ATS2385 Australians at war

How has war shaped Australians and Australian society and why has war become central to national mythology and identity? This unit explores the experience of Australians at war - both overseas and on the home front - from confrontations between indigenous Australians and European settlers on the colonial frontier through the major conflicts of the twentieth century, with a particular focus on the two World Wars. We examine the 'face of battle' and how war affected men and women on the front line (including indigenous servicemen), and we consider how war was experienced on the home front and reshaped Australian society. We explore the contested creation of an 'Anzac legend' and how war challenged and consolidated social relations and national identities. Students will undertake hands-on research using the rich primary source record of Australians at war, including service records, diaries and letters, oral histories, photographs and repatriation files that illuminate the impact of war on veterans, their families, and their communities.