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Second World War 1939 - 1945 X
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An ornate and fastidiously decorated fascist eagle clasping a Roman fasces, from which are suspended the symbols of the three Axis allies, each contained within a decorated wreath - from left to right, the Nazi swastika; the Italian arms and the Japanese 'rising sun' flag.

An Axis ornament

Trench art created at the POW camp in Cowra, NSW.

By Kerry Neale

Second World War 1939 - 1945
Reg Saunders and Tom Derrick shake hands after graduating from the Officer Cadets Training Unit

In his own words

The combat diaries of Diver Derrick

By Dr Mark Johnston

Second World War 1939 - 1945
A group of seven Australians standing around a microphrone. Squadron Leader James Catanach is in the centre.

The Great Escape

The Great Escape, the largest Allied prisoner of war breakout of the Second World War.

Second World War 1939 - 1945
Roy Hodgkinson, 14 Australian Anti-aircraft Battery (Militia) Fixed Defences, Darwin (1942) AWM ART22719

Bombing Darwin 1942

A successful Japanese raid caught the Allied forces unprepared.

By Dr Thomas J. Rogers

Second World War 1939 - 1945
Four men stand against a brick wall, in front are seven men sitting on the ground.

Fit for Purpose

An airframe fitter was an essential job in Bomber Command.

By Chris Goddard

Second World War 1939 - 1945
Vibrant painting showing a man eating with a Nazi soldier, with other green uniformed soldiers brandishing weapons outside to search haystacks.

Stories of Survival

An immigrant artist left a record of her wartime story.

By Ally Roche

Second World War 1939 - 1945
Squadron Leader Raymond Thorold-Smith, DFC

Missing in action

An ace fighter pilot vanished while defending Darwin against the town’s 53rd Japanese air raid.

By Dr Kristen Alexander

Second World War 1939 - 1945
Japanese workmen wearing gas masks directing jet from a mobile flame-thrower towards a pile of gasoline-soaked debris.

Toxic Island

The messy and painstaking work of cleaning up munitions in the former theatres of WWII

By Emma White

Second World War 1939 - 1945
HMAS Perth at sea in a camouflage scheme.

The Perth sail

In early 1942, HMAS Perth was sunk during the Battle of Sunda Strait.

By Amanda New

Second World War 1939 - 1945
Members of the ski school line up to practice the kick turn.

Ascending the Summit

In December 1941, the 1 Australian Corps Ski School opened in Lebanon.

By Amanda Swadling

Second World War 1939 - 1945
Lawrence H. Cecil of the ABC, recording messages home on board HMAS Perth, 1941.

Dust in the grooves

During WW2 the ABC sent out units to record audio for radio broadcast.

By Jennifer Selby

Second World War 1939 - 1945