http://www3.nfb.ca/ww2/home-front/recruitment-and-conscription.htm
Canadian_forces_Liri_Valley_May_1944-Italy
Treaty of Versailles (Was too harsh and left resentment in Germany; Hitler promised to reject the treaty)
Great Depression (Germany was severely affected by the depression; Hitler promised full employment for the German people)
Rise of Hitler & Nazi Party
Failure of League of Nations (no real military force to stop aggression; used sanctions instead)
Extreme Nationalism
Fascism (Is a system of a government based on an unquestioning acceptance of a dictator’s rule)
Isolationism and Appeasement (Unwillingness of democratic governments to intervene in places like Germany)
http://www.brainpop.co.uk/humanities/historymodern/worldwariicauses/preview.weml#
Fundamental Causes of WWII
5
May 1939 British King and Queen visit Canada hoping to get supportMackenzie King, Prime Minister of Canada, did not want to join another war: Lost too many Canadian in WWIConscription divided the countryJust recovering from Depression
The Munich Agreement
CBC archives—CanadianGreetings to Queen and King-hyperlink
September 1, 1939Germany invades PolandBritain and France declared war on GermanyIn WWI, this would mean that Canada also declared war on Germany.But by 1939, Canada was an independent countryThey take a vote in ParliamentSeptember 8, 1939Government meetingKing wanted to support the warErnest Lapoint (minister of Justice) from Quebec also supported war.King promised no conscription https://www.historicacanada.ca/content/heritage-minutes/winnie
Not prepared for warSmall army, air force, and navy troopsOld equipmentCanadians were cheering on the streets when Canada decided to join WWIThis time somber feelingStill there were many volunteersAboriginal people volunteered more than other groups join Canada
Example:Thomas PrinceNo African Canadians (racist)-more acceptance laterCanadians wanted to join the war because:Pay$1.30/day & $60/month for depended spouse and $30/month for each childSediment towards BritainNewfound national prideWhy? https://www.historicacanada.ca/content/heritage-minutes/tommy-prince?media_type=&media_category=32
MOBALIZING CANADA’S RECOURCES
A political cartoon of the time shows Canada as a huge goal net and three small figures (all equal size) labelled “Army”, “Air force” and “Navy” trying to guard it. It is called the “National Nightmare” 1939 (start of war!). What do you think this represents? See image to the right
a. Canada’s air force was much smaller than its other branches
b. Canada’s armed forces were too small to defend Canada properly
c. Canada’s coasts were defended by only one branch of the military
d. Canada’s army was prepared for war and could defend its homeland.
AlliesBritain, France, Commonwealth countries like Canada, Australia and New ZealandAxisGermany, Italy, and JapanAllied troops along France’s borders and waited for Germany’s next moveNothing happened for seven monthsCalled a “phoney war” (attrition?)April 1940 April 1940 Blitzkrieg (see animation)“Lightning War”Powerful and successful war tacticSurprise and fast attacksGerman tanks, warplanes, and soldiers in enemy territory and destroying communication and transportation links.Countries attacked became confused and trappedAttacked Denmark and Norway
http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/media_nm.php?lang=en&ModuleId=10005137&MediaId=3376
The War in EuropeThe War in Europe
Key battle: Evacuation at Dunkirk
May 10, 1940May 10, 1940•Invasion of Netherlands•German forces went into Belgium and into France•Dunkirk-Allied forces were surrounded and had to escape•They could only escape by the sea
May 26, 1940May 26, 1940•Britain decide to organize all its boats, from ferries to fishing boats to go to the beaches of Dunkirk, so they can save the Allied forces•Luftwaffe, German air force, bombed Dunkirk.•Escape from Dunkirk was hard, but Allies were able to escape•Boosted morale-seen as “miracle”•Also, many troops saved for later battlesJune 22, 1940June 22, 1940•Because of Germany’s strong army, Germany soon captured France.•France surrendered.•Only Britain and the Commonwealth countries fought against Germanyhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/history/interactive/animations/wwtwo_map_fall_france/index_embed.shtml
July 10, 1940-Battle of Britain
“Operation Sea Lion”•Germany’s plan to attack Britain•Destroy Britain’s air power•Massive bombing of harbours and shipping facilities in Southern England•Bombing raids of airfields and aircraft factories•RAF retaliates and bombs Berlin•Bombing of civilian targets for almost 55 nights Scared and killed many people•Luftwaffe destroyed buildings and streets•Called the “Blitz”
•Germany had more planes than Britain, but Germany could not win war against British•Radar System•Britain could know when German raids will be•Spitfires and Hurricanes•Good fighter planes•Joined by many pilots from Commonwealth countries•Britain was successful in shooting German bombers •May 1941•Hitler decided to stop trying to invade Britain http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/battle_of_britain
The War SpreadsThe War Spreads
