Why did Australia become involved in the vietnam war?

<< Back to: soc.history.war.vietnam FAQ: Australian Involvement (1/3)

Answer by justin g
Submitted on 6/21/2004
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Australian support for South Vietnam in the early 1960s was in keeping with American policy of stemming the tide of communism. When the Australian government announced in 1964 the dispatch of a taskforce including conscripts called up under the National Service Scheme, public support began to decline. Later, images delivered on the nightly news, like the summary execution of a captured Viet Cong by the South Vietnamese chief of police, ensured the fight for public support at home was lost, and that Australia's position had become difficult to sell to the electorate. From the arrival of advisers in 1962, until the last battalion left Nui Dat in November 1971, 50 000 Australians, including ground troops and Air Force and Navy personnel, saw service. Of these, some 500 were killed and almost 2,400 wounded. The war was the cause of the greatest social and political dissent in Australia since the conscription referendums of the First World War.

Answer by billybob
Submitted on 10/4/2004
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Australia became involved in the Vietnam war for a few reasons: 1) Australia was afraid of the the domino theory or effect. This theory was that if Communists aided by the Soviet Union succeeded in conquering Indochina, they would then successively conquer Burma, Thailand, and Indonesia. This would give them a geographically strategic advantage, from which they would be able to conquer Japan, Formosa, the Philippines, Australia, and New Zealand. 2) The second reason for Australia's obligations under SEATO and ANZUS. Australia, New Zealand, United states security treaty (SEATO) signed in September 1951 it required each of the countries to meet the common danger in accordance with its constitutional processes in event of an armed attack in the Pacific area. In conclusion the war for Australia was not about helping South Vietnam but more a selfish protection from possible insurgents.

Answer by kawaii_la
Submitted on 3/7/2006
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Australia was involved in the Vietnam war because of many factors, especially the growing concern of the spreading of communism. The 1960's was a time of social experimentation and change as the Vietnam war was seen by many people, especially the younger generation as representing something from the past. As well as this, conscriptions, theories that Australia would fall to the power of communism if we didn't act and treaties which were signed. Due to our agreement to fight along side with America and Britain we therefore considered to fight in various wars, in this case the Vietnam war. Australia was afraid that if we didn't fight along side America and Britain then when we are in need of help, then the two of the most powerful military armies in the world won't come to our aid. As there were many casualties during the Vietnam war, even more conscriptions were applied to Australia which caused much argument amongst the Australians.

Answer by kawaii_la
Submitted on 3/7/2006
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Australia was involved in the Vietnam war because of many factors, especially the growing concern of the spreading of communism. The 1960's was a time of social experimentation and change as the Vietnam war was seen by many people, especially the younger generation as representing something from the past. As well as this, conscriptions, theories that Australia would fall to the power of communism if we didn't act and treaties which were signed. Due to our agreement to fight along side with America and Britain we therefore considered to fight in various wars, in this case the Vietnam war. Australia was afraid that if we didn't fight along side America and Britain then when we are in need of help, then the two of the most powerful military armies in the world won't come to our aid. As there were many casualties during the Vietnam war, even more conscriptions were applied to Australia which caused much argument amongst the Australians.

Answer by Jess
Submitted on 3/11/2006
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Australia got involved in the Vietnam war for many reasons. Some of these are the Australian citizens fear of communism, the SEATO and ANZUS alliance commitments and our concerns for Indonesia. the Australia citizens had a huge fear of communism spreading to Australia and us being aggresively, physically forced into adopting a communist government.The 'domino theory' made us think that communism would eventually spread to Australia and so we 'stopped it in its tracks' at Vietnam. The SEATO and ANZUS alliances formed a bond between Australia and(mostly)America so when they asked us to fight beside them we agreed. Our concerns for Indonesia: basically we were being nice. We decided that no-one should be forced into adopting a communist government and the South Vietnamese (the north Veitnamese were already communist)were literally being forced so we went in their to give 'em a hand. (good old Auzzies) Also it was definitely in our intrest for reasons listed above. Ta Ta!

Answer by rebelrock
Submitted on 3/18/2006
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After World War II had ended there was a rivalry between the communist and the capitalist countries of the world. The period called the cold war began in the late 1940s with renowned hostility between the Soviet Union (USSR) and its former western allies. Soon nations including Australia feared they would be forced to become Communist, when the domino theory began after the fall of South Vietnam to communism. The fear of communism lead to Australia�s involvement in the Vietnam War. This began the trial of conscription, which is the involuntary labor demanded by the Government, chosen according to birth date. Men aged eighteen or over had to register for conscription. Australia was also involved in the Vietnam War because of its involvement in the ANZUS Treaty, the military alliance which binds Australia, New Zealand and the USA to assist with defense matters concerning other allied nations.

