OXFORD BIG IDEAS HISTORY 10: AUSTRALIAN CURRICULUM 2 WORLD WAR II (1939–1945) 56 57 depth study World War II In this depth study, students will investigate wartime experiences through a study of World War II. is includes coverage of the causes, events, outcome and broad impact of the con ict as a part of global history, as well as the nature and extent of Australia’s involvement in the con ict. is depth study MUST be completed by all students. 2.0 World War II (1939–1945) The explosion of the USS Shaw during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, 7 December 1941 SAMPLE OXFORD BIG IDEAS HISTORY 10: AUSTRALIAN CURRICULUM 2 WORLD WAR II (1939–1945) 58 59 Australian Curriculum focus HISTORICAL KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING • An overview of the causes and course of World War II • An examination of significant events of World War II, including the Holocaust and use of the atomic bomb depth study • The experiences of Australians during World War II (such as Prisoners of War (POWs), the Battle of Britain, World War II Kokoda, the Fall of Singapore) (1939–1945) • The impact of World War II, with a particular emphasis on the Australian home front, including the changing roles of women and use of wartime government World War II was one of the de ning events of the 20th century. e war was controls (conscription, manpower controls, rationing played out all across Europe, the Paci c, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. and censorship) e war even brie y reached North America and mainland Australia. • The significance of World War II to Australia’s Technology changed greatly throughout World In World War II, civilians became involved in international relationships in the twentieth century, with War II. When war broke out, trench warfare, cavalry warfare in new ways. The strategic bombing of particular reference to the United Nations, Britain, the and World War I-era battleships were still in use. By cities on both sides probably killed over one million 1945, weapons introduced during the war included civilians and caused tremendous damage. The USA and Asia jet aircraft, ballistic missiles, radar-guided anti- Holocaust claimed the lives of an estimated six aircraft guns and missiles, assault ri es, bazookas, million Jews, as well as around ve million people Napalm and the atomic bomb. Advances were also from other persecuted groups (such as Gypsies, HISTORICAL SKILLS made in medicine, communications, electronics, communists and homosexuals). The health impacts • Use chronological sequencing to demonstrate the and industry, all of which had a major impact on the of the atomic bombings of Japan in 1945 lasted for relationship between events and developments in rest of the 20th century. several generations. different periods and places. • Use historical terms and concepts. • Identify and select different kinds of questions about Key inquiry questions the past to inform historical inquiry. 2.1 What were the causes of World War II and what course did it take? • Evaluate and enhance these questions. • Identify and locate relevant sources, using ICT and 2.2 What were some of the most signi cant events of World War II? other methods. 2.3 How did the events of World War II affect people around the world and in Australia? • Identify the origin, purpose and context of primary and secondary sources. 2.4 How did the events of World War II shape Australia’s international relationships? • Process and synthesise information from a range of sources for use as evidence in an historical argument. • Evaluate the reliability and usefulness of primary and secondary sources. • Identify and analyse the perspectives of people from the past. • Identify and analyse different historical interpretations (including their own). • Develop texts, particularly explanations and discussions Many rows of stone heads now stand in the ground at the Mauthausen war memorial that use evidence from a range of sources that are in Austria, the site of a Nazi concentration camp during World War II. referenced. • Select and use a range of communication forms (oral, 2 graphic, written) and digital technologies. white feather signied cowardice and was given to item relevant to World War II (or to the concept of • Photographs of Adolf Hitler, Winston • Can of SPAM (spiced ham). You can still buy some men who were not wearing a uniform (more war in general). It might be as simple as a picture Churchill and other signicant individuals from this from the supermarket, it was used in World Getting started prevalent in World War I however). Some of the they have drawn themselves, a photograph of a World War II War II as was bully beef (corned beef in a can). Enter the ID numbers below into the search