Canada World War II Canada World War II

Canada & World War II

Canada & World War II http: //warmuseum. ca/

Causes of the WW 2 1. Imperialist Goals in Germany: – Hitler came to power: people wanted improvement to their quality of life after the Treaty of Versailles and the Depression – Hitler wanted to create a “master” German race 2. Appeasing Hitler – Hitler slowly defied the terms of Versailles and took back German territory from France, moved into Czechoslovakia and annexed Austria – France and Britain allowed him hoping to avoid war

Causes of the WW 2 3. Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact: – August, 1939: Germany signed a peace treaty with the Soviet Union – If they invaded Poland, Stalin would not feel threatened – Hitler invaded Poland on September 1, 1939 4. Failure of the League of Nations: – It had no military to restrict Germany – International conflicts arose: • Japan invaded Manchuria • Italy invaded Abyssinia

Canada’s Response to the Threat of War • Mackenzie-King chose an isolationist policy • Wanted to avoid another war • Economy was slowly improving • Anti-Semitic views were on the rise worldwide and in Canada • The Canadian government refused to let Jewish refugees fleeing to Canada aboard the St. Louis in 1939 • 907 returned to concentration camps in Europe

Canada Declares War • Sept 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland • Sept 3, Britain & France declared war on Germany • Sept 10, Canada declares war on Germany (voted by Parliament) • PM King promised no conscription: “So long as this government may be in power, no such measure [conscription] shall be enacted”

Mobilizing Canada’s Resources • Canada not prepared for war – few war resources • Few volunteers: 58, 000 (population: 11 million) • Some attracted by pay, or strong ties to Britain

BCATP • BCATP offered opportunity for war effort at home – avoided conscription issue • Dec 1939 – Canada agreed to host & administer pilot training plan on the prairies • 130, 000 pilots, navigators, flight engineers & ground staff trained - $2. 2 B (70% Cdn funded) • http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=Ies. Br 8 h. GB 0 c

Total War • April 1940 – Department of Munitions & Supplies under Minister C. D. Howe • Instructed industries what to produce • If private sector could not produce it, Crown Corporations would • Policy of total war – more government intervention in the economy

Axis Advances • Axis: Germany, Italy (1939) & Japan (1940) known as the Central Powers • Allies: Britain, France + Commonwealth • Allies stationed on French-German border • 7 months nothing happened – “phony war” – then … • Blitzkrieg – “lightning war”; Germany attacked Denmark & Norway April 1940 • Panzers; paratroopers • http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=g. Ujrnl. MAt. Q 4

Evacuation at Dunkirk • May 1940: Germany easily moved through Belgium and France • German panzers pushed allied troops back to Dunkirk on the English Channel • Evacuation by sea – May 26 – June 4 all sea craft employed by British Navy • 340, 000 Allied soldiers brought safely to Britain; “miracle” • • Atonement: http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=t 122 y 021 DZk http: //www. youtube. com/watch? NR=1&v=OILoh. JMETe. Q

Evacuation at Dunkirk www. rania. co. uk www. dover-kent. co. uk

Test your knowledge 1. What are two ways that Canada aids the allied forces at the start of the war? 2. What is the “phony war”? 3. Why do the Germans experience early victories? 4. What is the name of the famous evacuation that saved 350, 000 allied soldiers from panzer slaughter in 1940? http: //www. woodlands-junior. kent. sch. uk/Homework/war/timeline. htm

The Battle of Britain • Hitler’s goal - “Operation Sea Lion” – invasion of Britain • July 10 th, 1940 Luftwaffe massive bombing campaign in Southern England • August bombing of air fields & aircraft ind. • Sept – bombing civilian targets for 55 nights – e. g. London – known as “the Blitz” • Strong RAF – good radar, excellent pilots & fighter planes – Hurricanes & Spitfires • May 1941, Hitler abandoned plans to invade Britain but 25, 000 mostly civilians perished • http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=bu 0 G 1 jjt. Reo

HIGH STREET, COVENTRY - AFTER THE BLITZ (1940) www. cwn. org. uk Spitfire Hawker Hurricane www. aviationshoppe. com www. fighter-planes. com/

North African Campaign • Desert war: for resources and strategic location • Control of the Straight of Gibraltar and the Suez Canal would give the Axis access to oil in the Middle East • 3 -year conflict: ended with Allied victory in North Africa in May, 1943

