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What was everyday life like in Australia during World War II
of major cities to new cultural ideas - in particular, to bring entertainment to what were very closed-down cities at weekends. The Australian tradition was for cities to virtually close down on weekends. The presence of thousands of troops in many capital cities led city leaders to change that policy, and open hotels, theatres, clubs and restaurants for longer and more varied hours. This in turn had a substantial impact on the local economy, and introduced new tastes and fashions.
A second impact was the creation of considerable rivalry between Australian and American troops, and jealousy on the Australians' part. The American troops were better paid and with their access to consumer items in their PX and services like taxis, were able to live more lavishly and comfortably than the local Australians. This in turn led to some women preferring the Americans socially.
This climaxed in a number of clashes between Australian and American troops, in Melbourne, Perth and especially the infamous 'Battle of Brisbane' where hundreds of troops fought viciously in the city streets.
Another effect that the war had on Australian like was that it was a huge boon to the Australian economy. As many Australian primary products were purchased as could be produced; and secondary industries manufactured many new items for the Services. Rationing and restrictions meant that there were few consumer goods available, so personal savings rose. Man powering and essential industries also meant that there was near-full employment.
The Australian people went through 6 years of war with considerable unity. Of course there were many divisions and tension, but overwhelmingly the people seemed to be quite united particularly in comparison to the World War 1 experience.
Part of the explanation for this could be the reality of the threat to Australia for much of the war. Once the “Phoney War” period was over, the Germans were clearly poised to defeat all of Europe, including Britain. British cities were suffering nightly aerial bombing, and the German submarines were able severely to restrict equipment and supplies reaching Britain. Then, with the entry of Japan into the war in December 1941, the Australian mainland itself seemed vulnerable to invasion.
In the Battle of the Coral Sea of 4-8 May 1942, a force of United States, Australian and New Zealand vessels intercepted a Japanese fleet. The battle was a defeat in that the Allies suffered greater losses, but the battle helped to prevent the landing of Japanese troops on the south coast of New Guinea, where they could have put Australian troops under great threat, and weakened the Japanese navy for the Battle of Midway one month later, when they were defeated in the decisive naval battle of the Pacific.
This sense of fear and uncertainty of victory had diminished by 1943, but the war still remained to be won right until 1945. This perception of the seriousness of the war meant that most people shared the same sense of priorities about the war, which in turn created a united approach.
A second possible factor was [next page]