174:
345:
689:
338:
36:
778:, calling Australia "the bastion of British institutions, the British way of life and the system of democratic government in the Southern World". In April 1944, Curtin held talks on postwar planning with United States President Franklin Roosevelt and with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and gained agreement for the Australian economy to begin transitioning from military to post-war economy. He returned to Australia and campaigned for an unsuccessful
610:
677:
661:, to formulate a Pacific defence plan with Australia in March 1942. Curtin agreed to place Australian forces under the command of General MacArthur, who became "Supreme Commander of the South West Pacific". Curtin had thus presided over a fundamental shift in Australia's foreign policy. MacArthur moved his headquarters to Melbourne in March 1942 and American troops began massing in Australia. In late May 1942, Japanese
45:
604:"The Australian Government...regards the Pacific struggle as primarily one in which the United States and Australia must have the fullest say in the direction of the democracies' fighting plan. Without inhibitions of any kind, I make it clear that Australia looks to America, free of any pangs as to our traditional links or kinship with the United Kingdom."
810:, Curtin struggled with exhaustion and a heavy work load – excusing himself from Parliamentary question time and unable to concentrate on the large number of parliamentary bills being drafted dealing with the coming peace. Curtin returned to hospital in April with lung congestion. With Deputy Prime Minister
491:
campaigns, Menzies re-approached the Labor Party to form a War
Cabinet. Menzies had planned a further trip to Britain to influence the conduct of the Allied campaign. Unable to secure Curtin's support, and with an unworkable parliamentary majority, Menzies resigned as Prime Minister. The
789:
to discuss formation of the United
Nations. Australia played a significant mediatory role in these early years of the United Nations, successfully lobbying for an increased role for smaller and middle-ranking nations and a stronger commitment to employment rights into the
466:
Curtin took a seat on the newly created
Advisory War Council in October 1940 and agreed to a plan by Menzies to travel to Washington and London. In January 1941, Menzies flew to Britain to discuss the weakness of Singapore's defences and sit with
599:. Australia was ill-prepared for an attack, lacking armaments, modern fighter aircraft, heavy bombers, and aircraft carriers. While demanding reinforcements from Churchill, on 27 December 1941 Curtin published an historic announcement:
719:
in June effectively defeated the
Japanese navy and the Japanese army launched a land assault on Moresby from the north. Between July and November 1942, Australian forces repulsed Japanese attempts on the city by way of the
423:
and became leader of the opposition in 1935. Defence issues were becoming increasingly dominant in public affairs with the rise of
Fascism in Europe and militant Japan in Asia. Curtin led Labor to the 1937 election against
652:
Two battle-hardened
Australian divisions were already steaming from the Mid-East for Singapore. Churchill wanted them diverted to Burma, but Curtin refused, and anxiously awaited their return to Australia. US President
580:
With most of
Australia's best forces committed to fight against Hitler in the Middle East, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, the US naval base in Hawaii, on 8 December 1941 (eastern Australia time). The British battleship
747:
arrived in
Australia to take up his post in January 1945. Curtin hoped this might influence the British to despatch men and equipment to the Pacific, and the appointment reaffirmed the important role of the
554:. Labor won 49 seats to 12 United Australia Party, 7 Country Party, 3 Country National Party (Queensland), 1 Queensland Country Party, 1 Liberal Country Party (Victoria) and 1 Independent in the
637:, before surrendering on 15 February 1942. Around 15,000 Australian soldiers became prisoners of war. Curtin predicted that the "battle for Australia" would now follow. On 19 February,
763:, which persisted into 1945. MacCarthur to a certain extent excluded Australian forces from the main push north into the Philippines and Japan. It was left to Australia to lead
774:
As the end of the war approached, Curtin sought to firm up
Australian influence in the South Pacific following the war but also sought to ensure a continuing role for the
566:
910:
472:
1185:
938:
802:
Prime
Minister Curtin suffered from ill health from the strains of office. He suffered a major heart attack in November 1944. Facing the newly formed
1420:
1033:
451:. The Labor Party declined to enter a war cabinet led by Menzies, though Curtin offered co-operation – though not to the extent of supporting
252:
369:
1430:
455:
for overseas service. The Labor Party experienced a split along pro and anti Communist lines over policy towards the Soviet Union for its
1415:
646:
1425:
983:
1130:
693:
546:. Curtin went on to lead federal Labor to its greatest win with two-thirds of seats in the lower house and over 58 percent of the
273:
1068:
1178:
596:
642:
278:
785:
In April 1945, Curtin despatched an Australian delegation which included attorney-general and minister for external affairs
735:
Concerned to maintain British commitment to the defence of Australia, Prime Minister Curtin announced in November 1943 that
633:
British Malaya quickly collapsed, shocking the Australian nation. British, Indian and Australian troops made a disorganised
516:
555:
794:. Evatt was elected president of the third session of the United Nations General Assembly (September 1948 to May 1949).
