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AUSTRALIAAustralia’s military involvement in the Vietnam War was the second longest in duration of any war fought by Australia. It was only recently overtaken by the War in Afghanistan. For ten years, from 1962 until 1972, Australian Defence Force personnel served in various capacities in Vietnam.
At the heart of this involvement was the Government’s intention to support the United States, along with the fear of Communism and its sphere of influence. It was thought that if Communism could be stopped in Vietnam through military intervention, then Australia and the Southern Pacific would be safe from the reach of Communism. However, by 1969 anti-war protests were gathering momentum in Australia. Opposition to conscription mounted, as casualty rates increased and more people came to believe the war could not be won. RESOURCES BELOW
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SOME QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT:
1. Was Australian involvement in the war essential in the fight against communism?
2. To what extent were the decisions made by the Australian Government influenced by the events in Vietnam as well as foreign policy considerations?
3. Why and how did the views Australians held about the war shift from 1965 to 1970?
4. Why was there limited support for the war towards the end?
5. Was Australia a player or a puppet?
RESOURCES
DOMINO EFFECT
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BATTLE OF LONG TAN
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AUSTRALIANS AT WAR
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