Germany lost the Battle of Britain“Operation Barbarossa”
Invasion of Russia•Germany and the Soviet agreed before in 1939 that they would not invade each other, but Hitler did not keep his promise!•Hitler needed to control Russia because he wanted a greater Germany, a big German Empire, and get to Russia’s rich oil fields•Battle lost because of cold Russian winter
The War in the Pacific
Japan was an Axis power but not involved in war in EuropeDecember 7, 1941Pearl HarbourJapanese planes bombed naval base in Pearl harbour, Hawaii, USADestroyed half of US navyUS declared war on JapanWatch Attack Scene!Lessons: In Canada we become hysterical over the fact that the Japanese might attack us! PREJUDICE AGAINST JAPANESE CANADIANSGermany and Italy declared war on the US since they were allies with JapanAlso bombed Philippines
Battle of Hong KongAlso invaded Hong Kong, British colonyHong Kong, British colonyHong Kong surrendered on Christmas Day, 1941Canada had sent troops to Hong Kong1975 Canadians were either killed or taken prisoner by the JapaneseCanadians were scared to learn of the fate of the Canadians and angry that troops had been sent to Hong Konghttps://www.historicacanada.ca/content/heritage-minutes/osborn-hong-kong
Canada’s Role in Europe19421942Soviet Union- Lost many soldiers against German invasionsWanted Allies to invade Europe from the WestWould weaken German army because it would fight two fronts
The Dieppe Raid, August 19, 1942
•Second Canadian Division was chosen to be the ones to attack the French port of Dieppe, under German occupation•Allied troops were to be protected by air force bombers and tanks were to be landed on town•Plan failed•Germans knew we were coming•Late start •Poor communication•Many died•Dieppe was a valuable lesson for D-Dayhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMwunLwmu50http://www.canadahistory.com/sections/video/War/WWII/Dieppe-PartI.html
Canadians at Sea
•Royal Canadian Navy rushed into a massive building and training program1940-1944: The Battle of the 1940-1944: The Battle of the AtlanticAtlantic•Canada’s help was needed•Food and military supplies•Allied ships to England were being sunk by German submarines•Convoy system•Warships escort and protect ships that carry important supplies•German still destroyed these shipshttp://www.museevirtuel-virtualmuseum.ca/sgc-cms/expositions-exhibitions/sackville/ve10/index.html
CorvettesCorvettes•Escort convoys•Quick, small, and easily controlled•Unsteady•Built by Canadians•1942-3•Seemed like Allies were losing Battle of the Atlantic, but they start to win.
•Britain found out Germany’s naval code: ENIGMA•Allies could know German submarine movements•Building more ships•Better training of Royal Canadian Navy•Better equipment•Liberator bombers that can protect convoy’s route
Royal Canadian Air Force Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF)(RCAF) increased in numbers and became more important•Participated in bombing raids in Britain, North Africa, Northwest Europe, and Southeast Asia•Participated in night bombing in Germany (US participated in day bombings)•Example: Hamburg, Germany•Created firestorm (City was in flames)•Many died•https://www.historicacanada.ca/content/heritage-minutes/andrew-mynarski
1941•RCAF formed Women’s Division to support the war effort•Women were trained as clerks, cooks, hospital assistants, drivers, telephone operators, welders, instrument mechanics, and engine mechanics.•Women were not allowed to fly in combat, but in delivering planes to Britain.https://www.historicacanada.ca/content/heritage-minutes/marion-orr?media_type=41&media_category=35
Operations monitoring at the Eastern Air Command HQ, Halifax, January 9th, 1943.
Three photographers getting ready to take off; from left to right: Flight Sergeant A.D. Lang, Aircraftswomen M. Dudlyke, M. Clayborne and Jeanne Farris.
The Tide TurnsThe Tide Turns19421942•Allies gained strength when the US entered the conflict in Dec. 1941•Allies began to win the Battle of the Atlantic•Allies made important advances in Asia19431943•Allies cleared North Africa of Axis forces and could turn their attention to the invasion of Europe•What is their next step?
The Invasion of Italy•British PM, Winston Churchill, said that the best way to get to Europe from Germany was through the “soft Underbelly” of Europe—Italy and Sicily•Invasion of Italy and Sicily•Thought it would be easy•Lasted almost two years and cost many lives•Therefore, not so easyJuly 10, 1943July 10, 1943•Canadians participated in Allies’ invasion of Sicily•Allies were successful•September 1943•Moved to mainland Italy•Rugged terrain, muddy conditions, and cold rainy weather (similar to WWI)•Slow battles•Example:•Battle over one town, OrtonaOrtona•Canadians fought for a long time•Germany withdrew eventually•Allies advance through Italy was hard•June 4, 1944•Reached Rome and gained control of it•Continued in Italy until the spring of 1945—http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Koel1epgYNA http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/ortona/griffiths.htmlhttp://www.cbc.ca/news/background/ortona/newsreels.html
Bug Ms. D about this!!! It is really cool!
