DiscoverBig IdeasWhy Australian politicians welcomed fascists after the Second World War
Why Australian politicians welcomed fascists after the Second World War

Why Australian politicians welcomed fascists after the Second World War

Update: 2025-02-03
Share

Description

Australia resettled fascists, even war criminals after World War II as part of a worldwide program led by the International Refugee Organisation. The background of these immigrants was known to all political parties, but they were regarded as cheap – and white – labour. Historian Jayne Persian explores the impact of these characters on the trajectory of postwar politics — a phenomenon well documented in other parts of the world but with which Australia has barely begun to reckon.

Presented by the Brisbane Writers Festival

Jayne PersianAssociate Professor in History, University of Southern QueenslandAuthor of Fascists in Exile: Post-War Displaced Persons in Australia and Beautiful Balts: From Displaced Persons to New Australians

Anthony CooperAuthor of best-selling Darwin Spitfires and Dispatch from Berlin, 1943

Comments 
loading
In Channel
loading
00:00
00:00
1.0x

0.5x

0.8x

1.0x

1.25x

1.5x

2.0x

3.0x

Sleep Timer

Off

End of Episode

5 Minutes

10 Minutes

15 Minutes

30 Minutes

45 Minutes

60 Minutes

120 Minutes

Why Australian politicians welcomed fascists after the Second World War

Why Australian politicians welcomed fascists after the Second World War

Australian Broadcasting Corporation

We and our partners use cookies to personalize your experience, to show you ads based on your interests, and for measurement and analytics purposes. By using our website and our services, you agree to our use of cookies as described in our Cookie Policy.