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National Observer Home > No. 46 - Spring 2000 > Book Reviews Fighting the EnemyCambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000, pp. 198 and index.
This book will be of considerable importance to those who are interested in Australia's role in the Second World War. It sets out to analyse the attitudes of Australian soldiers towards those whom they fought, and particularly against Italian, Vichy French, German and Japanese forces. Australians encountered Italian forces in North Africa. As the author notes, the average Italian soldier was poorly trained, poorly led, poorly fed and poorly armed. It is also true that he was poorly motivated. Many Italians did not wish to be involved in the Second World War, and the numbers of those who were quick to surrender, in order to escape the dangers of the battlefield, were remarkable. For example, after the battle of Bardia, where 130 Australians were killed, more than 40,000 Italians surrendered, together with approximately 400 artillery pieces, 130 tanks and 700 other vehicles. Similarly, when Tobruk fell to Allied forces, after 49 Australians were killed, some 25,000 Italians surrendered. Not surprisingly, Australians generally regarded the Italians with contempt. However sometimes exceptional bravery elicited a different response. On a small minority of occasions individual groups of Italians fought with signal tenacity and earned the respect of the Australian forces. Australian attitudes towards German forces were entirely different. German soldiers were perceived as efficient, brave and well-organised. In North Africa some battles were won by the Germans and others by the Australians. As the author points out, the attitudes of particular Australians generally depended on their particular experiences. Where German forces had been successful Australians had a higher opinion of them than where Australian forces had been successful. But although German forces usually behaved in accordance with war conventions, sometimes they did not. There were instances where German soldiers pretended to surrender, with the purpose of shooting Australians as they approached, or fired on ambulances or those burying the dead, or used their own ambulances in order to carry weapons and troops into action, or used live prisoners as screens for advances. It is evident that German troops had considerable respect for Australian soldiers, and there is evidence that they were fearful and unnerved by what they perceived as the Australians' remorseless use of bayonets. One of Rommel's former staff officers noted that Australian troops "won a grim reputation among our men for their terrible work with the bayonet". Australian forces were involved against the Vichy French in the Middle-East. They found the Vichy French very mixed. There had been an expectation that they would not offer sustained resistance, and it is true that in some cases Vichy forces were quick to capitulate. In other cases however their resistance was determined, and many Australian lives were lost. Australians found it difficult to understand why the Vichy would wish to fight in support of the Germans, and in view of instances of equivocal behaviour they regarded them as untrustworthy. The profoundest animosity shown by Australian forces was, understandably, directed against the Japanese. The author shows that there were a number of reasons for this. First, the Japanese were threatening Australia at close range, and the thought that they might obtain power over Australians, and particularly over women and children, was understandably frightening. Secondly, Japanese forces had a merited reputation for savagery, cruelty and atrocities. Their actions in China and their treatment of Allied prisoners of war provoked a revulsion on the part of Australians. As was recorded by Jo Gullett, "If an Italian or a German were running away, one ought to let him go, but never a Japanese." It was commented that the Japanese brought out an instinct which was not characteristically Australian and which Australian commanders had previously been unable to awaken fully, the "killing instinct". As a consequence, sick or wounded Japanese were sometimes killed on the spot, and it was often difficult to prevent the killing of captured Japanese before they could be interrogated. These actions were contrary to regulations and to instructions to Australian forces, but animus against Japanese was so intense that individual soldiers frequently dealt with them without restraint. This is not to say that Japanese were regarded as poor soldiers. To the contrary, they were recognised as fanatical and formidible. They did not believe that they should allow themselves to be taken as prisoners, they were unrelenting and, albeit not as capable as Australian soldiers, fought efficiently and unremittingly to the death. The author discusses many aspects of hostilities, including assessments that many soldiers have a reluctance, when face to face with an enemy, to take another human life. He refers to S.L.A. Marshall's famous but controversial contention that in any action not more than 25 per cent of the members of any infantry unit will fire their weapons unless compelled to do so by circumstances or constant urging. He concludes that this contention was not true of Australians during the Second World War, especially in regard to the Japanese, the death of each of whom was an additional safeguard for Australia. "Fighting the Enemy" is a book of high quality on an area of importance. It is very carefully researched - there are fifty-two pages of notes and bibliography, and the author clearly has gone to considerable pains to gather a formidible quantity of material. The book is highly reccommended. R.M. Pearce National Observer No. 46 - Spring 2000 |
