Why were american troops based in australia during world war 2?

Answer 1

Australians mainly served in Italy fighting Mussolinis (spelling) forces. Australian Troops served in the Western Desert Campaign in North Africa,with the other Commonwealth troops. They also served in the far east in Burma and New Guinea,as well as the R.A.A.F pilots in the Battle of Britain and later battles, and the R.A.Navy, in many theaters with Allied Navies. They did a lot !

Answer 2

Americans One of the most severe tests of the Australian public in war was the presence of large numbers of United States troops in transit through Australia to various war fronts. These troops had three major impacts on Australian life. One was to force the opening up 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. It is important, however, not to overemphasise these events. Many, perhaps even most Australian women, probably never met, let alone went out with, an American soldier. And the 'battles' between the troops involved only the tiniest minority of soldiers on each side. A third impact was on Australia's indigenous people. Many black Americans were among the troops who passed through Australia. While blacks were discriminated against in the United States, they had far more civil rights than Australia's indigenous people. Many indigenous Australians met with these Americans, and were deeply influenced by the possibility for greater civic and economic equality that they seemed to represent. Americans One of the most severe tests of the Australian public in war was the presence of large numbers of United States troops in transit through Australia to various war fronts. These troops had three major impacts on Australian life. One was to force the opening up 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. It is important, however, not to overemphasise these events. Many, perhaps even most Australian women, probably never met, let alone went out with, an American soldier. And the 'battles' between the troops involved only the tiniest minority of soldiers on each side. A third impact was on Australia's indigenous people. Many black Americans were among the troops who passed through Australia. While blacks were discriminated against in the United States, they had far more civil rights than Australia's indigenous people. Many indigenous Australians met with these Americans, and were deeply influenced by the possibility for greater civic and economic equality that they seemed to represent.

Answer 3

This is a very complicated question and a very touchy one and I will do my best not to offend my American friends here, but these are the facts: This piece was by a reporter during WW2: Most of the Americans I met were hostile to the Australians as well as being obnoxious and loud-mouthed. Resentment of Americans was deep-seated during WW2 when thousands of Americans were stationed in Australia as a base for attacking the Japanese. The Australian serviceman was paid very little and the American G.I. was comparatively rich. They literally bought up all the women, which enraged the Australian men. Like the British, the Australians complained of the G.I.'s as being "over-paid, over-sexed and over here." The Australians seemed to think they could beat the Japanese all by themselves, or at least the ones that attacked Australia. They may have been right, as the Australian soldiers are among the best in the world. Much of the anti-American sentiment was male-orientated during wartime and the Australian women didn't seem to have the same resentment towards them. Although most of Australia's war news was from the U.S., news films beamed over there, their papers were biased to the point of outright lies. There is freedom of the press, but this does not give one a license to defraud the intellects of the reading public. In one instance during this time the U.S. showed blacks kneeling on the steps of a Southern courthouse at a civil rights demonstration. This was against the law so the police, with dogs, moved them off and there was a riot. One black was flicking his jacket at a dog, got too close and was bitten. The dog was leashed and the black just had no judgment of distance. In all fairness to Americans, the Sydney Morning Herald showed a picture of the black being bitten, but they had blocked out the leash, giving the impression that the dog had been set loose against demonstrators. There were, and are, enough things wrong with America that one doesn't need to lie to point out U.S. defects. The streets of parts of Australia during WW2 had a buzzing night-life that was viewed with scorn by some Australians. Young Australian women flocked to the clubs enjoying the extra attention (and fighting over them) between the Australian and Americans. NOTE BY MARCY: Australians (I have some in my own family) are like the fighting Irish. They are proud, hard drinking men and good fighters. Any man that goes to war is considered a hero in my eyes whether they are Australian, American, British, Canadian, etc. ***** It is a noted fact, because America is such a large and old country with a high population that the blood runs high as to the proudness of their country. However, due to the government Propaganda during those years, they lead American citizens to believe that they were the "best of the best", "America & Apple Pie" and they ruled the world. One can't blame the general population because they had to believe to survive. The motto of American was "You NEVER lost!" Little was taught in American schools about other countries, and this was soon to catch up to them in the 21st century. Now, the educational system is changing and students can now enjoy and learn about other countries of the world. Since Vietnam the American people (bless their hearts) put their own thinking caps on, and they are not buying "America & Apple Pie" any longer. When your own government lies to you and deceives you costing the lives of your loved ones, then it's fair game out there. America is not the only one with a government that lies and Canadians (a small country by comparison) is no different. Americans are fighting back to save themselves and they are learning more and more every day. The Government knows they have basically lost control and never counted on the intelligence of their own people. My own thoughts on all this is we must all learn to live with each other, stop fighting between ourselves or we become jackels eating each others flesh while the enemies of this world grow stronger. We are all brothers and sisters, and we must learn to think for ourselves and what is true in our hearts. Although you wouldn't believe it to this day, Canadian and American citizens (for the mostpart) get along just fine and it's our governments causing most of the problems. Think of this one ... how do you get back the control of the citizens in your country? Why propaganda of course. The American/Canadian governments need younger blood. A fresh view. More thinking before acting. Otherwise, Americans will never get the just dues they so deserve. Of course they have good fighting men and the best is the best in any country when men go to war and die for our countries. No one country is super special in that area. A soldier is a soldier no matter what country he comes from and after fighting amongst themselves for a bit, the plain truth of the matter is, they are there for each other and they fight together side by side. Lets just say the Australian/American's fighting spirits were running high and once things calmed down some became friends and have continued friendships to this day.

Answer 4

They sent force overseas to help Britain (there allie) and participated in several major combats such as Tobruk and El Alamein. But when threatened by Japan's sweeping attack down the pacific islands they withdrew most of there troops to defend there homeland

Answer 5

The Americans came to Australia because it was a safe place for MacArthur to build his army and bearth his Armada before taking on the Japanes the Americans Did not save Australia from Invasion because By the Time the First American troops arrived the Japanese had Given up on invading Australia

When MacArthur arrived in Australia after evacuating Bataan, he was a General in search of an offensive army. The Americans did not yet have a fighting force in the Pacific, and the Australians were committed in North Africa, enroute to Pacific stations, or in training or garrison in Australia. At one point in early 1942, there were four operational P-40 fighter planes and one B-17 bomber. The only combat-worthy division was Australian, and it was needed to defend Australia, not for offensive operations.

the Australians were already in new Guniea in August 1942 and already beaten the Japanese securing Port Morsby and averting any Invasion By the Japanese

MacArthur, for his part, wanted to advance with American forces as soon as he could. In November 1942 he marched unprepared and undersupplied American troops on Buna. They were driven back to the beach, barely holding on to their landing zone. MacArthur's staff sent glowing communiqués claiming advance, and declared Buna secure. While the American public was happy with victory, the Australians were landed to actually take the objective. Buna was declared secure, but fighting continued. The Australian government was privately unhappy with the casualties and with the credit going to the Americans, who would not have succeeded without the Australians.

Answer 6

The allies were at war aginst the axis which included Japan. Australia was the last remaining allied outpost in the Pacific that was close enough to Japan to be strategic.