War

Explore Australia’s role in war: what led to our involvement; the effect on individuals, communities and countries; and how new weapons and technologies contributed to the outcomes of war.

Sub-themes

Theme

A ward for the totally and permanently incapacitated in an Anzac hostel.

World War I

From 1914 to 1918, over 324,000 Australians served overseas in World War I, with two-thirds becoming casualties. Their experiences had long-lasting effects on them, their families and society.

Theme

Bomb disposal squad of 6 men standing around a bomb crater, near a shed and a danger live bomb sign.

World War II

Almost a million Australians served during World War II from 1939 to 1945. Australia’s proximity to the war in the Pacific forced us to question our relationships with the rest of the world.

Theme

Australian troops - Royal Australian Regiment departing from a Chinook helicopter in South Vietnam

Vietnam War

To support our US allies, Australia sent almost 60,000 service personnel to South Vietnam from 1962 to 1975 to fight the spread of communism. Conscription forced many of these troops to serve.

Theme

Evdokia Petrov being escorted to a waiting plane by diplomatic couriers

Cold War

The Cold War was a period of tension between the United States and the Soviet Union from 1945 to 1991. In Australia it was marked by political stand-offs, the space race, spy rings and defections.

Theme

A woman uses a dial indicator to check that a fuse liner is exactly cylindrical.

Defence equipment and weapons

Since World War I, the Australian military has developed, tested and used defence equipment and weapons. During the Cold War, Australia allowed nuclear weapons testing and launched a satellite.