Japanese Invasion of Australia: Could Arming the Aborigines Work?

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Super_Cool

Many people here think that a Japanese invasion of Australia would be a massive failure.

However, they had potential allies living on the island. The Aboriginal population of Australia did not like the white population. Furthermore, they mostly live in the northern parts of Australia, which is where the Japanese would be landing. Could that Japanese have recruited them in the war effort in a potential invasion?

What would aboriginal-white relations be in Australia post-war if they did help an invasion?
 

Sumeragi

Banned
There were never sufficient numbers for that to happen, never mind how the Japanese felt other ethnic groups could never match themselves in fighting abilities.
 

BlondieBC

Banned
Japan had real logistical issues. The link below is on Pearl Harbor, but would also be true of say a 10 or more divisions invasion of Australia.

http://www.combinedfleet.com/pearlops.htm

Japan did not have enough merchant shipping. Basically, Japan had 100 divisions in China, and never had more than 10 fighting in the Pacific. Why? Ten or so divisions is all they could supply with the available shipping.
 

mowque

Banned
Reminds me of that Nazi plan to try and agitate Scots and Welsh in a possible Sealion.
 

dgharis

Super_Cool said:
Many people here think that a Japanese invasion of Australia would be a massive failure.

However, they had potential allies living on the island. The Aboriginal population of Australia did not like the white population. Furthermore, they mostly live in the northern parts of Australia, which is where the Japanese would be landing. Could that Japanese have recruited them in the war effort in a potential invasion?

What would aboriginal-white relations be in Australia post-war if they did help an invasion?
Click to expand...

First, the Japanese would never have attempted an invasion. They actually discussed such a plan, but the Army estimated ten divisions would be needed and they were simply not available. And as was pointed out above supplying them would have been virtually impossible; see Guadalcanal for an example of how that would work out.

As for the Aborigines, any enthusiasm for the invaders would evaporate like frost in midsummer once the Japanese attitude toward non-Japanese became obvious. There is no possibility of them being welcomed by the Japanese or rendering any assistance to them.
 
Cook

Cook

Banned
Super_Cool said:
However, they had potential allies living on the island. The Aboriginal population of Australia did not like the white population.
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You are mistaken with regard to relations between Aboriginal Australians and Whites in Northern Australia at the time. The Coast watchers in both Papua New Guinea and Northern Australia (including the Tiwi Islands) consisted of local white civilians trained as observers with a radio and relying heavily on a network of supporters and informers in the local indigenous communities. In addition to this there was the 2/1st Northern Australia Observer Unit: a mounted reconnaissance force that ranged throughout the Top End and relied on Aboriginals in all aspects of operations. Given the genocidal behaviour of the Japanese in New Guinea they wouldn’t have won friends amongst the communities in northern Australia.

Try: http://www.ozatwar.com/ausarmy/naou.htm

Curtin’s Cowboys by Richard Walker for some details and background on the period.

And it is a Continent, not an island.
 

Lord Brisbane

However, they had potential allies living on the island. The Aboriginal population of Australia did not like the white population. Furthermore, they mostly live in the northern parts of Australia, which is where the Japanese would be landing. Could that Japanese have recruited them in the war effort in a potential invasion?

What would aboriginal-white relations be in Australia post-war if they did help an invasion?
Click to expand...
Probably one of the most epic cultural history failures/miscomprehended ideas I've seen here on the boards. Its wrong on so many levels.
 

Alex1guy

I don't the aborigonies would have been available in any large number. Also remember they have been exposed to anti-japanese propaganda and that wouldn't make them look like the lesser of two evils so to speak.
 

Snake Featherston

Banned
A Japanese invasion of Australia is the other WWII Sealion, it will never happen and will be the kiss of death for Japan should it be so stupid as to try. They haven't the logistics, the manpower, or the naval ability to do any of this. Nor have they enemies capable of screwing up badly for them to win due to the folly of Allied leaders.
 
Cook

Cook

Banned
Besides which, the communities concerned do not take kindly to outsiders; you can live and work in those communities for ten years and still be an outsider. The Japanese would have a hard time even getting close to any Aboriginals; unlike the people of PNG they did not live in settled communities, preferring to roam around their territory.
 

Dspoh001

I doubt that the Japanese would fall for an idea such as that. They were pretty big on the belief that their race was supreme and wouldn't want much in the way of help from others in conquering.
 

TFSmith121

Banned
You may wish to do a little more reading:

Super_Cool said:
Many people here think that a Japanese invasion of Australia would be a massive failure.

However, they had potential allies living on the island. The Aboriginal population of Australia did not like the white population. Furthermore, they mostly live in the northern parts of Australia, which is where the Japanese would be landing. Could that Japanese have recruited them in the war effort in a potential invasion?

What would aboriginal-white relations be in Australia post-war if they did help an invasion?
Click to expand...

You may wish to do a little more reading:

https://www.awm.gov.au/wartime/12/ilan-man/



Consider these men - don't exactly look like they'd be collaborators, do they?

Best,
 

Saphroneth

Banned
Well, it's an obvious approach, since it gives the Australians quite a lot of extra manpower which is accustomed to-

Oh.

Oh, you meant the Japanese arming them.
Then no, I do not think it is either likely to be done or likely to work.
 
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