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Sixty years ago Australians were at war: in North Africa, over Europe, in Southeast Asia, on the seas across the world and in Australia itself. In 1942 Japan conquered Southeast Asia and Australia came under attack until its forces held and defeated the Japanese in Papua New Guinea. 1942 was also a decisive year for Australia and for the war. It began with the Axis powers triumphant in Russia and Asia. Then, in a series of battles - Stalingrad, Alamein, Papua and Guadalcanal - the initiative shifted to the Allies. Weighed against the victories on the Kokoda Trail, at Buna and Gona and at El Alamein was the loss of the 8th Division at Singapore and the realisation late in the year that although the tide of the war was turning in the Allies' favour there would be much bitter fighting ahead.
On 31 May and 1 June 2002, the Australian War Memorial will host the Remembering 1942 Conference. Leading and younger military historians will present a wide range of papers on Australia's experience of the war in 1942, from the land, air and naval campaigns in which Australians fought, to the way the war affected the home front. Remembering 1942 will be of interest to the general public as well as to those with a specialised interest in Australian military history. Registration for the conference is available until 10 May 2002.
Full details are available from the conference website http://www.awm.gov.au/events/conference/2002/index.htm
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