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General Douglas MacArthur and Prime Minister John Curtin, 1943

The Final Campaigns

Australian forces were more engaged in 1945 than in any other year of the Second World War.

By Dr Karl James

Second World War 1939 - 1945

A theatre of 'perculiar significance'

“The front line of Australian defence”

By Nicole Townsend

Second World War 1939 - 1945

Hitler as military leader

By his own account a genius, was Hitler chiefly responsible for Nazi Germany's military defeat?

By Sir Richard J. Evans

Second World War 1939 - 1945

Australian Army soldiers from Special Operations Task Group conduct a range practise in Uruzgan province, southern Afghanistan, in 2012.

Assessing war trauma

The health costs of the war in Afghanistan raise unanswered questions.

By Alexander McFarlane

Afghanistan 2001 - 2021

Animals in war

Australians have had a long history of fighting alongside animals.

By Meleah Hampton

Private Victor Nelson of 2/3 Pioneer Battalion at Tarakan, Borneo, 1945

Service as Citizenship

After the First World War, Indigenous soldiers struggled to gain rights and recognition.

By Rachel Caines

First World War 1914 - 1918

Holly with her paternal grandparents and sisters during the Bicentennial Naval Review, January 1988.

An Arc of Service

A Wollongong builder, a nurse, an Ararat grocer and a bank clerk. Normal Australians. My family.

By Holly Pritchard

Chasing Shadows

Kristy Campion

Reviewed by Duncan Beard

Roy Hodgkinson, 14 Australian Anti-aircraft Battery (Militia) Fixed Defences, Darwin (1942) AWM ART22719

Bombing Darwin 1942

A successful Japanese raid caught the Allied forces unprepared.

By Dr Thomas Rogers

Second World War 1939 - 1945

Life in the Line

Soldiers of 1RAR in Korea

By Rose Dryzek

Korean War 1950 - 1953

Reg Saunders and Tom Derrick shake hands after graduating from the Officer Cadets Training Unit

In his own words

The combat diaries of Diver Derrick

By Dr Mark Johnston

Second World War 1939 - 1945

The landing beaches at Normandy from the air, 1944

The Royal Australian Navy at Normandy

Australian sailors played many important roles in D-Day’s Operation Neptune.

By Dr Lachlan Grant

Second World War 1939 - 1945

Forbidden diaries

Sister Betty Jeffrey's story of survival, courage, and comradeship as a prisoner of war.

By Robyn van Dyk

Second World War 1939 - 1945

Inspiring stories - Expert insights

Last updated: 8 April 2025

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The V2 rocket on display in Trafalgar Square, London in September 1945.

The Vengeance Weapon Series: What is the V2 Rocket?

The first video in a new series about the V2 rocket.

Second World War 1939 - 1945

Premium

Norman Hetherington with his puppets including Mr Squiggle

From camouflage to cartoons: Norman Hetherington

The remarkable story of Mr Squiggle's creator, Norman Hetherington

Second World War 1939 - 1945

Frank Clarke stands outside in his uniform

Ripples of Wartime: Frank Clarke

Frank Clarke is a Wergaia and Gunditjmara man who served in Vietnam.

Vietnam War 1962 - 1975

Ripples of Wartime: Chas Martin

Chas Martin was called up for National Service in 1969 - and disobeyed.

Vietnam War 1962 - 1975

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Lawrence H. Cecil of the ABC, recording messages home on board HMAS Perth, 1941.

Dust in the grooves

During WW2 the ABC sent out units to record audio for radio broadcast.

By Jennifer Selby

Second World War 1939 - 1945

Trapped

Trapped is a six part series about a group of Australian airmen stranded on Timor during WW2.

By Tom Trumble

Second World War 1939 - 1945