Australian war policy 1939–1945∗

∗ A revised version of a paper delivered to Section 26 of the A.N.Z.A.A.S. Conference, Hobart, in May 1976. The author is preparing for publication a short, general account of Australia's war policy and strategy, based on the very substantial amount of published work in the Official Histories, campaign studies, unit histories, biographies and memoirs. This is intended to supplement two existing books: Gavin Long, The Six Years War. A Concise History of Australia in the 1939–45 War, Canberra 1973, a condensation of the Official History Australia in the War of 1939–1945, and C. Bateson, The War With Japan; a concise history, Sydney 1968. Long's book is more concerned with the tactical history of operations than the average history undergraduate finds appealing. Bateson's book, as the title indicates, is not concerned with Australia's role in the war against Germany and Italy. It is mainly an account of Allied operations with policy taking a subordinate place. Much new material has appeared since Bateson wrote. I am very grateful to Dr R. J. O'Neill, Head of the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, A.N.U., for helpful comments on this article.

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Notes

∗ A revised version of a paper delivered to Section 26 of the A.N.Z.A.A.S. Conference, Hobart, in May 1976. The author is preparing for publication a short, general account of Australia's war policy and strategy, based on the very substantial amount of published work in the Official Histories, campaign studies, unit histories, biographies and memoirs. This is intended to supplement two existing books: Gavin Long, The Six Years War. A Concise History of Australia in the 1939–45 War, Canberra 1973, a condensation of the Official History Australia in the War of 1939–1945, and C. Bateson, The War With Japan; a concise history, Sydney 1968. Long's book is more concerned with the tactical history of operations than the average history undergraduate finds appealing. Bateson's book, as the title indicates, is not concerned with Australia's role in the war against Germany and Italy. It is mainly an account of Allied operations with policy taking a subordinate place. Much new material has appeared since Bateson wrote. I am very grateful to Dr R. J. O'Neill, Head of the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, A.N.U., for helpful comments on this article.