Damon Mcknight
Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War began in 1962 and ended in 1972, making it the country's longest war. Australia's decision to join the war was largely driven by the fear of communism in Southeast Asia and the desire to prevent the domino theory from happening. However, as the war progressed, Australia's attitude towards it changed due to several factors, including anti-war protests, conscription, and media coverage. By the early 1970s, most Australians were against the war and supported the withdrawal of troops, marking a significant shift in the country's perspective.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for involvement in the war | Fear of communism and its spread, and the "forward defence" strategy |
| Number of troops | 60,000 Australians, including ground troops, air force and navy personnel |
| Deaths | 521 Australians killed |
| Wounded | Over 3,000 Australians wounded |
| Protests | Anti-war protests by groups such as 'Save Our Sons' and 'Youth Against Conscription' |
| Conscription | Reintroduced in 1964, sending conscripts overseas to Vietnam |
| Moratorium Movement | 200,000 people across Australia participated in the first movement in May 1970 |
| Withdrawal | Began in November 1970, with complete withdrawal by July 1973 |
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What You'll Learn
Fear of communism spreading to Australia
Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War was driven by a fear of communism spreading to its shores. This fear developed in the country during the 1950s and early 1960s, as communism rose in Southeast Asia after World War II. The Korean War, which began in the 1950s, and the subsequent rise of communism in North Vietnam heightened these fears.
The anti-communist sentiment in Australia was strong, with then-Prime Minister Robert Menzies stating that they would do anything to keep communism out of the country. Menzies played a significant role in fostering this fear among the public, creating the notion of 'reds under the bed' to gain support for his anti-communist campaign. The country's decision to enter the Vietnam War was, therefore, largely influenced by this fear and the desire to prevent the domino theory—the idea that if one country fell to communism, others would follow—from becoming a reality.
In 1950, Australia recognized the anti-communist State of Vietnam, an associated state within the French Union. When the State of Vietnam became fully independent within the French Union in 1954, its prime minister, Ngô Đình Diệm, refused to participate in the mandated elections, fearing that communist North Vietnam would engage in election fraud. This led to an insurgency campaign in the South, further increasing Australia's fears of communism's expansion.
In 1962, Australia sent 30 military advisors to Vietnam, marking the beginning of its direct involvement in the war. This commitment increased over the following years, with Australia eventually deploying ground troops, naval forces, and air assets, totaling nearly 60,000 personnel. Australia's participation in the war was also driven by its alliance with the United States and its obligations under the ANZUS Pact, as the US sought to increase support for South Vietnam.
However, as the war progressed, Australia's attitude towards it began to change. Protesting groups emerged, particularly in response to the government's imposition of conscription, which required men over the age of 20 to serve two full years in military service. The public's confusion and disagreement with Menzies' anti-communist views, as well as the growing anti-war sentiment, led to a shift in Australia's stance on the Vietnam War.
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The unpopularity of conscription
Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War was largely driven by the fear of communism in Southeast Asia. The Australian government introduced conscription for 20-year-olds in November 1964, despite opposition from within the army and many sections of the broader community. This was the first time Australia had conscripted men to serve overseas.
The introduction of conscription was consistently opposed by the ALP and many groups in society. Some resisted the call to military service by burning their conscription letters, which was punishable by a fine, or they incited young men to refrain from registering for the draft, punishable by imprisonment. The anti-conscription movement gained momentum, with groups like Save Our Sons, founded by concerned women, and the Youth Campaign Against Conscription, formed by young men subject to the conscription lottery.
The growing public unease about the death toll and revelations of atrocities committed against Vietnamese civilians led to a rapid increase in domestic opposition to the war and conscription between 1967 and 1970. The first Vietnam Moratorium in May 1970 saw over 200,000 people across Australia participate in peaceful protests. The strength and number of people in the moratorium movement shocked the government, making them realise the extent of public opposition to the war.
Public opinion turned against the war and conscription by 1969, with polls showing a majority in favour of bringing troops home. Opposition to conscription became more radical, with active non-compliers calling themselves "draft resisters" and declaring their intention not to comply with conscription. Draft resistance and draft dodging had a significant political impact, and by the end of 1972, conscription had ended, and those imprisoned for refusing conscription were freed.
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Protests by anti-war groups
Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War began in 1962 with a small commitment of 30 military advisors and peaked in 1964 with 8,000 troops. By 1972, almost 60,000 Australian personnel had been committed to the war. The decision to join the war effort was largely driven by the fear of communism spreading in Southeast Asia.