eld of your obook to access these resources. Make the rst lesson memorable and try to spark items can be purchased from $2 shops or second- family member who served in the war or a letter • Shovel (women of Australia worked to support • Poster calling for men to enlist (see the weblink ID02.01 Flashcard glossary: World War II interest in the topic so students look forward to hand stores. It will take time to gather these items, from a soldier toSAMPLE a girlfriend they have sourced via the war eort) in the obook extras panel on this spread) or you learning more. Sometimes actually holding an item but they can be kept for use each year. Students will the Internet. You could conclude by looking at the • Radio (many would gather round and listen to could make a colour copy of Source 2.75) ID02.02 Weblink: Ration book can make the experience seem more real, so gather nd it an engaging way to start the topic and you can key inquiry questions and discussing how your war announcements) • Image of Star of David (symbol of Jewish identity) Visit the ABC website for a photograph of a ration the following items from the list before the lesson continue to add items with future classes. investigation of these objects has helped in your • Letter with sections cut out or blacked out (to • Image of Nazi swastika book. quest to nd some answers to these ‘big questions’ or and as students enter the room have them each take You may wish to list the items given to students represent censorship during wartime) • Image of war cemetery ID02.03 Weblink: Enlistment poster an item (like a lucky dip). Explain to students that and have students write down the signicance of ‘big ideas’. • Ration book (see the weblink in the obook extras • A telegram (see the weblink in the obook extras Visit the South Australian Memory website to see an each object or image is linked to World War II in the item. If students do not know the signicance • White feather panel on this spread for the cover of a ration book panel on this spread) enlistment poster some way. Ask each student to explain what the of the item, they can be encouraged to nd out. • Helmet, medal, toy grenade, model war plane you could make up) object is and what it might mean. For example, the Conclude by asking students to bring in their own OXFORD BIG IDEAS HISTORY 10: AUSTRALIAN CURRICULUM 2 WORLD WAR II (1939–1945) 60 61 Australian Curriculum focus 19 February 1942 HISTORICAL KNOWLEDGE AND Darwin bombed and Australia put on ‘total war’ footing UNDERSTANDING 6 June 1944 D-Day landing of Allied troops in Europe • An overview of the causes and course of World War II bigpicture July–November 1942 Kokoda Trail campaign fought between • An examination of significant events of World War II, Australia and Japan in New Guinea including the Holocaust and use of the atomic bomb • The experiences of Australians during World War II World War II (such as Prisoners of War (POWs), the Battle of Britain, Kokoda, the Fall of Singapore) Although World War I had been called the ‘war to end all wars’, only 20 years • The impact of World War II, with a particular emphasis after its conclusion the world was once again plunged into war. e Paris on the Australian home front, including the changing Peace Conference paved the way for World War II, and the Great Depression roles of women and use of wartime government also played a role in destabilising world economies and political systems American troops in landing craft in Normandy, France controls (conscription, manpower controls, rationing making them ripe for conict. and censorship) Specic ideologies such as , and also shaped Kokoda Trail campaign • The significance of World War II to Australia’s Nazism fascism communism 30 April 1945 the events that led to the outbreak of war in September 1939. As was the case Hitler commits suicide international relationships in the twentieth century, with 1940 in Berlin, leading to the particular reference to the United Nations, Britain, the in World War I, Germany was again seen as the main aggressor. Germany’s Fall of France, Belgium, Norway, surrender of Germany Denmark, the Netherlands to USA and Asia invasion of Poland was the nal trigger that brought most of Europe into the 1 September 1939 Germany; Dunkirk evacuation war. Italy and Japan were allies of Germany and, for a short time, so was Germany attacks Poland 8 May 1945 and German troops cross VE (Victory in Europe) the USSR. France and Britain were again allies, and Australia was involved the border, causing Britain Day—marks the end of HISTORICAL SKILLS and France to declare war 22 June 1941 the war in Europe through its membership in the British Empire. e USA entered the war in • Use chronological sequencing to demonstrate the on Germany.