1293:
1273:
90:
1410:
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1225:
1210:
1171:
914:
362:
736:
551:
543:
329:
324:
319:
1338:
859:
483:. Returning to Australia, with the threat of Japan imminent and with the Australian army suffering badly in the
1094:
991:
645:, the first time the Australian mainland had ever been attacked by enemy forces. Over the following 19 months,
460:
407:
782:
to extend federal government power over employment, monopolies, Aboriginal people, health and railway gauges.
673:. On 8 June 1942, two Japanese submarines briefly shelled Sydney's eastern suburbs and the city of Newcastle.
740:
211:
432:
which resulted in a comfortable victory to the UAP. Lyons died in office in April 1939 and the UAP selected
173:
1155:
954:
355:
893:
1156:
Chifley, Joseph Benedict (Ben) (1885–1951) Biographical Entry – Australian Dictionary of Biography Online
626:
539:
519:
456:
74:
1037:
971:
935:
841:, Chifley, a former railway engine driver, became Australia's 16th Prime Minister on 13 July 1945. The
803:
779:
638:
216:
670:
582:
547:
206:
712:
704:
463:
relied upon the support of two Independents, Alex Wilson and Arthur Coles to continue in office.
448:
344:
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838:
768:
535:
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105:
21:
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721:
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301:
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62:
17:
288:
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666:
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759:, between November 1942 and January 1943, set the tone for the bitter final stages of the
8:
1368:
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760:
756:
729:
523:
337:
120:
115:
439:
On 3 September 1939, Prime Minister Menzies announced Australia's declaration of war on
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527:
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of the Country Party as its leader, before the independents switched allegiance and
1323:
1268:
1260:
842:
826:
716:
662:
614:
484:
459:
in the invasion of Poland and Labor narrowly lost the September 1940 Election. The
573:. He is widely regarded as one of the country's greatest Prime Ministers. General
1298:
1245:
1220:
1112:
942:
688:
567:
Australian mainland came under direct military threat during the Japanese advance
488:
807:
775:
744:
699:
In an effort to isolate Australia, the Japanese planned a seaborne invasion of
433:
1404:
911:"Before office - John Curtin - Australia's PMS - Australia's Prime Ministers"
493:
476:
1016:
General Douglas MacArthur, Reminiscences, Heinemann, London, 1967. Page 258.
35:
1163:
791:
700:
570:
500:
was sworn in as Prime Minister on 7 October 1941. Eight weeks later, Japan
452:
444:
440:
425:
1388:
1384:
1034:"In office - John Curtin - Australia's PMS - Australia's Prime Ministers"
834:
830:
815:
811:
512:
497:
480:
416:
387:
189:
157:
95:
83:
386:
was the federal executive government of Australia led by Prime Minister
1380:
894:
http://primeministers.naa.gov.au/primeministers/lyons/after-office.aspx
725:
684:, Commander of Allied forces in the Pacific, with Prime Minister Curtin
475:. In Menzies's absence, Curtin co-operated with Deputy Prime Minister
972:
http://primeministers.naa.gov.au/primeministers/curtin/elections.aspx
936:
http://primeministers.naa.gov.au/primeministers/fadden/in-office.aspx
845:
ended with the defeat of Japan in the Pacific just four weeks later.
786:
609:
577:
said that Curtin was "one of the greatest of the wartime statesmen".
67:
837:
as Curtin's successor. Following his 1945 election as leader of the
732:
in August 1942 was the first Allied defeat of Japanese land forces.
818:
serving as acting Prime Minister, it was Chifley who announced the
618:
833:
served as Prime Minister from 6–13 July, before the party elected
676:
558:. The Labor Party also won all 19 of the seats contested for the
1131:"Francis Forde – Australia's PMs – Australia's Prime Ministers"
1119:. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University.
1101:. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University.
961:. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University.
819:
44:
905:
903:
901:
1391:(1967–1968), see their respective biographical articles.
898:
1379:
For information about the caretaker governments led by
657:ordered his commander in the Philippines, General
515:(8 January 1885 – 5 July 1945) served as the
492:UAP-Coalition held office for another month with
1402:
1179:
542:Coalition government which resulted from the
363:
1193:
1028:
1026:
1024:
1022:
1186:
1172:
370:
356:
1058:Cited in Frank Crowley (1973) Vol 2, p.51
1019:
1113:"Evatt, Herbert Vere (Bert) (1894–1965)"
825:When Curtin died towards the end of the
694:Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference
687:
675:
608:
479:in preparing Australia for the expected
274:Statute of Westminster Adoption Act 1942
1095:"Gloucester, first Duke of (1900–1974)"
752:to the Australian nation at that time.
