Excellent YT series on the Mediterranean War

[Neilster]

Real Time History, an excellent YouTube channel, has released the first part of a series on the war in the Mediterranean in WW2. It goes into quite a lot of background, including how the "White Dominions", Australia, New Zealand, Canada etc were keen to avoid unquestioning adherence to British command and the slaughter of WW1, and bargained their support to a certain extent. India's situation is discussed, along with the rest of the British Empire, for which the wheels were obviously beginning to fall off.

They've done many others on topics such as the Ardennes Offensive, the fall of France, Middle East stuff and Vietnam. They're really worth checking out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYNTv436100

[gamer78]

I didn't see in documantery say similar to Albanian Janniseries difficulties in recruitment to Libya during Italian war. Was very to difficult to bring and motivate troops from Balkans to desert. Canada a bit different from French population perhaps. Difference of British Empire with colonies in America, Austrialia and India with only positive institutions and native population&sickness. Positive instutions in the long run more eager to fight I think. I didn't see any negative about Commonwealth about joining war.

[Neilster]

I didn't see in documantery say similar to Albanian Janniseries difficulties in recruitment to Libya during Italian war. Was very to difficult to bring and motivate troops from Balkans to desert. Canada a bit different from French population perhaps. Difference of British Empire with colonies in America, Austrialia and India with only positive institutions and native population&sickness. Positive instutions in the long run more eager to fight I think. I didn't see any negative about Commonwealth about joining war.

As an Australian, I can write about our experience, at least. After WW1, there was a feeling that we unquestioningly joined Britain when war was declared and that a tremendous number of our young men died due to its indifferent leadership and strategy. Now, obviously no-one realised that rather than this being a quick, glorious and victorious war it would be over four years of industrialised slaughter but that was the feeling in the community.

Australia only coalesced as a nation from its separate colonies in 1901, so WW1 had a massive role in defining our national character. By 1939 people felt less British and more Australian and the Australian government wasn't keen on a blank cheque second time around. There was an awareness that Japan's empire building was a potential threat and when that eventuated there was massive political pressure to bring our soldiers from North Africa home, against resistance from Churchill. The documentary touches on this and also talks about Canada, South Africa and New Zealand in a similar light.

[gamer78]

Thanks for expaining. What I mean was not about questioning national idendity more likely about pacts and alliances. All nations have been into pacts and alliances like Australia in the past and now. Like Hearts of Iron game. But dismissing parliement https://www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments ... %2DGeneral. is a bit problematic. I wonder how is is now. ANZAC I believe join the Korean war with the 8th army.

[Neilster]

Thanks for expaining. What I mean was not about questioning national idendity more likely about pacts and alliances. All nations have been into pacts and alliances like Australia in the past and now. Like Hearts of Iron game. But dismissing parliement https://www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments ... %2DGeneral. is a bit problematic. I wonder how is is now. ANZAC I believe join the Korean war with the 8th army.

Well, The Dismissal is a complicated topic and for anyone interested that link provides a good summation. Australia felt a debt of gratitude to the United States from their participation in our defence in WW2. That, along with cultural ties and a fear of the spread of Communism meant we were in the Korean and ultimately the Vietnam Wars. The latter eventually proved so unpopular that from then on Australian governments were more wary, especially of committing ground troops. Gulf War 1 and The War on Terror had broad public support but there was widespread, and in hindsight correct, scepticism of Gulf War 2.

Without getting into current politics it's fair to say that the Australian government, military and public are of a mind to have a more independent defence posture, with as much international participation as possible.