Operation Barbarossa • June 1941: Hitler launched “Operation Barbarossa” (red beard) – invasion of the USSR • To gain resources, land, labourers and soldiers • Came sooner than planned because of Soviet take over in Balkans by Stalin • Soviets taken by surprise – autumn 1941 Germans reached outskirts of Moscow & Leningrad – defeated by harsh winter • 1942 Hitler launched second offensive on Soviet southern oil fields – defeated by harsh winter – Germany surrendered • Early 1944 Soviets advanced into eastern Europe • http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=8 L-GBHNNqr. Q

The War in the Pacific • 1941 Japan prepared to invade US & European colonies in SE Asia – oil, rubber • Dec 7 th, 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor (2400 killed); followed by bombing of Philippines – USA declares war on Japan • Christmas Day 1941 “Black Christmas”, Hong Kong falls to Japan – 1, 700 POW (260 died; all imprisoned for 3. 5 years) • http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=Y 8 ZNYuvwh. FE&feature=related

Quick Recall Questions 1. Who are the dictators who have come to power in Germany, Spain and Italy? 2. The invasion by Germany of which country was the “final straw” that lead to Britain and France declaring war? 3. List 2 ways that Canada was fully involved in war, without actually engaging in active combat. 4. What was the ‘phoney war’? 5. What happened at Dunkirk in 1940?

Quick Recall Questions (cont. ) 6. What was the Blitz? 7. What main advantage did the RAF gain over the Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain? 8. Describe the trails and tribulations experienced by Hitler in the USSR. 9. What was the military code name for Hitler’s Russian campaign? 10. Which country bombed Pearl Harbour and what is the name of their leader at the time?

Battle of the Atlantic • Royal Canadian Navy – massive building & training programme • 1941 Battle of the Atlantic – Canadian merchant ships bringing US and Canadian food & military supplies to Britain – German U-boat “wolf packs” blockade Britain -sink merchant ships – Ally counter: convoys & corvettes – AND May 1942, British cracked German naval codes & were able to track U-boats – 1943 Allied convoys more successful in reaching destinations

Buzz Beurling War in the Air Amelia Earhart • RCAF grew quickly after war began • 250, 000 Canadians joined RCAF • Mid-1943 Allied bombing raids aimed at destroying German industries • Women’s Division – women pilots allowed to fly bombers from Canada to Britain – no combat • Involved in destructive/controversial Bomber Command killing many civilians • 10, 000 Canadian bomber crew KIA

The Tide Turns • • • 1942, tide turned Dec 1941, US enters the war Allies began to win Battle of the Atlantic Significant progress made in the Pacific 1943, North Africa cleared of Axis forces

Q: Look at the key words on your handout • What will occur in this raid at Dieppe?

The Dieppe Raid • Attack demanded by the hard-hit Soviets to detract German attention away from them • August 19, 1942 – Canadian troop carrier intercepted by German convoy • Disembarkation planned for dawn – but ships delayed – troops gunned down on landing • Communications bad; no air support – sent more troops who became trapped on beaches – 907 KIA; 600 wounded; 1, 946 captured POW • Raid Failure–Did it help Allies plan D-day? • http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=MSKK_n 8 VWek&feature=related

The Invasion of Italy • British PM Churchill proposed to recapture Europe through “soft underbelly” – Sicily and Italy – took 2 years, thousands of lives • Sicily: July 10, 1943 – Ally invasion (Canadians included) invaded– mountain terrain, lead to Mussolini’s downfall • Ortona: Sept 1943 – invaded Mainland Italy – small villages en route, urban warfare – slow advances • June 1944 – Allies took Rome

Canadian Christmas in Ortona, Italy, 1943 www. worldwar 2 database. com

Canadians in Italy, 1943 http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=uq. N 5 n. MXBJEI

D-Day: The Normandy Invasion • June 6 th, 1944 D Day, Allies launched “Operation Overlord” • 5 landing points along 80 km stretch of beach in Normandy, France • Massive Allied air attacks • Paratroopers dropped behind enemy lines • 30, 000 Canadians landed at Juno beach • Objective: to move past concrete barriers & barbed wire inland; heavy casualties • http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=bw. Bk. Qy 9 Cp. S 0 (private ryan)

