Canada’s Role in Europe

Canada’s Entry into WWII- Sept. 10, 1939

In 1939 Canada was not prepared for war.

The army, navy, and air force were ill equipped (old and outdated) and were very small in number.

In Sept, 58,330 people volunteered for service.

Just as in WWI, Aboriginal people volunteered at a higher rate than any other group in Canada.

WHY DID THEY JOIN??

Some joined from a sense of national pride, some for the $1.30 a day, $60 a month for dependent spouses, and $30 a month for each child, and some joined due to a strong tie to Britain.

The British Common Wealth Air Training Plan

Mackenzie King had hoped that the war effort in Canada would be mostly on the home front. This would help us avoid conscription.

THE BCATP seemed to offer Canada this home front opportunity.

This would have Canada host and administer a training plan where British instructors would train pilots and flight personnel from all over the Commonwealth in Canada.

Canada would be a good place to do this because of its climate and its distance from the enemy aircraft in Britain and Germany.

Total War in Canada

The Canadian economy began being geared toward war, which meant that Canadians would have to do anything it

took to defeat the enemy.

Vancouver was building ships for the navy, Montreal was constructing new planes and bombers, and Canadas car industries were producing military vehicles and tanks.

Munitions factories opened in Ontario and Quebec.

Farmers are told to produce more wheat, beef, dairy products, and other goods.

Canada and the War in Europe In 1939, Germany and Japan became allies. They are now called the

THE AXIS POWERS. (Germany, Italy, Japan)

After the declaration of war in 1939, nothing happened for 7 months. This time period is called THE PHONEY WAR

THE FALL OF FRANCE (JUNE 22, 1940)

In April of 1940, Germany invaded Denmark and Norway using a policy called BLITZKREIG or Lightning Warfare.

Denmark and Norway fell in a matter of months and the Nazis moved quickly through Belgium into FRANCE.

WITHIN DAYS of invading France, the Nazi’s had gone from Germany all the way to the ENGLISH CHANNEL on the other side of France.

The Allies had been pushed all the way to the French Port OF DUNKIRK where the allies attempted to evacuate. The Nazi’s bombed from the air and attacked them on foot. 340,000 men were rescued at Dunkirk from the Nazi Victory.

The Battle of Britain: (Operation Sea Lion) Invasion of

Britain It would be a sea invasion, BUT FIRST, the Nazi’s had to destroy BRITAIN’S AIRPOWER- the RAF

On July 10, 1940, the German Luftwaffa began a massive bombing campaign, aimed at destroying harbors and shipping facilities in southern England.

In September the Nazi strategy shifted to bombing CIVILLIAN TARGETS to wound moral and force surrender.

For 55 consecutive nights, the Nazi’s bombed Britain and specifically London, destroying buildings and streets. THIS BOMBING WAS KNOWN AS THE BLITZ

Britain was hard to defeat however, as they had RADAR, and very sophisticated war planes (Spitfires, Hurricanes), also the British had the help of COMMONWEALTH pilots.

Eventually Hitler gave up on his attempt to invade Britain. 23,000 civillians are killed during the Blitz. Mostly civilians.

Hitler Turns His Advance to Russia

Hitler and Stalin (German and Russian leaders) had signed a 10 year non-agression pact just before the invasion of Poland.

INVASION WAS A MAJOR MISCALCULATION ON HITLERS PART: THIS INVASION WOULD BE CALLED OPERATION BARBAROSSA (1940-1943)

Hitler thought that Russia would fall in a matter of months, but he did not realize the SIZE OF RUSSIA, the amount of PEOPLE in Russia, and how COLD Russia was in the winter.

Hitler received more defence and fight from the Russians than he thought he would.

Hitler did not equip his men with proper winter clothing.

By 1943, Germany had lost 300,000 men and surrendered. Russia took advantage of this and took back the territory lost in Russia during the German advance.

Russia lost 5 MILLION PEOPLE

The Commissar Order (June 6, 1941) read: "The originators of barbaric, Asiatic methods of warfare are the political commissars.... Therefore, when captured either in battle or offering resistance, they are to be shot on principle."

During the initial attack on the Soviet Union throughout the summer and autumn of 1941, the German armed forces generally complied with this order. In May 1942, however, the Commissar Order was rescinded at the urging of German field commanders, who came up against much stronger resistance when the routine shooting of the commissars became known to Soviet soldiers.

Just as the Nazis targeted political commissars as agents of the Soviet Communist Party, they regarded Soviet prisoners of war (POWs) as an integral part of the so-called Bolshevik menace. The Germans killed POWs in massive numbers, not as a result of military operations but as a part of Nazi racial policy

The United States Enters the War (Dec. 8, 1941): The Bombing of

Pearl Harbor

On Dec. 7, 1941 Japanese planes bombed the U.S naval base in Peral Harbour, on the island of Hawaii, destroying half the fleet.

This bombing surprised the Americans and the next day, the U.S government declares war on Japan.

Japan also invades Hong Kong, a British colony which had 1975 Canadians stationed there. All 1975 are either killed or taken prisoner by the Japanese.

Japans allies, Germany and Italy, in turn declare war on the United States.