Answer by Maverick
Submitted on 4/11/2006
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Australian support for South Vietnam in the early 1960s was in keeping with American policy of stemming the tide of communism. When the Australian government announced in 1964 the dispatch of a taskforce including conscripts called up under the National Service Scheme, public support began to decline. Later, images delivered on the nightly news, like the summary execution of a captured Viet Cong by the South Vietnamese chief of police, ensured the fight for public support at home was lost, and that Australia's position had become difficult to sell to the electorate. From the arrival of advisers in 1962, until the last battalion left Nui Dat in November 1971, 50 000 Australians, including ground troops and Air Force and Navy personnel, saw service. Of these, some 500 were killed and almost 2,400 wounded. The war was the cause of the greatest social and political dissent in Australia since the conscription referendums of the First World War.

Answer by sime
Submitted on 5/17/2006
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to toofie"the fact that australia was an ally of the united states and had a responsibilty to back the US troops" that is incorrect we didn't have a responsibilty to back up the u.s troops, if you were referring to the anzus treaty signed after the ww2 no were in the treaty did it say if america went to war we had a responsibilty to back them up, it only said that if we wanted to we could help them, When Menzies got up and said that australia had to go to war because it said it in the anzus treaty that was bs and 40 years later our current pm used the same excuse about the iraq war that is said it in the anzus treaty that australia had the responsibility to go to wawr because america were going. just something to ponder..

Answer by meg
Submitted on 6/28/2006
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Australia was involved in the Vietnam War for fear of spreading communism, in the crusade to help fight a international communist threat. This period of time is known as the �cold war�. This was a period of time after WW2, in which the USA and the USSR were in conflict over their different beliefs on communism. By 1948, there were communist governments set up in eastern European countries, and in 1949, China was declared a communist state. After WW2, Korea divided. North Korea became communist and south was anti-communist. The spread of communism over the Asia pacific region made Australia more fearful. This spread was referred to as the domino effect, that over the Asia pacific region, if one country began to be communist. Others would follow in succession, much like falling dominoes.

Answer by ya mamma sux
Submitted on 10/11/2006
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the major reason for Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War was the 'fear of communism and the 'domino effect' of south-east asian countries falling to communism. Due to the newly formed alliance with the USA (as formalised by treaties ANZUS 1951 and SEATO 1954)and Menzie's'Liberal Gov foreign policy of supporting allies and signing treaties to increase Australia's security, Australia was first involved in Vietnam by sending military advisers in 1962. Support increased till unpopularity heightened in Australia, as shown by the moratorium movements which caused the government to withdraw troops till Whitlam proclaimed Australia out of the war on the 27th of December 1972.

Answer by loulou
Submitted on 3/29/2007
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Australian support for South Vietnam in the early 1960s was in keeping with American policy of stemming the tide of communism. When the Australian government announced in 1964 the dispatch of a taskforce including conscripts called up under the National Service Scheme, public support began to decline. Later, images delivered on the nightly news, like the summary execution of a captured Viet Cong by the South Vietnamese chief of police, ensured the fight for public support at home was lost, and that Australia's position had become difficult to sell to the electorate. From the arrival of advisers in 1962, until the last battalion left Nui DAT in November 1971, 50 000 Australians, including ground troops and Air Force and Navy personnel, saw service. Of these, some 500 were killed and almost 2,400 wounded. The war was the cause of the greatest social and political dissent in Australia since the conscription referendums of the First World War.

Answer by donya
Submitted on 4/11/2007
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When the Australian government announced in 1964 the dispatch of a taskforce including conscripts called up under the National Service Scheme, public support began to decline. Later, images delivered on the nightly news, like the summary execution of a captured Viet Cong by the South Vietnamese chief of police, ensured the fight for public support at home was lost, and that Australia's position had become difficult to sell to the electorate. From the arrival of advisers in 1962, until the last battalion left Nui Dat in November 1971, 50 000 Australians, including ground troops and Air Force and Navy personnel, saw service. Of these, some 500 were killed and almost 2,400 wounded. The war was the cause of the greatest social and political dissent in Australia since the conscription referendums of the First World War.

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Question by vegemite
Submitted on 8/22/2003
Related FAQ: soc.history.war.vietnam FAQ: Australian Involvement (1/3)
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Why did Australia become involved in the vietnam war?

Answer by rachi
Submitted on 9/23/2003
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Australia was invloved in the Vietnam War because the strong anti-communist stand taken by the Menzies Liberal government in the 1950's and 1960's led to Australia taking an active part in the politics of the East Asian Region.

Answer by Nut Poof
Submitted on 2/29/2004
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I think my balls are itchy. have fun.

