The Great Emu War of 1932
How the Australian military lost a war against 20,000 flightless birds.
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How the Australian military lost a war against 20,000 flightless birds.
Full transcript of The Great Emu War of 1932
In 1932, the Australian military officially declared war. But their enemy wasn't an invading nation. It was twenty thousand giant birds. The Great Emu War began when desperate farmers begged for help. A severe drought had driven the emus inland. They tore through wheat fields, destroying the food supply. Major Meredith and his troops rolled into the outback. They carried Lewis machine guns and ten thousand rounds. The soldiers expected an easy victory. But the emus organized into small guerrilla units. Whenever a truck approached, they scattered, outrunning the vehicles. The heavy machine guns kept jamming in the dust. After weeks, the military fired thousands of bullets. Yet they barely scratched the massive flock. Facing humiliation, the government ordered a full withdrawal. The commander later compared the birds to armored tanks. The military retreated in utter defeat. Making Australia the only country to lose a war to a bird.