Topic #5 Review

Battles of WWII

Hitler’s Road to War

– Hitler was plotting to extend Germany's borders and began building up a military force that went unchallenged by other nations• Wehrmacht (army)• Luftwaffe (air force)• Kriegsmarine (navy)• Illegal according to the Treaty of Versailles (no air force

allowed, limited army only)

Hitler’s Road to War• Between 1936 and 1939, Hitler took

over more and more territory in Europe and no one reacted to his actions– March 1936: troops sent into Rhineland;

supposed to be a demilitarized zone where no troops were allowed

– March 1938: sends army into Austria and takes it over for Germany

– October 1938: leaders of Britain, France and Italy meet with Hitler in Munich and allow him to take over Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia (mostly German speaking); Hitler promises no more demands for territory

– March 1939: take over the rest of Czechoslovakia

– September 1939: invades Poland saying that Germans are being attacked by Poles

The War Begins

– Invasion of Poland finally prompted Britain, France and Canada to act• Britain/France demanded Germany withdraw, but never got

a reply from Hitler• War was declared on September 3, 1939

– Canada entered the war later than Britain and France• Sept. 3 was Labour Day in Canada and Parliament was on

holiday• Members had to come from all over Canada, so it took

another week for Canada to reach a decision to join; entered September 10, 1939

Who was Fighting?ALLIED SIDE COUNTRIES YEAR OF ENTRY

Britain 1939

France 1939

Canada 1939

Other Commonwealths (NFLD incl.) 1939

United States 1941

Soviet Union 1941

AXIS SIDE

Germany 1939

Italy 1940

Japan 1941

Canadian Communities Contribution

– Aboriginal Peoples• About 3000 Aboriginal people enlisted along with over

10 000 people of part Aboriginal heritage• After the war, many veterans were denied benefits and

it took until the early 2000s until they (or their descendants) were compensated• Aboriginal personnel received at least 18 bravery

medals• Were also awarded British Empire Medals by King

George VI to four First Nations

Canadian Communities Contribution

– African Canadians• Large number were from Nova Scotia, Montreal and Southern

Ontario• Helped changed attitudes in Canada because Blacks were not

given credit they were due

– Chinese Canadians• OVER 600 Chinese Canadians served during WWII• They were at first discouraged from enlisting, but as the war in the

Pacific grew, the need for Chinese-speaking soldiers grew• Many also fought in Europe• Vote was extended to Chinese Canadians in 1947 part in

recognition for efforts in war

Women in the War – Women were not allowed to join the air force as pilots, but

they were allowed to join as the Air Transportation Auxiliary Ferry Service pilots• Flew new warplanes built in Canada and US to Britain for service• Also worked as ground crews for the Royal Air Force

– Canadian Women's Army Corps (1941)• non-combatant branch of the Canadian Army• released men from non-combatant roles in the Canadian armed forces • Most women served in Canada but some served overseas, most in

roles such as secretaries, mechanics, cooks• Went through 3 months basic training and had to pass a medical test;

needed to be at least 21 years old

Women in the War

– Women's Royal Canadian Naval Service (1942)• This division got the cream of the crop (best) workers• The navy wouldn't look at a woman who didn't have excellent

references• Trained on the HMCS CONESTOGA in Ontario; only ship

commanded by a woman• Also maintained non-combatant roles on navy vessels

– Nursing• 3,649 women had served in the Royal Canadian Army Medical

Corps (RCAMC)• 481 had served in the Royal Canadian Air Force• 343 in the Royal Canadian Navy