Answer by bbv
Submitted on 4/1/2004
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I have know idea

Answer by GRANDPA JUNN TAOOOO
Submitted on 5/11/2004
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*I DUNT KNOW DE ANSWA...EXCUSE ME VERY MUCH BOWS* LLLLLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL**

Answer by soulfly
Submitted on 5/13/2004
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all of you cock heads need to wake up to ya selves. all of ya are bloody poofs. signed: ya mumma

Answer by gods angel
Submitted on 5/22/2004
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because there were young men that wanted to excape from there traditional australian life to go on an idventure that was all about death and destruction. if they thought twice they would have realised they were fools.

Answer by rachel
Submitted on 6/1/2004
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Australian support for South Vietnam in the early 1960s was in keeping with the policies of other nations, particularly the United states, to stem the spread of communism in Europe and Asia.

Answer by trent porter
Submitted on 6/5/2004
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i think we went to the vietnam war because we felt that if we didnt support our allies in their time of nered then we would be screwed when we, if we, ever had to fight our own battle without the aids of some of the worlds strongest military forces ie: america and britain.

Answer by toofie
Submitted on 6/12/2004
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One of the reasons why our australian troops went to vietnam was because of the growing concern of the spread of communism from the north and the fact that australia was an ally of the united states and had a responsibilty to back the US troops.

Answer by mickey
Submitted on 6/16/2004
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they became involved because they wanted a chance 2 c sum parts of the world that they hadn't yet seen and because they wanted 2 help Vietnam out as they were allied with Vietnam.

Answer by johno
Submitted on 8/2/2004
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well i think vietnamese need to open there squinty eyes and stop wanking

Answer by meshel
Submitted on 8/9/2004
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im hot give me a call on 0411361190

Answer by bon
Submitted on 8/18/2004
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ah thankyou all who have contributed to answering the question. im doing a project on the vietnam war and i have found this very useful. for some reason i have happened to find alot of questions about the vietnam war on this site fortunately

Answer by Ali
Submitted on 8/18/2004
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Australia being a country that could not adequately defend itself due to a lack of missionary supplies and soldiers needed support in case communism expanded to Australian territory. With the United States emerging as the new dominant world power and Australia�s fear of Asians intensifying as the communist force grew in strength Australia�s minister for foreign affairs: Percy Spender stressed that by Australia securing a close relationship with the US she would benefit if under attack.

Answer by yanethprincess
Submitted on 12/2/2004
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Pues que demonios se yo de eso???, La verdad si se pero ustedes deben de crear sus propias respuestas! HEHEHEHE. Yan...

Answer by crollio
Submitted on 8/19/2004
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if your mum likes it, then who doesn't?

Answer by beach bum
Submitted on 8/24/2004
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r u all dumb.. go get a life stupid nerds!!

Answer by hi
Submitted on 8/31/2004
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idunno im not dat smart l8rz babi gurl

Answer by Someone
Submitted on 9/5/2004
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this site is for losers! i spose that means i'mone

Answer by ???????????? ME
Submitted on 9/16/2004
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Give me a good answer on why australia went to war Why did they go?

Answer by charlieflower
Submitted on 9/24/2004
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because the vietnamese government wanted to ban all dogs from escaping the new found ibombyoucountry program and so made the dogs hunt with steve irwin for the rare vietcroc.

Answer by ballzy
Submitted on 10/16/2004
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suk my dik man B=======D

Answer by weedman420
Submitted on 11/10/2004
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roll it up light it up smoke it up!!!

Answer by rgrgrg
Submitted on 11/30/2004
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Answer by mikalace
Submitted on 2/7/2005
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well if this was a chat room wat would u say ??????????????????????????????????????????

Answer by maggot
Submitted on 2/10/2005
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fuk u bryce north

Answer by hello everybody
Submitted on 2/23/2005
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i don't know that is why i am asking u

Answer by j_chickey
Submitted on 2/24/2005
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great answer justin g thanks heaps!!!!

Answer by mole face
Submitted on 3/17/2005
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i think u should all get a life if u r on dis website n r low lives

Answer by fat man
Submitted on 3/18/2005
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can some one please tell me when the war started and when it finished?

Answer by peazzy
Submitted on 3/19/2005
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cock heads..... alright buddy

Answer by kjfktyjkgjgjlk
Submitted on 4/12/2005
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Answer by tazz
Submitted on 4/19/2005
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who gives a f#ck!!

Answer by hazel
Submitted on 5/11/2005
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because we wanted tp support our allies? can anyone help me, i have an assignment on this! thanx yall! hazel

Answer by sally
Submitted on 5/16/2005
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there are a number of reasons. the most important reason was Australia's alliance with its new great and powerful friend, America. another is the fear of communism and the period of forward defence strategy and fear of the domino effect. another was inexperience and inability of the government. the final was strong public support. some also say that it was expected that there would also be some economic benifits for Australia, however if this is true it was a minor reason.