Second World War, 1939-1945

Date from 01 January 1939
Date to 31 December 1945
Collection type Conflict
Scope note On 3 September 1939 Prime Minister Robert Gordon Menzies announced the beginning of Australia's involvement in the Second World War. Australians. fought in campaigns against Germany and Italy in Europe, the Mediterranean and North Africa, as well as against Japan in south-east Asia and other parts of the Pacific. The Australian mainland came under direct attack for the first time, as Japanese aircraft bombed towns in north-west Australia and Japanese midget submarines attacked Sydney harbour. On 7 May 1945 the German High Command authorised the signing of an unconditional surrender on all fronts: the war in Europe was over. The surrender was to take effect at midnight on 8 9 May 1945. On 14 August 1945 Japan accepted of the Allied demand for unconditional surrender. For Australian it meant that the Second World War was finally over.