When Imperial Japan unleashed the Pacific War in December 1941, Australian forces went into action, as part of a larger British Empire force, to defend Malaya and Singapore. This reflected an Australian commitment to defending Australia by protecting its 'near north'. Unfortunately, Australian forces were compromised before they fired a shot by wider problems: the Allies were not ready for global war in late 1941, Australia lacked the forces to fill the gap in Southeast Asia, and all Allied forces on the ground in Southeast Asia were unprepared for the high tempo manoeuvre warfare the Japanes... View More...