Canadian troops moving anti-tank gun into position during street fighting in Ortona, 21 December 1943.
D-day and LiberationD-day and LiberationJune 6, 1944
“D-Day”“Operation Overlord”•A full-scale invasion of Europe•Five landing points along the beaches in Normandy in northern France•Beaches called “Sword,” “Juno”, “Gold”, “Omaha”, and “Utah”•Attacks on the beaches were preceded by massive air attacks and paratroopers were parachuted in behind the German lines•Allied troops had two advantages•Massive air and naval support with the ability to land more than a million troops within two or three weeks•Details of the attack were secret•German defense was poorly planned•Allied began an eleven-month advance through France and Belgium, towards Germany•Campaign was tiring and dangerous•Allies were liberators of Europe•Canadians marched triumphantly through the streets of Dieppehttp://www.museevirtuel-virtualmuseum.ca/Search.do?R=VE_319&lang=en&ex=on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ys4734ip0kEhttp://www.junobeach.org/e/2/can-eve-rod-nor-e.htmhttp://www.schoolshistory.org.uk/dday.htmhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaS1Jq_DPzshttps://www.historicacanada.ca/content/heritage-minutes/juno-beach?media_type=&media_category=35
March 1945March 1945
•Allied forces attacked Germany
•Task of Canadians: Free Netherlands
•This was done before, but unsuccessful
•Slow fighting
•Lots of casualties
April 17, 1945April 17, 1945
Liberation of HollandLiberation of Holland
•Canadians able to defeat German army and free Netherlands, and push Germans back into Germany!
•Also, air drops of food and convoys of trucks carrying food and fuel
•Canadians seen as heroes in Netherlands
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMvdF2isnVY
https://www.historicacanada.ca/content/heritage-minutes/mona-parsons?media_type=41
May 7, 1945May 7, 1945
•Germany surrendered
•Allies attacked Germany in the West, while the Soviet Union attacked in the East
•Hitler killed himselfdidn’t want to surrender
Two German officers in a group of prisoners who surrendered to Canadian troops in Courseulles, June 6th, 1944.
The Holocaust Discovered•Allies pressed closer to Germany and discovered the actions of the Nazis—The Holocaust•Millions of people murdered and many dead people and hungry people in concentration camps•Anti-Semitic and racist views of Hitler and Nazi were known in the 1930s.1941““Final Solution”Final Solution”•Germany’s plan to rid their society of all people they considered undesirable•Death camps were built in a number of places•German scientists experimented with the best way of killing lots of people at one time•Jews from all over Europe were shipped to death camps•Stripped of their clothes and valuables•Heads were shaved•Families were separated•Weak, old, and young sent to “showers”•No water, just gas•Strong and healthy were put to work•Killed when too weak•1945•Germans had murdered 6 million Jews, Roma (Gypsies), Slavs and other people they thought was inferior•Holocaust (massive killing of people) Were all Germans bad?Watch Irena Sandler cliphttp://www.enemyaliens.ca/accueil-home-eng.html
Japan surrenders
1945•Japanese air force and navy destroyed •Army was still strong•US government wanted to end war, so used an atomic bombManhattan ProjectManhattan Project•US and British scientists working on a secret plan to make a nuclear bomb•August 6, 1945•US dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima-”Little Boy”(Enola Gay—airplane)•70,000 killed•130,000 people were wounded•August 9, 1945•US dropped an atomic bomb (“Fat Man”) on Nagasaki•40,000 people killed•WWII is over.•http://life.time.com/history/hiroshima-and-nagasaki-photos-from-the-ruins/#1
The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan
•War effort was at home, so no conscription•British instructors would train pilots and other flight personnel from all over the Commonwealth in Canada•Open skies •Climate•Distance from enemies•King liked BCTAP because it was a major Canadian contribution to the war effort, without casualties
Total WarTotal War
Government planned and controlled every aspect of society (politics, economy, society)•Department of Munitions and SuppliesC.D. Howe as its ministerC.D. Howe as its minister•Controlled production•Crown corporations•Vancouver building ships for navy and Montreal was building new planes and bombers.•Canada’s car industries were building military vehicles and tanks.•Munitions factories in Quebec and Ontario•Government controlled telephone companies, refined fuel, stockpiled silk for parachutes, mined uranium, and controlled food productionPolicy of Total WarPolicy of Total War•Canadians willing to do whatever it took to defeat the enemy.
