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War at Sea
During World War II, Royal Australian Navy (RAN) ships carried troops, escorted merchant ships, carried out bombardments and provided support for Allied operations in the Mediterranean, the North Sea and the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Several hundred Australian naval personnel also served on British and Allied warships and some on merchant ships as gunners. -
Australia at War
On 3 September 1939, Prime Minister Robert Gordon Menzies announced that Australia was at war with Germany. -
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Australia's Involvement in World War II
By the end of the war, Australia lost atleast 30'000 men and thousands were injured. -
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Australia fight in North Africa and Middle East
In 1940 and 1941, Australian troops saw action in the Middle East and North Africa. In January 1941, Australian troops helped capture Bardia and Tobruk in Libya. -
The Royal Australian Navy's Entrance
In 1940 was used for the first time in WWII against the Italians. -
Libya and the Siege of Tobruk 1941
In 1941, Australians fought in land and air campaigns in Egypt and Libya in North Africa. Three AIF divisions - the 6th, 7th and 9th - fought in those countries. Royal Australian Navy ships served in the eastern Mediterranean and in particular provided support to ground forces during the 'Siege of Tobruk' . Royal Australian Air Force squadrons, as well as RAAF personnel serving with Royal Air Force units, provided air support against the Germans and Italians. -
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Aliakmon Line
Three divisions of British, Australian and New Zealand troops at the Aliakmon Line in the Vermion Mountains are defeated. -
Operation Mercury in action
Allied flak teams destroy as many as 50% of the invading German transport planes in the first few hours of the operation. -
Allies inercept German invasion
Allied codebreakers intercept word of the impending German invasion of Crete. -
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Operation Demon
Operation Demon is activated, covering the evacuation of some 51,000 Allied troops from southern Greece via the Royal Navy. -
Allied forces recieve new leader
Allied forces based on Crete receive a new leader in the form of Major-General Bernard Freyberg. -
RAF Fighters relocated
In advance of the Crete invasion, RAF fighters are relocated to Egypt for safe-keeping. -
Operation Mercury
Allied codebreakers intercept word that Operation Mercury will commence the very next day. The Allies begin preparations. -
German para-troopers air loss
In-air losses for the second wave of German paratroopers is nearly equal to the first thanks to the stellar Allied flak defenses on Crete. -
German forces at Heraklion
A German offensive against Heraklion is pushed away by at least 8,000 dug-in Allied soldiers. -
Royal Navy attacks German forces in Crete
German Army troops making their way to Crete via the sea are intercepted and pummeled by elements of the Royal Navy. Just 60 of these German soldiers live to see another day. -
Allied forces retreat
Allied forces retreat to defensive positions at Galatas. -
Withdrawal from Crete
The evacuation order is given by Major-General Freyberg for the gradual withdrawel of Allied troops from the island of Crete. -
Defence at Rethymnon falters
The brave defense of Rethymnon by Australian soldiers finally falters under intense pressure from the German Army. -
Allies invade Syria
Australia and the Allies successfully invade Syria. -
Australia declares war on Japan
After the bombing of Pearl Harbour, Australia declared war on the Japanese. -
Japanese conduct surprise attack
The Japanese 1st Air Fleet conducts a surprise attack on Allied ships at Broome and Darwin. Twelve ships are sunk in the assault. -
Japan invades New Guinea.
Japan invades New Guinea. -
The Bombing of Darwin
Japanese bombed Darwin. -
Battle of the Coral Sea
The Japanese offensive in New Guinea was the most direct threat Australia faced. Fortunately, the Americans staved off a naval attack on Australia at the Battle of the Coral Sea in May 1942. -
Japanese attack Sydney Harbour
In May and June 1942 the war was brought home to Australians on the east coast when the Japanese attacked Sydney Harbour from the sea -
Japanese gain ground
The Japanese Army gain ground on the US, Australian and Papuan Infantry Regiment defenders. -
Japanese gain territory
The Japanese Army gains vital territory leading up and into the Owen Stanley Range. -
Japanese take Kokoda
The Japanese Army takes control of the village of Kokoda. -
Australian Brigade on Milne Bay
The 18th Australian Brigade, utilizing valuable intelligence reports, meet the arriving Japanese amphibious forces head-on and hold the Japanese beachhead at Milne Bay. -
Japan withdrawals
With the Allied resistance holding off further advance, the Japanese Army begins a formal withdrawal of the island. -
Allies continue taking territory
Allied Australian and US forces continued their marches against the Japanese, taking territory through fierce firefights. -
Allies take Kokoda
The Kokoda Trail is firmly in Allied hands by this date. -
Sananada is officially in Allied hands.
Sananada is officially in Allied hands. -
War ends