1403:
1167:
279:Department of Post-War Reconstruction
1431:1945 disestablishments in Australia
1421:History of Australia (1945–present)
692:Curtin, sitting right, at the 1944
647:Australia was attacked from the air
556:Australian House of Representatives
390:. It was made up of members of the
13:
1416:Australian Labor Party governments
1117:Australian Dictionary of Biography
1099:Australian Dictionary of Biography
976:
959:Australian Dictionary of Biography
797:
625:followed soon after Curtin became
436:to succeed him as Prime Minister.
131:Predecessor lost confidence motion
14:
1442:
1426:1941 establishments in Australia
1071:. Home.st.net.au. Archived from
737:Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester
419:was first elected leader of the
343:
336:
172:
43:
34:
1149:
1123:
1105:
1087:
1061:
860:History of Australia since 1945
1069:"Midget Submarines history at"
1052:
1010:
992:National Archives of Australia
965:
947:
929:
887:
617:of the Japanese at Tarsau, in
565:Curtin led Australia when the
522:. Labor under Curtin formed a
457:co-operation with Nazi Germany
408:Menzies government (1939-1941)
268:Term of government (1941–1945)
1:
880:
741:Governor General of Australia
401:
711:engaged the Japanese in the
507:
57:7 October 1941 – 5 July 1945
7:
988:Australia's Prime Ministers
848:
715:and halted the attack. The
627:Prime Minister of Australia
526:in 1941 after independents
520:Prime Minister of Australia
261:Prime Minister of Australia
253:1935 Labor leadership spill
10:
1447:
955:"Curtin, John (1885–1945)"
804:Liberal Party of Australia
767:against Japanese bases in
405:
15:
1377:
1201:
814:in the United States and
597:were sunk soon afterwards
595:sent to defend Singapore
217:Victorian Socialist Party
153:
143:
135:
127:
111:
101:
89:
73:
61:
56:
51:
42:
31:
1411:Governments of Australia
1195:Governments of Australia
820:end of the war in Europe
443:. Australia had entered
181:This article is part of
16:Not to be confused with
713:Battle of the Coral Sea
705:Territory of New Guinea
641:suffered a devastating
635:last stand at Singapore
449:Nazi invasion of Poland
941:24 August 2011 at the
870:Second Curtin Ministry
839:Australian Labor Party
724:, in the highlands of
696:
685:
630:
607:
606:
536:United Australia Party
430:United Australia Party
421:Australian Labor Party
392:Australian Labor Party
212:Early political career
22:Second Curtin Ministry
865:First Curtin Ministry
691:
679:
613:Dutch and Australian
612:
602:
601:
502:attacked Pearl Harbor
396:Australian Parliament
18:First Curtin Ministry
855:History of Australia
739:was to be appointed
703:, in the Australian
669:in a daring raid on
667:accommodation vessel
530:, bringing down the
765:amphibious assaults
761:New Guinea campaign
757:Battle of Buna-Gona
730:Battle of Milne Bay
707:. In May 1942, the
548:two-party preferred
524:minority government
473:British War Cabinet
398:from 1941 to 1945.
1040:on 17 January 2012
875:Chifley government
806:opposition led by
697:
686:
655:Franklin Roosevelt
649:almost 100 times.
631:
588:and battlecruiser
461:Menzies government
1396:
1395:
743:. The brother of
682:Douglas MacArthur
663:midget submarines
659:Douglas MacArthur
623:Fall of Singapore
575:Douglas MacArthur
560:Australian Senate
528:crossed the floor
469:Winston Churchill
412:Fadden government
384:Curtin government
380:
379:
284:Domestic policies
247:
234:
199:
198:
163:
162:
148:Fadden government
32:Curtin government
1438:
1188:
1181:
1174:
1165:
1164:
1158:
1153:
1147:
1146:
1144:
1142:
1133:. Archived from
1127:
1121:
1120:
1109:
1103:
1102:
1091:
1085:
1084:
1082:
1080:
1075:on 13 April 2010
1065:
1059:
1056:
1050:
1049:
1047:
1045:
1036:. Archived from
1030:
1017:
1014:
1008:
1007:
1005:
1003:
994:. Archived from
980:
974:
969:
963:
962:
951:
945:
933:
927:
926:
924:
922:
913:. Archived from
907:
896:
891:
843:Second World War
827:Second World War
717:Battle of Midway
447:, following the
372:
365:
358:
347:
340:
239:
226:
195:
194:
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185:
184:
176:
169:
168:
165:
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158:Forde government
78:
47:
38:
29:
28:
1446:
1445:
1441:
1440:
1439:
1437:
1436:
1435:
1401:
1400:
1397:
1392:
1373:
1197:
1192:
1162:
1161:
1154:
1150:
1140:
1138:
1137:on 26 July 2010
1129:
1128:
1124:
1111:
1110:
1106:
1093:
1092:
1088:
1078:
1076:
1067:
1066:
1062:
1057:
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1041:
1032:
1031:
1020:
1015:
1011:
1001:
999:
998:on 26 July 2010
982:
981:
977:
970:
966:
953:
952:
948:
943:Wayback Machine
934:
930:
920:
918:
917:on 13 July 2017
909:
908:
899:
892:
888:
883:
851:
822:on 9 May 1945.
