Final Post

During WW1 the 'enemy aliens' were highly discriminated, due to their natural heritage. They were harrassed physically and verbally. People from German, Turkish and Austrian origin often changed their name, in order to escape the social exclusion. They were often left unemployed, and struggled to support their families. Many men, women and even children were interned during this period of time.

The internees were confined and bored, as the shock of life in gaol cells created a new identity for men who had been removed from their families and communities. Most of the internees experienced isolation, and suffered because of the monotony and lack of privacy. This caused the internees to go on strike with their prison guards, as they became irritable due to long imprisonment.

The German, Turkish and Austrian- Australians were proud of their heritage and wanted to maintain some of their culture did not mean they did not support their people's efforts in the war, especially for those who became Australian citizens or who were second or third generation Australians who had been born in Australia and had nothing to do with their native land. Therefore, the discrimination against them in World War I was unjustifiable. 

http://www.migrationheritage.nsw.gov.au/exhibitions/zivillager/internees.shtml

http://epress.anu.edu.au/anzsog/immigration/mobile_devices/ch04s05.html

First person post

‘The enemy within’ - (Turkish person (Ali) living in Australia)

My ears are burning, I’m not sure whether I am meant to be hearing all the crude comments they are making, but nevertheless they echo in my ears. As I round the corner I see Lachlan in his new, clean-cut uniform. His parents look proud. Mrs. Jones is hugging her son, tears glistening upon her cheeks. A large wagon is parked outside the make-shift dirt driveway, packed with a single suitcase with his belongings. While walking up the front stairs I can hear his father saying how proud he is of him. I wish my father could say the same, but he is no longer living with us. He has been interned, that is the fate for many of us now.

Lachlan and I were childhood friends. We were always around one another, however that all changed when the war began. People began to treat us differently. We lived like rats, scurrying around, afraid of what people may do. We loathed one another. For a brief second I can feel his gaze penetrating my soul. Sometimes I truly wonder if he ever regretted our friendship. I turn to capture one last look at him, astonished to find pure hate etched upon his face, how surprised he will be to see me one day, wearing the same uniform. Employment opportunities are scarce; enlisting in the army is probably the last hope for my family. I don’t look forward to it, but for their sake I would do anything. Who knows, perhaps I may gain back my own dignity.

http://www.skwirk.com.au/p-c_s-14_u-42_t-49_c-146/german-people/nsw/history/australia-and-world-war-i/different-perspectives-of-the-war

The enemy at home video

This video talks about Germans living in Australia during World War 1, before Australians declared them to be “enemy aliens” after waging war against Germany and shipped off to intern camps.

We chose to use this video on our blog because it shows the different viewpoints of the treatment of Germans in intern camps in Australia.  Although the internees were locked behind bars due to the fact they had German ancestry or were German immigrants and naturalized citizens, in Torrens camp, they were allowed to have small businesses, sporting clubs, theatrical clubs, gymnastics club etc. They were even permitted to build a theatre and had theatrical performances that were popular in Germany at that time to entertain their fellow Germans.

In this way, it kept them busy from thinking that they were in a intern camp as prisoners of wars in Australia.

Introduction- "The enemy within"

‘The enemy within’ was the phrase used to describe ‘enemy aliens’ residing in Australia, usually non-Australian citizens born in countries that were now the enemy at war, such as Germany, Austria and Turkey. The term ‘aliens’ at that time referred to people who were not British subjects or not Australian Citizens.

The ‘aliens’ would be placed in internment camps due to their birth or family connections with enemy nations or because of their allegiance, although some of those people interned had little evidence of their threat to war or Australian society.

The Ottoman Empire allied with Germany in the World War I, although there were already Turks living in Australia since 1901. As a result, Turkish-born residents were declared to be enemy aliens and placed under surveillance. Some were interned or released on parole.

World War I also caused many Australians to turn against their German, later their Austrian neighbours, even though most of them have been naturalised and had their sons fighting in the Australian army. This attitude was encouraged by official anti-German propaganda and jealousy. Local authorities made unjustified searches, surveillance and arrest on the Germans and the Austrians.

Many were interned during the war, with 700 naturalised citizens and 70 Australian born. At the end of the war, 6150 Germans and other enemy alien nationals were deported.

http://www.anzacday.org.au/history/ww1/homefront/enemy.html

http://www.migrationheritage.nsw.gov.au/exhibitions/zivillager/internees.shtml

http://epress.anu.edu.au/anzsog/immigration/mobile_devices/ch04s05.html

http://uncommonlives.naa.gov.au/muslim-journeys/arrivals/turks.aspx

The Origins of WW1

World War 1 was a disaster just waiting to happen. There are many reasons why the First World War occurred.  The rise of nationalism and excessive love of ones country, helped to plunge nations into combat. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand (heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne) and his wife was done through the hands of Gavrilo Princip (a member of the Black Hand, a secret Serbian nationalist society).  This is what is believed to have lit the fuse.

The Austro-Hungarians argued that the Serbian government was caught up in plotting against them took this opportunity to crush their nationalism and reinforce the Austro-Hungarian influences.

Austria-Hungary then requested for an ultimatum, secretly hoping that they would refuse, thus giving them a chance to engage in a war. The Serbians however had ties with the Russians, so the Austro-Hungarians turned to their ally Germany.  France was bought into the war after Germany invaded attacked them through Belgium and also pulling Britain into it.

So by 1914 the following alliances were formed:

The triple alliance: Germany, Italy and Austria-Hungary & the triple entente: Britain, France and Russia.

Three other factors must also be taken into account: Imperialism, Nationalism and Militarism.

Imperialism: Countries tried to invade and dominate other nations, causing competition and rivalry.

Nationalism: People thought that their own kind of people were ‘better’. People of the same ethnic groups made alliances to combat the other groups.

Militarism:  The military was given a high profile and there was a conflict on whose arms of forces was larger. 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwone/origins_01.shtml