Treatment of Aliens During World War Two

Treatment of Aliens During World War Two

Prior to World War 2, Australia was home to many people of German,

Italian and Japanese descent. After the outbreak of war these people

were considered a threat to national security and became known as

enemy 'aliens'. They were taken from their homes, arrested, jailed and

later taken to internment camps, due to their nationality.

In 1939, on the 1st day of declaration of war with Germany, the

Germans were already being accused as spies. A total of 1,637 men were

arrested, however the majority were from other countries such as

Singapore and Palestine.[1] With the entry of Italy into the War

thousands of male Italians were also interned. But no group was as

large as the number of Japanese. The Japanese had no equivalent to the

Fascist Parties that were used as a guide to arrest the German and

Italians. The Government justified that the only sure way to minimize

risk was to intern them all. So in 1941, every Japanese family living

in Australia, including women and children were arrested. There were

no exceptions. In all, around 7000 Australian citizens and 18,720

civilians from abroad were taken to camps across Australia. [2]

The conditions within these internment camps varied. To begin with

camps were quite bare and unwelcoming. This is one internee's account

upon arriving, "The camp had just been built and was completely bare;

whatever grasses or shrubs might have been present were destroyed

during construction. There was only beige clay, light coloured timber

huts with silvery corrugated-iron roofs… 30 people to a hut… grey

barbed wire surrounding the grounds." [3] As the camps were occupied

though, they began to have gardens. Many camps had vineyards and

orchards.

Unlike the POW's the internees were not forced to work and so could

spend their time talking and playing cards. But some of the more

educated and professional internees got bored. They were lawyers,

doctors, or teachers. So rather than wasting their time they set up

schools and other services.