What did the attack on Pearl Harbor mean for Australia?

Answer 1

The attack on Pearl Harbor meant America's navy would be unable to come over and defend Australia and other Asian countries from Japan's invasion. That was Japan's purpose when they attacked Pear Harbor, to allow a more easy invasion of Australasia without American interference.

Another Viewpoint:

The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor meant that Australia's region had come under direct threat and Australia had to withdraw its forces from the war against Germany and bring them home. While Australia was attacked by air and submarine, the Japanese, having achieved their aim of taking over the resources of South East Asia, and being committed in China and the Pacific, had no capacity leftover to attack Australia, as much as we feared this might happen. The country went on a full war-economy and the reserve forces were called up for full-time duty. It became a base for the American army's campaign to retake the Philippines and contributed to preparations for the invasion of Japan.

An indication of Japan's inability to attack Australia was that the best force they could assemble to take over New Guinea was an infantry regiment and a scratch regiment of engineers and other troops - not one full division, while Australia had five infantry and three armored divisions even before the three AIF ones in the Middle East were brought home. The Japanese Navy was all for pressing on to Australia, but the Army gave a flat 'No' ass they had nothing spare - their troops were fully committed in Burma, South East Asia, China and the USSR border.

Answer 2

Australia was already in the war. They had declared war on Germany at the same time Britain had in 1939. All of the military resources they could muster were already in the European theater. When Japan went to war in 1941 it wasn't just against the United States, much less just Pearl Harbor. they were making a play to capture everything in the Pacific and East Asia. They were trying to get into a position to invade Australia and we only just stopped them. Michael Montagne

Answer 3

Australia had already committed much of its available military force to support England in the European War. If the sea routes to the US were closed, Australia and New Zealand were both threatened. This was reinforced when Japan made concurrent strikes in Southeast Asia and the Phillipenes. If the US Fleet abandoned Hawaii and American Samoa for a fall back position in defense of the US West coast, the ANZAC area would be in a dire position.

Answer 4

For starters it allowed FDR to enter the war on the allied side officially instead of in the clandestine way he was already. The 7th of December 1941 attack at Pearl Harbor galvanized this country in a way nothing else would have. FDR was even before that infamous day trying to persuade the rest of his country into participation on the allied side mainlly due to Churchill`s pleadings. They meet in August of `41 in Canada after a tense trip by Churchill across the Alantic. It was decided that FDR would provide Navy and civillian transports and escorts for British troops to pacific theatre. This ships were at sea when the attack happened. An other small thing could also be said though, with the destruction of most of the battleships there as well as the method it forced the navy to adopt a whole new style of seaborne warfare by them. If not for the attack and the way in which it was carried out we MAY have been just as isolated as Charles Lindburg and others wanted us to be until Nazi stormtroopers were marching down 5th Ave.while Japanese soldiers pulled a Nanking massacre only this time in L.A.!!

Answer 5

Australia saw the Japanese fleet moving toward Pearl Harbor. They told America, but it was shrugged off by President Roosevelt.

Answer 6

None whatsoever. Michael Montagne

Answer 7

They felt they would be next.

Answer 8

it didnt