How Did The Pacific War Affect Australia

Commencing in the terminating stages of 1941 was the Pacific war. A war which can now be considered not solely a pivotal moment for many nations in the world but also one of high significance for Australia too. Due to the traumatic occurrences throughout the Pacific War Australia was ultimately transformed into a nation which possessed equally more strength and confidence all of which blossomed from victories as well as new allies. However, the Pacific War also birthed and manifested a more immature and racist nation.

Australia's new alliance with the USA fundamentally altered the countries strength and military power as their new allies acquired Nuclear weaponry. After the Fall of Singapore (February 7, 1942), Australia made the decision

The events of Kokoda demonstrated how Australia could fight and win extremely challenging conditions, such as those of the Papua New Guinean Jungles. Ultimately those occurrences and victories that took place between the 28th July and 10th of August in 1942 manufactured a new breed of confidence in Australians and the Australian fighters. But how did an event such as Kokoda do such a thing? The environment of Kokoda was as much of an enemy as the Japanese. The mud, jungle, torrential rain (300 + days of the year) and the heat were elements which the Australian's had to face and ones which many did in fact conquer. However, arguably the biggest victory and morale booster occurred when the Australian and American troops followed the retreating Japanese along the track, and fought them and won when they reached their coastal base at Buna-Gona. Beating the Japanese at this juncture in the war provided the Australians with short-term confidence which they so greatly needed. Not only was the Battle of Kokoda a source of short-term confidence but it has also continued to be one since. Kokoda and the Japanese fighters taught the Australian troops about guerrilla warfare, enabling them to understand and use the military tactic when required, such as in the Vietnam War (1 Nov. 1955 – 30 Apr. 1975). Acquiring such knowledge of not only the workings of

Fascism during the time of the second world war was a massive trend (1 Sep. 1939 – 2 Sep. 1945) which was influencing numerous nations across the globe, including Australia to an extent. The likes of Germany, Italy, as well as Japan, were all supporters of the terrifying principles, philosophies, and methods of fascism. Pseudoscience and the likes were used to back up their attacks and beliefs that some humans are better than others. The effect which fascism had on the Japanese was significant. The Japanese found inspiration in from the past in the Bushido which believed in the restoration of 'racial and spiritual purity' which had been lost. This was the mindset in which the Japanese possessed when they were attacking the Chinese during the Rape of Nanking (December 13, 1937 – January 1938) and also when they were fighting against as well as attacking the Australians. Although Australia was not a fascist nor ultra-nationalistic nation like Japan, they were racist. Australian's viewed the Japanese as the 'yellow peril’ and in conjunction with the fears of invasion fuelled Australians to feel more and hate a fear towards them. So, when events such as the fall of Singapore, the bombing of Darwin (19 February 1942) and the subsequent other bombings occurred the negative feelings towards the Japanese in particular increased