800:
798:Death of Curtin
780:1944 referendum
585:Prince of Wales
510:
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406:Main articles:
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289:WWII leadership
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867:
862:
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847:
829:in July 1945,
808:Robert Menzies
799:
796:
776:British Empire
745:King George VI
671:Sydney Harbour
509:
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434:Robert Menzies
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183:a series about
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139:Curtin's death
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1055:
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1013:
997:
993:
989:
985:
984:"John Curtin"
979:
973:
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944:
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664:
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624:
621:in 1943. The
620:
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605:
600:
598:
594:
593:
587:
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552:1943 election
549:
545:
544:1940 election
541:
540:Country Party
537:
533:
529:
525:
521:
518:
514:
505:
503:
499:
495:
494:Arthur Fadden
490:
486:
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477:Arthur Fadden
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55:
50:
46:
41:
37:
30:
27:
23:
19:
1398:
1283:
1151:
1139:. Retrieved
1135:the original
1125:
1116:
1107:
1098:
1089:
1077:. Retrieved
1073:the original
1063:
1054:
1042:. Retrieved
1038:the original
1012:
1000:. Retrieved
996:the original
987:
978:
967:
958:
949:
931:
919:. Retrieved
915:the original
889:
824:
801:
792:U.N. Charter
784:
773:
754:
734:
722:Kokoda Track
701:Port Moresby
698:
651:
632:
603:
591:
584:
579:
571:World War II
564:
550:vote at the
511:
465:
453:conscription
445:World War II
441:Nazi Germany
438:
426:Joseph Lyons
415:
383:
381:
335:
313:
312:
295:
294:
267:
266:
260:
259:
258:
240:
227:
26:
1389:John McEwen
1387:(1945) and
1385:Frank Forde
835:Ben Chifley
831:Frank Forde
816:Ben Chifley
812:Frank Forde
680:US General
513:John Curtin
498:John Curtin
481:Pacific War
417:John Curtin
388:John Curtin
245:(1934–1945)
241:Member for
232:(1928–1931)
228:Member for
191:John Curtin
144:Predecessor
123:(1943–1945)
118:(1941–1943)
96:Frank Forde
84:John Curtin
1405:Categories
1381:Earle Page
1294:Menzies II
1251:Fisher III
1236:Deakin III
881:References
726:New Guinea
402:Background
296:Ministries
207:Early life
1274:Menzies I
1241:Fisher II
1226:Deakin II
787:H V Evatt
590:HMS
583:HMS
534:minority
532:Coalition
508:In Office
314:Elections
243:Fremantle
230:Fremantle
154:Successor
68:George VI
52:In office
1383:(1939),
1369:Albanese
1364:Morrison
1359:Turnbull
1231:Fisher I
1211:Deakin I
1141:23 April
1079:29 April
1044:23 April
939:Archived
921:24 April
849:See also
665:sank an
643:air raid
619:Thailand
121:Majority
116:Minority
79:Minister
1349:Rudd II
1344:Gillard
1329:Keating
1314:Whitlam
1309:McMahon
1289:Chifley
1265:Scullin
1002:29 June
709:US Navy
592:Repulse
394:in the
63:Monarch
1354:Abbott
1339:Rudd I
1334:Howard
1319:Fraser
1304:Gorton
1284:Curtin
1279:Fadden
1256:Hughes
1216:Watson
1206:Barton
769:Borneo
728:. The
639:Darwin
307:Second
136:Demise
128:Origin
112:Status
91:Deputy
77:
1324:Hawke
1269:Lyons
1261:Bruce
750:Crown
489:Crete
485:Greek
302:First
106:Labor
102:Party
75:Prime
1299:Holt
1246:Cook
1221:Reid
1143:2011
1081:2010
1046:2011
1004:2010
923:2011
755:The
615:PoWs
517:14th
487:and
410:and
382:The
330:1943
325:1940
320:1937
569:in
471:'s
20:or
1407::
1115:.
1097:.
1021:^
990:.
986:.
957:.
900:^
771:.
562:.
504:.
428:'
1187:e
1180:t
1173:v
1145:.
1083:.
1048:.
1006:.
925:.
629:.
538:-
371:e
364:t
357:v
24:.
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