Virtual tour of the Memorial

Second World War 1939–1945 gallery

Fifty million people died in the Second World War and the conflict affected almost the entire world. Britain and its Allies – particularly its empire – fought to stop the aggression of Germany and Italy. Later Allies were later joined by the United States when Japan entered the war.

The Second World War 1939–1945 gallery examines Australia's part in the war. It tells stories of endurance, courage, grief, and humour, and displays the achievements and the sacrifices of a nation at war.

The gallery consists of five main areas:

  • The European war 1939–1941
  • Year of crisis 1942
  • War against Germany 1943–1944
  • War against Japan 1943–1944
  • Year of victory 1945

The European war 1939–1941

Germany's invasion of Poland sparked a major European war. Britain and France opposed Nazi Germany and later Italy. Germany conquered Western Europe. Britain fought on, suffering disasters in the Mediterranean. But in June 1941 Hitler invaded the Soviet Union, which was Germany's greatest mistake.

Year of crisis 1942

Japan attacked Western colonies in Asia. This brought the United States into the war. German submarines in the Atlantic threatened vital supplies intended for Britain. Japan's victories and Germany's successes in Russia and North Africa made this the darkest period of the war for the Allies. But by the end of 1942, Allied victories – at El Alamein, Stalingrad, Papua, and the Pacific – marked a turning point in the war.

War against Germany 1943–1944

The Allies fought Germany from the Atlantic to Moscow, from North Africa to the Arctic. The Allies defeated the German U-boat threat to their Atlantic convoys. Germany was fatally weakened by its costly war against the Soviet Union. Australians played a major part in the war in North Africa and in the air war over Europe.

War against Germany 1943-1944
360° panorama of War against Germany 1943–1944.
Low resolution (235 Kb, Java). High resolution (1.64 M, QuickTime™ VR).

Works of art by Colin Colahan, ART25701 and ART22312 "Tail-end Charlie"German mine, OL00276.001Bomber Crew by Stella Bowen, ART2626525-pounder gun, REL/02492
Click to enlarge.

Supermarine Spitfire Mk IIA P7973

The Memorial's Spitfire P7973 was flown by several Royal Air Force (RAF) and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) squadrons in 1941. It was flown on 24 operations with 452 Squadron, RAAF, flying against Messerschmitt Bf 109s and Focker Wulf 190s over France and the English Channel. Its pilots included aces such as Keith "Bluey" Truscott, Robert Bungey, and Raymond Thorold-Smith.

Ivor Hele, Australian official war artist

The Memorial holds a comprehensive collection of the works of the Australian official war artist Ivor Hele. This work depicts casualties from Australian and Italian forces at Bardia, Libya, during the North African campaign in 1941. Completed in 1967, from field sketches and notes, the painting contains the images of identifiable Australian soldiers, such as Sergeant H.B.S. "Jo" Gullett. Gullett, like his distinguished father, later became a member of the Australian Government.

Bardia (action leading to the fall of Post 11)
Ivor Hele, Bardia (action leading to the fall of Post 11)
(1967, oil on canvas, 153 x 275 cm)
ART27576

War against Japan 1943–1944

The Allies fought Japan in three main theatres of war: Britain fought to retake Burma; Australian and American forces defeated the Japanese in the south-west Pacific; and American forces advanced across the islands of the Pacific towards Japan itself.

The Kuching Stone

This stone commemorates the opening of the Kuching prisoner-of-war camp on 15 August 1942. The stone bears the name of the camp commander, Colonel Suga Tatsuji, and the command "Be faithful". The stone provides an opportunity to tell the story of Captain Lionel Matthews GC who was executed by the Japanese at Kuching for operating a secret radio for indigenous guerilla forces in Borneo. Matthews was awarded the George Cross for his courage under torture.

Kuching Stone, RELAWM29018
Click to enlarge.

The Sandakan–Ranau death march

Sandakan - Ranau 'death march'In 1945 the Japanese ordered sick and starving British and Australian prisoners of war to march westwards from Sandakan into the rugged interior of Borneo. Weaker prisoners were left to die in the camp at Sandakan. By the war's end 1,787 Australians and 641 British prisoners were dead. Only six – all Australians – survived.


Click to enlarge.

 

Year of victory 1945

In the last year of the war Australians fought against the Japanese in the Pacific and Germany in Europe. This area tells stories of Australian airmen who contested the V-1 attacks on Britain, the sailors who defended their ships against Japanese kamikaze attacks, and the soldiers who fought in the 1945 jungle campaigns in Borneo and New Guinea.

Year of victory 1945
360° panorama of Year of victory 1945, featuring the V-1 rocket.
Low resolution (230 Kb, Java). High resolution (1.53 M, QuickTime™ VR).

Oerlikon anti-aircraft gun

Oerlikon anti-aircraft gun, OL00272.002Imagine standing on the deck of a ship with only a light anti-aircraft gun between you and a Japanese kamikaze plane. This was the role of the Oerlikon gunner, often the last line of defence. The gunner's job was to destroy the plane before it hit the ship.

 

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