Map of D-Day Landings http: //news. bbc. co. uk www. albright. edu www. st-dunstans. org. uk

Which conflict? • Operation Red Beard • Churchill thought it would be an easy victory as the “soft underbelly” of Europe • Miracle evacuation across the English Channel • Embarrassing loss with lessons learned for Operation Overlord • Majority of deaths were civilians • Sparks a turning point toward allied victory

Liberating the Netherlands • Canadians charged with liberating the Netherlands • Earlier Allied attempt had failed – Germans retaliated by destroying ports of Amsterdam & Rotterdam and flooding fields – starvation ensued • April 28 th: German troops sign a truce • Canadians began air drops of food over parts of Holland • Convoys of trucks brought food & fuel http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=8 l 6 Kh. HROT_s&feature=related

Liberating the Netherlands, 1945 www. canadianencyclopedia. ca http: //northernblue. ca/i www. canadianencyclopedia. ca

Victory in Europe • North/west/east allied advances made defeat certain • May 7 th, 1945 Germany surrendered Hitler & wife Eva Braun committed suicide in a bunker in Berlin • Victory in Europe (VE ) Day: May 8 th, 1945

Japan Surrenders • Pacific conflict intensified after Europe’s surrender • Americans fire-bombed Japanese cities – thousands killed – determined to “fight to the last person” • Manhattan Project – American/British develop an atomic bomb • August 6, 1945: Enola Gay drops an atomic bomb on Hiroshima • August 9, 1945: second bomb dropped on Nagasaki • Approximately 100, 000 dead; long-term radiation • August 14, 1945: Japan surrenders http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=NF 4 LQa WJRDg @3 min

The Holocaust • Nazi anti-Semitic sentiments revealed in the “Final Solution” – rid society of “undesirables” • Allies discovered slave labour and gas chambers in Nazi concentration camps • Death camps: Auschwitz & Treblinka (Poland) • Nuremberg Trials: International Military Tribunal – set precedent for later crimes against humanity http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=W 74 j. GQ-CDTE

The War at Home • Canadian factories – long hours, productive • Women worked as welders, machinists, drillers – “Rosie the Riveter” • Wartime Economy – Increased production, more money but scarcity of goods forced prices higher • Ministry of Finance Ilsley encouraged people to buy Victory bonds • Wartime Prices and Trade Board (1941): froze prices and wages to curb inflation • Rationing: limits were still more generous than Britain and US’s

www. library. northwestern. edu

Growing Demand for Social Change • Federal govt tried to restrict strikes by unions • Harsh measures – wage & price controls • 1944 Federal govt recognized right of unions to strike & collective bargaining • 1943 CCF was opposition in ON • CCF formed govt under Tommy Douglas in SK • 1940 UI introduced by PM King • 1945 Family Allowance introduced

The Conscription Crisis • King promised no conscription • National Resources Mobilization Act (NRMA) 1940: rapid German occupation of Europe –more soldiers needed • Opposition pressures King to introduce draft • PM King “Not necessarily conscription but conscription if necessary” • April 27 th, 1942 – plebiscite on releasing gov’t from promise not to draft – yes vote except Quebec – nation divided again • Conscripts not sent until 1944 –few reach the front

Japanese Internment Camps • Growing anti-Japanese sentiment in Canada post Pearl Harbor attack and invasion of Hong Kong • 1942: War Measures Act introduced (second time) • Japanese Canadians in BC relocated to internment camps in the interior - property was confiscated; families were separated • Government’s actions were not justified

What the War meant to Canada • • • Major economic & military support to Allies “arsenal of democracy” along with US Billions of dollars in financial aid Boom in industry Exploration for oil in AB New jobs created GDP increased Manufacturing eclipsed agriculture Post-war immigration – multi-cultural society

WW 2 in Film…some favourites • • • Triumph of the Will (1935) Casablanca (1942) Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) The Great Escape (1963) Schindler’s List (1993) Saving Private Ryan (1998) The Thin Red Line (1998) The Pianist (2002) Downfall (2004) Band of Brothers (2006) Letters from Iwo Jima and Flags of our Fathers (2006) The Inglorious Bastards (1978 & 2010) http: //www. timeout. com/film/features/show-feature/8362/