Japan Shells Sydney: War Reaches Australian Shores
Japanese submarines I-21 and I-24 shelled Sydney and Newcastle, bringing World War II to the Australian mainland and shattering the assumption that the continent was beyond enemy reach. The bombardment caused limited physical damage but triggered widespread invasion fears that accelerated Australia's wartime mobilization and deepened its military alliance with the United States.
June 8, 1942
84 years ago
Key Figures & Places
What Else Happened on June 8
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