December 8th 1941, rain pelting down at the break of a summer's day in Melbourne, Australia . Perhaps an omen of what was yet to come.

PM Curtin is shaken from his sleep by his press secretary and receieves the news of Japanese attacks at Pearl Harbour and Manila.

Curtin, amazed, stating that the Japs must be mad in attacking the U.S.A.

Later on this day Curtin made a national broadcast to the Australian people.

Click on the image map link at the left to hear Cutrin's Radio Broadcast.