World War II Canadas Role Introduction Canadas population

World War II Canada’s Role

Introduction • Canada’s population was 11. 5 million in 1939 • One in Ten Canadians would serve in the military during World War Two • Millions more Canadians contributed to the war effort on the home front

Major Grievances After WWI • Reparations – The Treaty of Versailles mandated that Germany owed $33 billion to Britain and France which it could not pay. • Territorial losses – There was a desire by Germany, Italy, and the USSR to regain lost territory resulting from the Treaty of Versailles. • Economic Collapse – The economies of Europe were devastated by the war. The Great Depression only made things worse. It led the people of Germany and Italy to begin to support radical groups.

Franco and Mussolini • Mussolini invaded Abyssinia (Ethiopia) in 1935. • The League of Nations wanted to impose sanctions but King said “no!” • The Spanish Civil War erupted in 1936 -39. Canada’s policy was not to stand up to either one of these Fascist dictators (Franco, Mussolini) Benito Mussolini and his fascists black shirts took power in 1922 Franciso Franco

Norman Bethune • Dr. Norman Bethune did get involved in the Spanish Civil War to “stop the fascists of Franco”. • He aided the Communists in this war and would later become famous for inventing blood transfusions. • He later got involved in China during WW 2 Famous Canadian Doctor, Dr. Norman Bethune did get involved

Who was Time Magazine “Man of the Year” for 1938?

Canada’s Initial Role • Canadian Prime Minister Mac. Kenzie King was “Isolationist”. • He didn’t want Canada to get involved in the wars of Europe during the late 1930 s

• Adolf Hitler brought the Nazi party into power slowly and democratically by 1933 • March 1939: Hitler took over Czechoslovakia • August 23, 1939: Nazi-Soviet Non. Aggression Pact Signed • September 1, 1939: Germany invades Poland – Britain and France deliver an ultimatum • September 3, 1939: Great Britain and France declare war on Germany • September 10, 1939: Canada joins the war

1939 Germany invades Poland • German tanks rolled across the Polish border early on September 1, 1939. • At 9: 00 am on September 3 rd, Britain's ambassador to Germany delivered an ultimatum stating that if hostilities did not stop by 11 am, a state of war would exist between Great Britain and Germany. • Germany did not respond at 11: 15 on the morning of September 3, 1939 Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain went on the radio to announce to the British people that they were at war with Germany.

German Troops march into Warsaw, Poland

The Blitz over Poland 1939

Canada Enters the War in Germany • For the first time Canada had the ability to decide for themselves whether they would enter the war or not. • King called a special session of parliament to “decide” Canada’s position in response to Britain’s declaration of war. • King’s proclamation was easily passed through the House of Commons. George VI signed it on September 10, 1939 … Canada was officially at war with Germany one week after Britain.

The House of Commons on September 7, 1939, the first day of the special session in which Canada's Parliament decided to declare war on Germany.

The Axis and the Allies The Allies • Great Britain (Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa too) • France • Canada • China • Russia British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, • The United States American President Franklin D. Roosevelt, And Russian President Joseph Stalin (After 1941)

The Axis and the Allies The Axis Powers: • Germany • Italy • Japan Italian Leader Mussolini with German leader Adolf Hitler

Emperor Hirohito of Japan

British Commonwealth Air Training Plan

• The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan was set up by the British Air Ministry, following an agreement signed by participating countries in December 1939. • It provided 50, 000 trained aircrew a year, for as long as it was necessary. • The United Kingdom was not an ideal location for air training – Due to the closeness of the front – Canada had fuel, wide open spaces suitable for navigation, industrial facilities for the production of trainer aircraft, parts and supplies – There was a lack of any real threat from German or Japanese fighter planes in Canadian airspace

• Over 167, 000 students, including 50, 000 pilots, trained in Canada under the program from May 1940 to March 1945. – 131, 553 of the graduates were Canadians. • At the peak of the plan’s operation, 94 schools were operating in 231 sites across Canada. • Prime Minister King supported this plan as a way of keeping large numbers of Canadians at home and avoiding the need to raise large numbers of forces, which would have lead to conscription.

At War! • In 1940, within the first four weeks of action, Hitler’s modern army crushed Polish defenses. Next Germany overran Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Soon, Hitler turned his attention to France.

Blitzkrieg Attack (Lightening)

Evacuation of Dunkirk • German forces had advanced across Europe and trapped the British forces in a tiny area around the French port of Dunkirk. • British forces found themselves stranded without shelter or supplies. So they launched Operation Dynamo to evacuate the troops. – Vice Admiral Ramsay organized as many ships (tug boats, barges, lifeboats and navy destroyers) to evacuate the troops. – 850 vessels took place in the evacuation, 235 boats were sunk. • 68, 000 troops were lost, but 1/3 of a million men were evacuated.