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.
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