The
Second Australian Imperial Force (Second, or 2nd, AIF) was the name given to the
volunteer personnel of the
Australian Army in
World War II. Under the
Defence Act (1903), neither the part-time
Militia nor the full-time Permanent Military Force (PMF) could serve outside Australia or its territories unless they volunteered to do so. The Second AIF fought against
Nazi Germany, the
Kingdom of Italy,
Vichy France and the
Empire of Japan. After the war, Australia's wartime military structures were
demobilised and the 2nd AIF was subsequently disbanded, although a small cadre of its personnel became part of the Interim Army that was established in 1947, and from which the Australian Regular Army was eventually formed in 1948.