Important World War II Documents:War Measures Act (1940) detainment of Japanese Canadians and take civil liberties away (suspend them)National Selective Services Act able-bodied male and female had to do essential war workLend-Lease Act – Supplying War goods to G.B. from CAN and U.S.National Resources Mobilization Act: required adult males to register for military service within Canada (conscription?) – I’ll talk about this laterOgdensburg Agreement-Military agreement between us and States
Animation/Letter Assignment After the bombing of bombing of
Pearl Harbour on ? there was a fear that Japanese would invade Canada.
22, 000 Japanese-Canadians (out of 23, 000 in Canada) are placed in Internment Camps in the interior of British Columbia
All their possessions were taken and sold houses, cars, shops, fishing boats, and other property (for practically nothing!)
After the war they are not able to return to British Columbia
In 1945 the Canadian government decided to deport Japanese Canadians back to Japan
In 1988, the Canadian government agreed that it was wrong -- > paid 1400 people who were affected $21,000/each -- > gave citizenship back to those deported
Was it enough?
The War at Home (cont’d)The War at Home (cont’d)
•Workers working long hours and many working seven days a week•All women asked to work (esp. single women! Why?)•Moved from rural to urban•Companies built dormitories•Married women also found factory work•Provincial governments funded day care facilities
Canada’s Wartime EconomyCanada’s Wartime Economy
•Increased production and employment•More money to spend•Not many products to buy•King also wished to prevent the massive debt problem
IlsleyIlsley
•Minister of finance•Victory Bonds•Government will make sure that Canadians are saving money•Use money to help the cost of war•Increase income taxeshttp://www.wyattheritage.com/homefront/salvage.asp
Inflation
•Rise in prices for goods and services that increases cost of living and triggers the demand for a rise in wages•Wartime Prices and Trade Boards•Freeze all wages and prices as a way to prevent inflation•King introduced food rationinghttp://canadaonline.about.com/od/canadaww2/ig/Canadian-Posters-World-War-II/
The Growing Demand for Social Change
•Limit unions•Shortage of labour helps the unions•Workers=higher wages and collective bargaining•Unions=striked19441944•Acknowledge unions•War changes role of government•More involvement in economy•The CCF (Cooperative Commonwealth Federation) party and its belief of social change was becoming popularKing knew that he had competition, so he thought of:(Is he borrowing ideas from somewhere? The PM of the 1930s?•Unemployment insurance program•Expanded social assistance programs•Family allowance program•“Cradle to grave” social security•Meaning that government will support everyone from young to old.
Committee in House of Commons discussing the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1940
The Conscription CrisisThe Conscription CrisisNational Resources Mobilization ActNational Resources Mobilization Act (NRMA)
•Gather all resources in the nation to defeat the enemy.•Conscription, but only for home defense•pressured to adopt overseas conscription•King decided to hold a plebiscite
April 27, 1942April 27, 1942•Plebiscite (vote) results: All provinces except Quebec voted “yes”•Issue of conscription divided the nation
August 1942August 1942•King allowed overseas conscription•Quebec felt betrayed by King’s actions•“Not necessarily conscription, but Not necessarily conscription, but conscription if necessaryconscription if necessary.”http://www.cbc.ca/archives/categories/politics/prime-ministers/mackenzie-king-public-life-private-man/not-necessarily-conscription.html
•King did not want a divided Canada, so he tried to avoid overseas conscription until 1944.
Political cartoon concerning the conscription crisis, November, 1944.
19441944Invasion of Invasion of EuropeEurope
•lost almost 23,000 soldiers•King agrees to send conscripts overseas•12000 NRMA conscripts to Europe (not all went peacefully)•Riots•Quebec legislature passed a motion that says it was against what the government was doing•Division again between French and English in Canada
Anti-conscription rally in Quebec City during World War II.
What the war Meant to What the war Meant to CanadaCanada
•Military and economic support to the Allies•Known as the “arsenal [military] storehouse of democracy.”•GDP increases from 1939-1945•Employment increased•Economy changes from agricultural to industrial•Investment in mining, production, transportation, and service industries•Post-war immigration increased (Why?)
Women workers producing primers (A cap or tube containing a small amount of explosive used to detonate the main explosive charge of a firearm or mine. )
Building an Identity
Canada’s contribution to the war: soldiers, money, and productsCanadians now major players in the global conflict3rd largest navy4th largest air forceMany Canadians killed, wounded, or captured, but WWII helped show how Canada will be in the years to come.http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/ushistory/worldwarii/
V-E Day Celebrations V-E (Victory in Europe) Day was celebrated all across Canada, as in Ottawa shown here on 8 May 1945
USSR 22 million China 11 million Germany 7 million Poland 7 million U.S. 0.5 million Great Britain 0.3 million Japan 1.5 million