harbour
Imperial Japanese Navy Midget Submarine Attack on Sydney Harbour, 31 May-1 June 1942. ... The Japanese A type midget submarines carried two torpedo tubes and a crew of two. They displaced 46 tons submerged and were capable of attaining a submerged speed of 19 knots. -
Women's land army foundation
The Australian Women's Land Army (AWLA) was an organisation created in World War II in Australia to combat rising labour shortages in the farming sector. The AWLA organised female workers to be employed by farmers to replace male workers who had joined the armed forces. -
The Kokoda campaign
The campaign consisted of a series of battles fought between July and November 1942 in what was then the Australian Territory of Papua. It was primarily a land battle, between the Japanese South Seas Detachment under Major General Tomitarō Horii and Australian and Papuan land forces under command of New Guinea Force. -
WW2 ended in Australia
The surrender was to take effect at midnight on 8–9 May 1945. On 14 August 1945 Japan accepted of the Allied demand for unconditional surrender. For Australia it meant that the Second World War was finally over.
