Australia under Prime Minister Robert Menzies had declared war on Nazi Germany on the 3rd of September 1939, same day as Great Britain. At this time, the country only had 3,000 Soldiers and 80,000 part-time militia members, with a population of about 7 million people. That's why the draft had to be introduced on the 1st of January 1940. The Second Australian Imperial Force (Strength: 20,000 Men) under Lieutenant General Thomas Blamey was raised. However, the country was able to transfer only few volunteers to the mother country, because people also worried about a possible Japanese Attack. The 6th Division was formed during October and November 1939 and embarked for the Middle East in early 1940. After the fall of France in June 1940, it was diverted to Britain instead, and there was a huge surge of volunteers.
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| United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | |||
| The Crown Dependencies: | |||
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Channel Islands | Isle of Man | |||
| The Dominions: | |||
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| The League of Nations mandates: | |||
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Iraq | Palestine | Transjordan | Togo | Tanganjika | Southwest Africa | |||
| The crown colonies: | |||
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