What if instead of declaring war on Germany on the 3rd of September 1939 and following Great Britain into World War II, Australia decided to stay out of it? How would that have affected the war?
A large supply of men and equipment just got taken from the British empire. Limited troops are stationed in PNG and thus Japan over runs it and will invade northern Australia. Japan only really needs the top end and northern Queensland. So in answer to your question Australia is invaded and the Aussies fall back to the Brisbane line, Australia is divided and the Japanese have a large land base that can almost be self supporting. The allies will basically be cut off from the South Pacific region.
Australia hadn't ratified Westminster in 1939. Australia was by consequence of the UKs declaration at war.What if instead of declaring war on Germany on the 3rd of September 1939 and following Great Britain into World War II, Australia decided to stay out of it? How would that have affected the war?
My guess is it wouldn't. AFIAK the growth of the British Empire and Commonwealth armies 1939-42 was governed first by the supply of equipment and second by the amount of shipping that was available to transport them rather than the supply of men. Therefore my guess is that the 3 Australian divisions that went to the Middle East 1941-42 (and the division sent to Singapore) would have been replaced by British and Indian formations.Would a lack of Australian troops have affected the campaign in North Africa?
That assumes that the Japanese would declare war on a neutral Australia. My guess is that they would leave the Australians alone until they had dealt with the Americans, British and Dutch. Keeping Australia neutral would be to Japan's advantage after it became clear to the Japanese Government that they were fighting a long war.A large supply of men and equipment just got taken from the British empire. Limited troops are stationed in PNG and thus Japan over runs it and will invade northern Australia. Japan only really needs the top end and northern Queensland. So in answer to your question Australia is invaded and the Aussies fall back to the Brisbane line, Australia is divided and the Japanese have a large land base that can almost be self supporting. The allies will basically be cut off from the South Pacific region.
But with the example of the Japanese attacking the US 1st then declaring war would any rational Australian politician take the risk?That assumes that the Japanese would declare war on a neutral Australia.