The remote geographical position caused a relatively small number of attacks on Australia during the Second World War . Australia declared war on Germany on September 3, 1939, shortly after the German invasion of Poland, thereby entering World War II . During the war years, the territory of Australia, for the first time in history, was directly attacked by the enemy. In total, 27,073 Aussies died from the actions of the enemy, 23,477 people were injured. From 1940 to early 1945, the Axis countries and their allies from ships and submarines periodically attacked Australian ships in Australian waters. Japanese aircraft bombed cities and airfields in Northern Australia 97 times during 1942 and 1943.
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Marine Attacks
In the period from 1940 to 1943, six German surface ships patrolled Australian waters. These ships sank a small number of merchant ships and the Australian light cruiser His Majesty the Royal Sydney . A German U-862 submarine from the end of 1944 to the beginning of 1945 fired on ships in Australian waters.
Japanese submarines operated in Australian waters from January 1942 to July 1944. Large underwater offensive operations were carried out against cargo ships off the Australian east coast from May to July 1942 and from January to July 1943.
In the evening of May 31 / in the morning of June 1, 1942, the Australian harbor came under the direct blow of Japanese ultra-small submarines. As a result of the strike, the floating base HMAS Kuttabul, reworked under steam and used as a floating barracks, was hit and sank. 22 sailors were killed, including 19 Australians and 2 members of the Royal Navy.
During World War II, Japanese intelligence was operating in the Kimberley area of Western Australia , investigating reports that the Allies were building military bases there. The intelligence consisted of four Japanese officers moving in a small fishing boat.
Air Attacks
The first air raid on Australia occurred on February 19, 1942, when the city of Darwin was attacked by 242 Japanese planes [1] . Japanese planes bombed the city, ships in the harbor of Darwin and two urban airfield. The city was poorly defended by anti-aircraft artillery, only anti-aircraft guns were installed in it to protect against raids. Not a single anti-aircraft gun of 20 mm caliber or higher was in service [2] . The Japanese inflicted heavy losses on the city with small losses of their own. During this raid, more than two hundred people were killed.
Periodic attacks on northern Australian cities and airfields continued until November 1943.
Literature
- The Encyclopaedia of Australia's Battles. 2001. Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86508-634-7
- Plans And Early Operations January 1939 To August 1942. Washington, DC Office Of Air Force History. Series: The Army Air Forces In World War II. 1983. ISBN 0-912799-03-X
- Mitsuo Fuchida, Masatake Okumiya, Midway: the Battle that doomed Japan , Hutchinson, 1957.
- Timothy Hall, Darwin 1942, Australia Darkest Hour , Methuen Australia, 1980.
- Tom Lewis (2003) A comprehensive guide to the first Japanese attacks on Darwin . Tall Stories, Darwin. ISBN 0-9577351-0-3
- Lockwood, Douglas. Australia's Pearl Harbor. Darwin 1942. - Melbourne: Penguin Books, 1992 (reprint). - ISBN 0-14-016820-6 .
- Powell, Allen. The Darwin 'panic', 1942 (Neopr.) // Journal of the Australian War Memorial. - 1983. - № 3, October 1983 . - C. Pages 3-9 .
- Powell, Alan. The Shadow's Edge. Australia's Northern War. - Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, 1988. - ISBN 0-52-284371-9 .
Links
- Australian War Memorial. Raids on the Australian Mainland - World War II
Notes
- ↑ Bombing of Darwin: 70 years on - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) . Abc.net.au. The appeal date is February 19, 2014.
- ↑ Tom Hall Darwin 1942 Australia’s Darkest Hour , pages 104–105, Methuen 1980.