Australian Military History WW2 From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_history_of_Australia_during_World_War_II Australia entered World War II shortly after the invasion of Poland, declaring war on Germany on September 3, 1939. By the end of the war almost a million Australians (from a population of less than 7 million) had served in the Australian armed forces and Australian military units had seen combat in Europe, North Africa, and the South-West Pacific. In addition, Australia came under direct attack for the first time in its history. 39,366 Australians were killed and 23,477 were wounded by enemy action during the war. In the years leading up to the war Australia followed British policy towards Nazi Germany. Australia was supportive of the policy of appeasing Germany and later supported Britain's guarantee of Polish independance.[1] Germany on 3 September 1939 after the British ultimatum for Germany to withdraw from Poland expired. Australia's first shot of the war was fired several hours later when a gun at Fort Queenscliff fired across the bows of an Australian ship which was attempting to leaving Melbourne without the required clearances.[2] At the time of declaration the Australian armed forces were less well prepared for war than they had been at the outbreak of World War I in August 1914.[3] While the Government began a large military expansion and transferred Australian warships and RAAF aircrew and units to British control, it was unwilling to immediately dispatch an expeditionary force overseas due to the threat posed by Japanese intervention.[4] On 15 September 1939, Menzies announced the formation of the Second Australian Imperial Force (AIF), an expeditionary force of 20,000, to consist of one infantry division and whatever auxiliary units the Army could raise within this troop ceiling. On 15 November 1939, Menzies announced the reintroduction of conscription for home defence service effective 1 January 1940. Unmarried men turning 21 in the year ending 30 June 1940 would be drafted into the Militia. Because of this, the AIF could not accept personnel who were in reserved occupations.[5]