However, as the war progressed, Australia's attitude towards it began to change. This shift in perspective was influenced by various factors, including the emergence of anti-war groups and protests. One of the main groups protesting Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War was 'Save our Sons', which believed that the war was more of a civil conflict than a communist one.
The Vietnam Moratorium protests, which began on May 8, 1970, were a significant display of public dissent. Around 200,000 people across Australia participated in the first moratorium, making it the largest public demonstration in the country's history at that time. The protests reflected growing dissatisfaction with the government's continued commitment to the war and its imposition of conscription. Chants of "Out now" and "Stop work to stop the war" echoed through the streets as people from diverse backgrounds united in their opposition to the war.
The moratoriums were coordinated mass protests with two primary objectives: withdrawing Australian troops from Vietnam and ending conscription. The first moratorium in May 1970 was largely peaceful, but subsequent moratoriums, such as the one in September 1970, were smaller and marred by violence, with 200 arrests made in Sydney alone. The anti-war movement gained significant momentum, particularly among young people, including university students and the growing number of militant leftists.
The protests against Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War occurred during a period of significant social change in the country. People from various backgrounds, including clergy, teachers, academics, unions, politicians, and school students, were willing to defy authority and express their opposition to the war. The strength and number of people participating in the moratorium movement shocked the government, making it clear that a substantial portion of Australians were against the war and no longer supported the "Forward Defence" policy.
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Media coverage of the war
Media coverage of the Vietnam War in Australia was limited to television, radio, and print media. Initially, there was little interest in the war, but this changed as the conflict progressed.
Television coverage brought the brutal reality of the war into people's homes. News camera teams had almost unlimited access to the fighting, particularly with US forces, and this disturbing footage was broadcast across Australia, the US, and other countries.
The media played a significant role in influencing public opinion. It reinforced the Australian government's anti-communist stance and the public's fear of communism, particularly the threat of the Viet Cong. The media also labelled anti-war protestors as 'radical students' or communist 'agitators', and focused on the disruption caused by protests, rather than the human cost of the war.
However, as more information about the war became available, media coverage also contributed to growing anti-war sentiment. Australians were increasingly opposed to their country's involvement in the war, particularly as they learned about the lack of progress against the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese Army. They were also concerned about the conscription of young men, some of whom would face imprisonment if they refused to serve.
The government understood the influence of the media and used it to maintain support for the war. However, by the end of the 1960s, more and more people were expressing their disapproval, and between 1970 and 1971, Australian troops were slowly withdrawn from Vietnam.
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The domino theory
The "domino theory" was a Cold War-era geopolitical theory that changes in the political structure of one country would spread to neighbouring countries, each falling like a row of dominos. In the context of the Vietnam War, the theory suggested that a communist government in Vietnam would lead to communist takeovers in other Southeast Asian countries, including Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, India, Japan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Australia, and New Zealand.
The theory was first proposed by US President Harry S. Truman in the 1940s to justify sending military aid to Greece and Turkey to prevent them from falling to communism. The theory was later popularised by President Dwight D. Eisenhower when he applied it to Southeast Asia, specifically South Vietnam. Eisenhower believed that the loss of South Vietnam to communist control would have incalculable consequences for the free world.
Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War was driven by a fear of communism and a desire to prevent the domino theory from happening. Australia first became involved in 1962, sending 30 military advisors to South Vietnam, and its commitment increased over the following years, eventually reaching a peak of 7,672 personnel. Australia's participation in the war was also influenced by its alliance with the US and its obligations under the ANZUS Pact. However, over time, an increasingly influential anti-war movement developed in Australia, particularly in response to the government's imposition of conscription, and Australian troops were gradually withdrawn from Vietnam starting in 1970.
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Frequently asked questions
Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War was driven by the fear of communism spreading to Australia and the desire to stop the "domino effect".
Many Australians supported the war effort due to their fear of communism and belief in the "domino theory".
There were several factors that led to a shift in Australia's attitude towards the war, including conscription, anti-war protests, media coverage, and the realisation that it was more of a civil war than a war against communism.
Conscription was reintroduced in 1964 and applied to all males on their 18th birthday for service in Australia only. However, in 1966, some conscripts were randomly selected to serve in Vietnam, and when the first conscript was killed in action, many Australians began to question their country's involvement in the war.
Anti-war protests began around 1965 and gained momentum, with over 80 reported demonstrations between 1965 and 1966. These protests included strikes, marches, candlelight processions, and folk concerts. The large number of people against the war shocked the government.
