Australia 1942: In the Shadow of War

Description

In 1942, the shadow of modern war reached Australia's shores for the first time. In this compelling volume, leading historians explore why 1942 was such a pivotal year in Australia's history, and explain how the nation confronted some of its greatest challenges. This broad ranging study covers key issues from political, economic and home front reform to the establishment of a new partnership with the United States; the role of the Air Force and the Navy; the bombing of Darwin; as well as the battles of Kokoda, Milne Bay, the Beachheads and Guadalcanal. Australia 1942 provides a unique and in-depth exploration of the controversy surrounding the potential for invasion. Japanese and Australian historians offer perspectives on Japanese military intentions and strategies towards Australia and the south Pacific. Generously illustrated, it is essential reading for anyone interested in one of Australia's most decisive and critical years. Cover AUSTRALIA 1942 IN THE SHADOW OF WAR Title Copyright Dedication FOREWORD: The Hon Kim Beazley, AC, Ambassador to the United States of America CONTENTS PHOTOS MAPS CHARTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS CONTRIBUTORS ABBREVIATIONS INTRODUCTION PART I: AUSTRALIA IN 1942 CHAPTER 1 AUSTRALIA IN 1942: A PIVOTAL YEAR HOW WAS IT THAT AUSTRALIA WAS SO EXPOSED TO INVASION IN 1942? WHAT WAS THE EFFECT OF THE EVENTS BETWEEN DECEMBER 1941 AND MARCH 1942? DID JAPAN PLAN TO INVADE AUSTRALIA AND HOW DID AUSTRALIA RESPOND TO THIS THREAT? WHAT WERE THE PIVOTAL BATTLES OF 1942? WHAT WAS THE IMPACT OF THE ARRIVAL OF THE AMERICANS? WHAT WAS THE ROLE OF THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT? Notes FURTHER READING PART 2: RELATIONS, POLITICS AND THE HOME FRONT CHAPTER 2 WORLD WARS AND THE ANTICIPATION OF CONFLICT: THE IMPACT ON LONG-ESTABLISHED AUSTRALIAN–JAPANESE RELATIONS, 1905–43 THE ACTUAL RELATIONSHIP THE NATURE OF THE FRIENDSHIP WITHIN AUSTRALIA FRIENDSHIP AND JAPANESE ‘IMPERIALISM’ BETRAYAL OF FRIENDSHIP THE RE-INTERPRETATION AND JAPAN’S INTENTIONS Notes FURTHER READING CHAPTER 3 THE OVERLOOKED MISSION: AUSTRALIA AND HOME DEFENCE AUSTRALIAN UNPREPAREDNESS FOR NATIONAL DEFENCE RECALIBRATING NATIONAL DEFENCE GALVANISING AUSTRALIAN STRENGTH CONCLUSION Notes FURTHER READING CHAPTER 4 THE HOME FRONT AND THE AMERICAN PRESENCE IN 1942 THE ALL-IN WAR EFFORT THE ARRIVAL OF THE US FORCES SEXUALITY, RACE AND TURMOIL ON THE HOME FRONT CONCLUSION Notes FURTHER READING CHAPTER 5 ‘DANGERS AND PROBLEMS UNPRECEDENTED AND UNPREDICTABLE’: THE CURTIN GOVERNMENT’S RESPONSE TO THE THREAT THE BACK STORY RESPONDING TO THE CRISIS OF 1941–2 AUSTERITY AND DEDICATION CONSCRIPTION CONCLUSION Notes FURTHER READING PART 3: AUSTRALIA UNDER THREAT CHAPTER 6 THE JAPANESE ARMY’S ‘UNPLANNED’ SOUTH PACIFIC CAMPAIGN THE JAPANESE ARMY’S PERCEPTION OF THE PACIFIC WAR THE JAPANESE ARMY’S COMMITMENT OF MAJOR FORCES TO THE SOUTH PACIFIC THE DIFFICULTIES FACED BY THE ARMY IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC CONCLUSION Notes FURTHER READING CHAPTER 7 JAPANESE STRATEGY AND INTENTIONS TOWARDS AUSTRALIA VIEWS ON AUSTRALIA JAPAN MOVES SOUTH JAPANESE STRATEGIC POLICY MAKING AUSTRALIA IN PRE-WAR PLANNING IMPERIAL HEADQUARTERS’ ATTITUDES TOWARDS AUSTRALIA IN SECOND-STAGE OPERATIONS COMBINED FLEET ATTITUDES TO AUSTRALIA THE DEBATE INTENSIFIES A COMPROMISE SOLUTION CONCLUSION Notes FURTHER READING CHAPTER 8 THE AIR RAIDS ON DARWIN, 19 FEBRUARY 1942: IMAGE AND REALITY Notes FURTHER READING PART 4: THE WAR ON AUSTRALIA’S DOORSTEP CHAPTER 9 VANQUISHED BUT DEFIANT, VICTORIOUS BUT DIVIDED: THE RAAF IN THE PACIFIC, 1942 ‘NO SHOW AT ALL’ NEW GUINEA DARWIN Notes FURTHER READING CHAPTER 10 A NOVEL EXPERIENCE: THE RAN IN 1942, DEFENDING AUSTRALIAN WATERS AUSTRALIAN NAVAL ORDER OF BATTLE IN MARCH 1942 RAN ORGANISATION IN MARCH 1942 RAN OPERATIONAL EXPERIENCE IN MARCH 1942 DEFENDING AUSTRALIA THE BATTLE OF THE CORAL SEA, MAY 1942 DEFENDING THE EAST-COAST CONVOYS MILNE BAY AND THE BATTLE FOR BUNA AND GONA ASSAULT ON THE SOLOMONS PREPARING FOR THE ADVANCE, 1942 CONCLUSION Notes FURTHER READING CHAPTER 11 ON AUSTRALIA’S DOORSTEP: KOKODA AND MILNE BAY Notes FURTHER READING CHAPTER 12 ANZACS AND YANKS: US AND AUSTRALIAN OPERATIONS AT THE BEACHHEAD BATTLES AN EASY VICTORY? FROM OPTIMISM TO DEFEAT – PHASE I STRATEGIC CONTEXT AGAINST ALL ODDS THE OFFENSIVE CONTINUES DECISION AT BUNA AND SANANANDA THE RECKONING Notes FURTHER READING CONCLUSION: 1942 IN REFLECTION Notes INDEX