When a bunch of neo-Nazis, white nationalists, and self-described patriots paraded through the streets of Charlottesville in the United States to “Unite the Right”, an internet meme summed up the paradox: “You don’t get to be a Nazi and an American Patriot,” it read, “We literally fought a war over this”.

As we commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Allied victory against
authoritarianism, we are being encouraged to draw parallels between sacrifices we are making now and those made by brave Australians during World War II.