An Australian propaganda poster released in 1942. The poster was criticised for being alarmist when it was released and was banned by the Queensland government.
The Battle for Australia is a contested historiographical term used to claim a coordinated link between a series of battles near Australia during the Pacific War of the Second World War alleged to be in preparation for a Japanese invasion of the continent.
The Returned and Services League of Australia (RSL) and the Battle for Australia Commemoration National Council campaigned for over a decade for official commemoration of a series of battles fought in 1942, including the Battle of the Coral Sea, Battle of Milne Bay and Kokoda Track campaign, as having formed a "battle for Australia".[1] This campaign met with success, and in 2008 the Australian Government proclaimed that commemorations for the Battle for Australia would take place annually on the first Wednesday in September, with the day being designated "Battle for Australia Day".[1] This day recognizes "the service and sacrifice of all those who served in defense of Australia in 1942 and 1943".[2] The day is not a public holiday.[3]
Peter Stanley, the former principal historian at the Australian War Memorial, argues that the concept of a 'Battle for Australia' is mistaken as these actions did not form a single campaign aimed against Australia. Stanley has also stated that no historian he knows believes that there was a 'Battle for Australia'.[4] In a 2006 speech, Stanley argued that the concept of a Battle for Australia is invalid as the events that are considered to form the battle were only loosely related. Stanley argued, "The Battle for Australia movement arises directly out of a desire to find meaning in the terrible losses of 1942" and that "there was no 'Battle for Australia', as such", as the Japanese did not launch a coordinated campaign directed against Australia. Furthermore, Stanley stated that while the phrase "Battle for Australia" was used in wartime propaganda, it was not applied to the events of 1942 until the 1990s and that countries other than Australia do not recognize the "battle" as being part of the Second World War.[5][6]
Peter Stanley (2002). He's (Not) Coming South: The Invasion That Wasn't. Paper delivered to the Australian War Memorial conference Remembering 1942.
Stanley, Peter (2008). Invading Australia. Japan and the Battle for Australia, 1942. Melbourne: Penguin Group (Australia). ISBN978-0-670-02925-9.
Stanley, Peter (30 August 2008). . The Australian. Archived from the original on 27 July 2009. Retrieved 12 November 2008.
Further reading
Rechniewski, Elizabeth (January 2010), "Remembering the Battle for Australia", PORTAL: Journal of Multidisciplinary International Studies, UTSePress, Sydney, Australia, 7 (1), doi:10.5130/portal.v7i1.1153, ISSN 1449-2490
External links
Battle for Australia Association
April 29, 2023
battle, australia, part, second, world, during, pacifican, australian, propaganda, poster, released, 1942, poster, criticised, being, alarmist, when, released, banned, queensland, government, date19, february, 1942, september, 1945locationcoral, guinea, solomo. Battle for AustraliaPart of Second World War during War in the PacificAn Australian propaganda poster released in 1942 The poster was criticised for being alarmist when it was released and was banned by the Queensland government Date19 February 1942 2 September 1945LocationCoral Sea New Guinea Solomon Islands and AustraliaResultAllied victory End of attacks following the capitulation of JapanBelligerents Australia New Zealand Canada United Kingdom United States Norway NetherlandsJapan GermanyCommanders and leadersJohn Curtin Joseph Burnett David V J Blake John Crace Gerald Muirhead GoddChuichi Nagumo Mitsuo Fuchida Kanji Matsumura Sakonjo Naomasa Sasaki Hankyu Robert Yesen Theodor Detmers The Battle for Australia is a contested historiographical term used to claim a coordinated link between a series of battles near Australia during the Pacific War of the Second World War alleged to be in preparation for a Japanese invasion of the continent Contents 1 Historiography and commemoration 2 See also 3 Notes 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksHistoriography and commemoration EditThe Returned and Services League of Australia RSL and the Battle for Australia Commemoration National Council campaigned for over a decade for official commemoration of a series of battles fought in 1942 including the Battle of the Coral Sea Battle of Milne Bay and Kokoda Track campaign as having formed a battle for Australia 1 This campaign met with success and in 2008 the Australian Government proclaimed that commemorations for the Battle for Australia would take place annually on the first Wednesday in September with the day being designated Battle for Australia Day 1 This day recognizes the service and sacrifice of all those who served in defense of Australia in 1942 and 1943 2 The day is not a public holiday 3 Peter Stanley the former principal historian at the Australian War Memorial argues that the concept of a Battle for Australia is mistaken as these actions did not form a single campaign aimed against Australia Stanley has also stated that no historian he knows believes that there was a Battle for Australia 4 In a 2006 speech Stanley argued that the concept of a Battle for Australia is invalid as the events that are considered to form the battle were only loosely related Stanley argued The Battle for Australia movement arises directly out of a desire to find meaning in the terrible losses of 1942 and that there was no Battle for Australia as such as the Japanese did not launch a coordinated campaign directed against Australia Furthermore Stanley stated that while the phrase Battle for Australia was used in wartime propaganda it was not applied to the events of 1942 until the 1990s and that countries other than Australia do not recognize the battle as being part of the Second World War 5 6 See also EditMilitary history of Australia during World War II Operation FS Proposed Japanese invasion of Australia during World War IINotes Edit a b Walters Patrick 26 June 2008 Battle won on dedicated Pacific war day The Australian Retrieved 13 February 2011 Anniversaries Department of Veterans Affairs Archived from the original on 19 December 2011 Retrieved 23 December 2011 Blenkin Max 26 June 2008 Battle for Australia Day in September The Sydney Morning Herald Retrieved 23 December 2011 Stanley Peter 3 September 2008 What Battle for Australia The Drum Australian Broadcasting Corporation Retrieved 9 February 2011 Peter Stanley 2006 Was there a Battle for Australia Australian War Memorial Anniversary Oration 10 November 2006 Stanley 2008 pp 221 222References EditPeter Stanley 2002 He s Not Coming South The Invasion That Wasn t Paper delivered to the Australian War Memorial conference Remembering 1942 Stanley Peter 2008 Invading Australia Japan and the Battle for Australia 1942 Melbourne Penguin Group Australia ISBN 978 0 670 02925 9 Stanley Peter 30 August 2008 Battle lines II what invasion The Australian Archived from the original on 27 July 2009 Retrieved 12 November 2008 Further reading EditRechniewski Elizabeth January 2010 Remembering the Battle for Australia PORTAL Journal of Multidisciplinary International Studies UTSePress Sydney Australia 7 1 doi 10 5130 portal v7i1 1153 ISSN 1449 2490External links EditBattle for Australia Association Australian War Memorial Australia Under Attack 1942 1943 anzacday org au Battle for Australia Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Battle for Australia amp oldid 1140252342, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
