World War I The Pinnacle Of Violence - 924 Words

W orld War 2: the pinnacle of violence in the mid-20th century. More than 60 million people were killed, almost half of them civilians (Gregory Frumkin, 2001). Australia’s involvement in the war was heavily influential in the overall success of the Allies (U.S., Britain, France, USSR, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Greece, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, South Africa, and Yugoslavia) (Pearson Education 2007). The Australian and American alliance in war can be traced back to the beginning of World War I, when both nations were part of the Allied alliance, and thus had military connections. At a glance, it appears that the alliance between the two countries was strengthened during WW2, however it was in fact, the†¦show more content†¦However, it did not explicitly state that either nation had a responsibility to supply aid, as a consultation was all that was necessary (Article III ANZUS treaty document 1951). Society in Australia viewed it as an oppo rtunity for the nations to amend the previous military conflict, creating a stronger bond between the two countries, and thus a lower security threat in Australia (May Hill’s diary, 1942). Post-signing of the document, military conflict began to subside, however it still continues on a reduced degree to this day. The tension between the US military and Australian forces reached a historically climatic high when a brutal brawl broke out on Melbourne streets on the night of November 26, 1942. Increased tension had been mounting between the two nations’ military forces for months prior to the incident, with Australian troops developing a astringent resentment of the American’s higher pay rates, increased access to goods and services, and most significantly, the Aussies’ women. The Australian troops adopted the nickname ‘yankee’ when discussing the Americans, referring in an offensive way to their culture and historical backgrounds. Although the military stress continued throughout the entirety of the Second World War, society and the Government saw that the loss of the alliance with the Americans would be fatal, and result in the inevitable invasion of Axis forces. Media and propaganda of the time period enforced the common political