The Impact Of The Fall Of Singapore On Australia

Australia’s response to the threat of communism after WW2 was extraordinary. Australia and its politicians immediately recognised what could happen of a result of the domino theory. With the Soviet Union influencing so many countries and causing China, Vietnam, and North Korea to turn Communist it was only matter of time until it reached Australia, and all in all this was when Australia took action.

On the 9th of February 1942, three divisions of Japanese soldiers landed in Singapore, which was at the time a major British military base and presence in the Pacific. Six days later, over 90 000 British, Australian and Indian troops were forced to surrender. It had been believed that Singapore guaranteed the security of Australia during the war, consequently, the fall of Singapore opened Australia to invasion. The fall of Singapore was significant in causing relations between Australia and the United States to increase as in lieu of Britain’s inability to provide economic and military assistance when it was required most, the United States’ capability to provide what Britain could not was instrumental in strengthening bonds.

Discuss the extent to which the Australian Nation was changed by its involvement in WWII

The Fall Of Singapore was a devastating loss for the British Empire in WWII. As a result of this battle repercussions were felt by Australia. The Fall Of Singapore occurred on the 15th of February 1942, it was the end of the Malayan Campaign, which started on the 8th of December 1941. This campaign lasted for 68 days and left a significant legacy for everyone involved and many others. (Daily Mercury, 2012)

The problem here was that, Australia had previously depended on strategic alliances to provide the ships, aircraft and personnel necessary to undergird its security, it had now become clear that responsibility for the people and property of this country ultimately rested with the Common-wealth. While the Anzacs provided the foundations for a military tradition upon which later generations have built, the devastation of Darwin created a new awareness of the nation’s defence and security requirements.

To set a conclusion, this essay shows that Australia feared the threats of Communist attacks to gain power but since Australia and its allies, US and Britain, negotiated throughout the conflict and played smart while thinking of the domino theory so they worked on preventing the enemies troops from gaining access to Australia’s Shores, so they fought in Vietnam to stop the threat having help from South Vietnam and wanted to free the North from Communist ruling as it already was a Communist

On the 15th of February 1942 Singapore surrendered to the Japanese, this began a catalyst for the change of Australian policy as Singapore was seen as a beacon of Britain imperialism and the fall of this iconic imperial state was troublesome for Australia. British was under the impression that the Japanese would be easily defeated in Singapore post their surrender Australia was in a panic (Walker and Sobocinska 2012). The Australian Prime minster from 1941 – 1945 was John Curtin, he is 1942 requested assistance from the United States to ensure Australian protection from the Japanese, this was the genial move away from Imperial protection (Curtin John "Foreign Policy" 2016). Curtin stated 27 December 1941 in his the task ahead speech 'without any inhibitions of any kind.... I make quite clear that Australia looks to America, free of any pangs as to our traditional links of kinship with the United Kingdom' (Curtain John, “The task ahead” 1941). American and Australian soldiers fought side by side in New Guinea and Indonesia, the alliance made between the soldiers strengthened the relationship between the US and Australia. Up until 1945 Australian foreign policy was dictated by fear by impending threat of invasion by Japan. Between April – June of 1945 the deputy prime

In Australia, from 1930’s onwards, Australia faced many dangers associated with the war. Before WWII, Australia faced economic threats, from the Great Depression, as well as threats from other countries, with the rise of Germany. At the commencement of WWII, Australia began to feel the threat of Japan. Australia battled these threats with a sense of national pride and prominent individuals who greatly assisted during the war.

There were many negative and positive effects while John Curtin the prime minister of Australia had to go through the struggles of the war. In 1942 he tried to convince the Australian Labour Party to let men overseas that were conscripted. Curtin soon realised that his men would have to fight across the Pacific to protect Australia's mainland. Although Curtin had many difficulties with the Allied forces he never had the same right of bringing a larger armed force in the was, just like England and America. When the prime minister brought the Australian troops back he found that he had to do something to protect Australia's mainland.The prime minister of Britain wanted the Australian troops to fight outside in Burma. Curtin had to get the outside community’s help to support him during the war. Curtin also face the powerful Communist Party of Australia because of the trading issues. During the time of war it was expected that Australia's mainland was under serious threat. There were many practices that the government decided to overcome this issue. After the Japanese attack in 1942, the Australian shores were not protected. Many days later their was another attack in Darwin, also in Sydney in May 1942.

Australia has been involve in many wars such as the Sudan war or World War 2. Australia has one of the most diverse cultures concentrated in a small region, this is due to many

The U.S. and Australian alliance share an interest in maintaining the peace and stability in the Asian- Pacific

When the Japanese landed on Singapore in the Sarimbun Beach at night and advanced their troops rapidly through the jungle. More Japanese troops, artillery and aircraft began pouring in for support. Singapore began to experience heavy bombing by Japanese aircrafts, as it targeted military and naval base as well as airfields, drawing closer and closer to Singapore city. By the 15th of February, the Japanese army had broken through Singapore’s last line of defence, and they threatened to cause more damage if the Allies doesn’t surrender. Singapore high officials held a meeting discussing whether to counter attack or surrender. They decided to surrender. By surrendering, they had to agree to surrender all military forces, including army, navy and air power and were to hand over their weapons.

Blenkin writes, ‘Australia offers vast open spaces for training… Shoalwater alone is more than six times the area of Singapore.’ Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said the cation will create opportunities for joint training and enhancing the armed forces. Australian Prime Minister Malcom Turnbull states that Australia’s strategic partnership with Singapore would generate economic benefits in Northern and Central Queensland. Turnbull says “investments will help local workers and businesses”. But again not all opinions that should have been included were, therefore making this article another very bias report, privileging the

The name “Singapore” can actually be derived from the words 'Singa ' and 'Pura ' which means 'Lion ' and 'City ' respectively. In 1819, Thomas Stamford Raffles arrived and signed a treaty which allows the development of the southern part of Singapore as a British trading post. In 1824, the whole island became colonized by the British and eventually it became the capital of the Straits Settlements. The colonization of Singapore has led it to its status as of now. It has strong global trading links with different countries and it owns a port that is one of the busiest ports in the world. This only shows that Singapore is a very

In 9th August 1965, Singapore then finally became the Republic of Singapore, an independent city state in Southeast Asia.