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Australia at War
Britain declares war on Germany. Prime Minister Robert Menzies announces "Australia is also at war" -
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AIF
Recruitment begins for the AIF -
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AIF
6th, 7th, 8th and 9th division of AIF sent to Middle East and Malaya -
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Australia
Australia Realises the seriousness of the situation -
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Victory
First victory for British Empire over Italian troops -
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Defeat
Allies suffer defeat in Greece. The Allies are forced to have a fighting retreat to Crete. While the main army is evacuated, Australians hold the Germans back. Over 3000 Australians are taken prisoner -
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AIF
AIF divisions (except for 9th) are shipped home to defend Australia from feared attack by the Japanese -
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Australia
Darwin is attacked at Pearl Harbour by the Japanese -
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Allies
Agreement by Australia, Britain and the US that operations against Japan should be under US direction -
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AIF
Curtin insists 7th division return to Australia -
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Australia
Rationing is introduced in Australia -
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Militia
Australia only has the Militia to defend coming invasion of Papua New Guinea -
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Militia
Japan and Australian Militia commence guerrilla warfare on Kokoda track in Papua New Guinea to defend Port Moresby, the last place before the Japanese get to Australia. Australians are mostly 18-19 year olds, barely trained, under-equipped, poorly supplied and outnumbered. -
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Militia
Australians carrying out a fighting retreat in Kokoda -
Militia
Australians regain Kokoda -
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Campaigns
Australian troops sent on 'unnecessary campaigns' by the US. The campaigns claiming over 1000 Australian lives but having no impact on the outcome of the war -
Germany
Germany officially surrenders one week after their leader, Hitler, commits suicide -
Australian Death
The last Australian to die in war in Europe -
Japan
Japan ceased fighting -
Japan
Japan fromally surrenders