German Experiences
Germans were conscripted into the war after Hitler realised how not many players would go to war if it was voluntary. Since most people believed in Hitler’s ways in Nazi Germany, many went to war willingly. The Germans had their view that the world was under their power and their race wouldn’t stop until all the nations bow down to Germany. The voice of fellow soldiers crying out their names and rapid gunfire and explosions still traumatize many German soldiers like veteran Heinz Otto Fausten. The German soldier being focused is from the 2nd Panzer Army in the Armed forces of Germany Wehrmacht. The soldier’s regiment was the 1st Panzer Division and they fought in Europe. In Europe, they all had to battle out the freezing winters and snow. People had died from frostbite from being so exposed to the cold temperatures and the people not used to the cold just simply died or could not fight. There was no jumpers or nice clothing to wear only the military outfits which didn’t keep you warm. Sweat became a small thing as the snow kept you cool and the smell was still evident. Food got spoilt quickly from being exposed to the temperatures and was very cold. . It was so cold, that it was hard to put their fingers on the trigger. Foxholes were dug in the frozen snow covered ground to keep safe from enemy fire.
Food was delivered to the army and was wrapped in blankets for easier transport. Whatever food found was theirs to eat and water was hard to obtain in the climate as well as enduring thirst. Bread,soup some meat and Schoko-Kola (Coca-Cola).Soldiers often trained a lot when not in battle and evading enemy fire. Soldiers often had to work as a team and follow orders from their superiors on the tactics of the battle. They also spent time in the hospitals if they were ill or injured. They had to fight until they were no longer needed or the war was finished. It was hard leaving all their families and jobs to go out to a war they never knew the outcome of .They were confident as Germany had experience in war and trained a lot.
Food was delivered to the army and was wrapped in blankets for easier transport. Whatever food found was theirs to eat and water was hard to obtain in the climate as well as enduring thirst. Bread,soup some meat and Schoko-Kola (Coca-Cola).Soldiers often trained a lot when not in battle and evading enemy fire. Soldiers often had to work as a team and follow orders from their superiors on the tactics of the battle. They also spent time in the hospitals if they were ill or injured. They had to fight until they were no longer needed or the war was finished. It was hard leaving all their families and jobs to go out to a war they never knew the outcome of .They were confident as Germany had experience in war and trained a lot.
Australian Experiences
Conscription was introduced in mid 1942 where all men 18-35 and single men 35-45 had to enlist for war and in 1939, compulsory training for 3 months. It was out of not receiving shame that many went out to war and often they miss their family and friends but the Australians were not afraid to go out of their comfort zone and meet new people as they were very brave.The fact of leaving their home country and going to a different country was thought to be an adventure but for veterans from the first world war was a chance t o make Australia proud. Most of the battles which Australia had fought in were in the Dutch East Indies area which were consisted of the Indonesia area, East Timor and the Papua New Guinea areas which which are relatively close to Australia.
Their main priority was not letting the Japanese army getting hold of New Guinea.Women were also introduced into the war to do basic things like agricultural jobs such as ploughing, harvesting, milking cows to keep Australia in balance. They also performed tasks which people believed were impossible for women such as making uniforms, weapons, ammunition and they helped building trucks, tanks and aeroplanes. The Australians had fight against the Japanese in the jungles of PNG and be in really tropical conditions such as 24-30 degrees during the day and 15-24 degrees at night. The conditions were very wet and slippery making it hard to run and shoot in the rain. The jungle made it even hard to find and hide as it was so open and it became easy to get lost. The Australians ate bully beef and dry biscuits during these campaigns. Tropical diseases were easily caught such as Dysentery, malaria,typhus, pneumonia and diarrhoea were some of the diseases caught in PNG. Morphine was used to help calm the pain temporarily and some soldiers as doctors were not able to help the sick and injured. Some soldiers died of malnutrition as supplies became scarce. They also went into the mountainous areas of PNG and they had to live through cold temperatures with high peaks. The Australian army consisted of many divisions such as the 6th Division within the 2nd Australian Imperial Force with about 16,000 to 18,000 men in the infantry fighting in Greece, PNG and the Middle East.
Their main priority was not letting the Japanese army getting hold of New Guinea.Women were also introduced into the war to do basic things like agricultural jobs such as ploughing, harvesting, milking cows to keep Australia in balance. They also performed tasks which people believed were impossible for women such as making uniforms, weapons, ammunition and they helped building trucks, tanks and aeroplanes. The Australians had fight against the Japanese in the jungles of PNG and be in really tropical conditions such as 24-30 degrees during the day and 15-24 degrees at night. The conditions were very wet and slippery making it hard to run and shoot in the rain. The jungle made it even hard to find and hide as it was so open and it became easy to get lost. The Australians ate bully beef and dry biscuits during these campaigns. Tropical diseases were easily caught such as Dysentery, malaria,typhus, pneumonia and diarrhoea were some of the diseases caught in PNG. Morphine was used to help calm the pain temporarily and some soldiers as doctors were not able to help the sick and injured. Some soldiers died of malnutrition as supplies became scarce. They also went into the mountainous areas of PNG and they had to live through cold temperatures with high peaks. The Australian army consisted of many divisions such as the 6th Division within the 2nd Australian Imperial Force with about 16,000 to 18,000 men in the infantry fighting in Greece, PNG and the Middle East.
Life in the Trenches
Trenches were very small in World War 2 as they were only about 15ft were in the First World War, they were much larger. The trenches were used for defensive purposes, a place to hold supplies, place to stay to sleep and eat as well as medical purposes for small hospitals. The trenches kept them safe of enemy fire as they were low but their weakness was if they were lured out by a bomb as a bomb would kill all the soldiers in the trench. Many diseases were accumulated from poor sanitation, being so close to others and being around dead bodies all the time. The climate also had affected them as some people couldn’t adapt to certain conditions.The lack of clothing and the vermin lying around in the trenches killed many and created disease outbreaks on both sides of the war. Soldiers often spent time talking to other troops and cleaning their weapons, eating, sleeping and simply doing nothing, so about 90% of the time you stay safely in the trench and the other 10% was actual battle. The trenches provided nice shelter for soldiers and it helped them accumulate land little by little taking their time. The experiences differed from the location of the trench and the climate as winters in Russia and France would give people frostbite if they are not used to the cold and the summers in the Pacific Islands. Trench warfare wasn’t evident in the Second World War like the first, but trenches were still used in the war. Soldiers only dug holes below ground level to sleep to avoid artillery and mortar rounds. Trench warfare was replaced by mobile warfares such as naval, air and ground.
Diary Entries from Soldiers in WW2
Two diary excerpts have been found one of a German soldier(first) and an Allied Soldier. Made by Melchor Macaraeg