Grade 10 Canadian History: Since World War One

Canada 1929–1945

Learning Goals1. We will describe how some individuals, organizations,

symbols, and events, including some major international events, contributed to the development of identity, citizenship, and/or heritage in Canada between 1929 and 1945.

Success Criteria1. You will describe responses of Canada and Canadians

to some major international events and/or developments that occurred between 1929 and 1945,

2. You will explain the significance of these responses for Canadian identity and/or heritage.

Big QuestionWhat happened after the outbreak of war?

Fighting Hitler’s War Machine

From the Outbreak of War toOperation Barbarossa

From the Outbreak of War toOperation Barbarossa

August 23, 1939: Treaty of Non-Aggression between Germany and the Soviet Union.

This Treaty was created to ensure that each country would remain neutral if either was attacked by a 3rd country. It also stated that

Germany and the Soviet Union would not attack each other.

September 1, 1939: Germany invades Poland… Start of World War Two!

September 29, 1939: The Soviets and Germany divide Poland.

The Nazis take the western half of Poland, while the Soviets take the eastern half.

December 1939: First Canadians set sail for Europe.

From the Outbreak of War toOperation Barbarossa

May 10, 1940: Winston Churchill becomes Britain's new Prime Minister.

May 26 – June 3, 1940: The Miracle At Dunkirk 338,226 Allied soldiers were rescued at Dunkirk from the

advancing German army. Ships from massive destroyers to 15 foot fishing boats were used for the evacuation. Many

believe this saved the Allies.

From the Outbreak of War toOperation Barbarossa

We shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air,

we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be.

We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender, and if, which I do not for a moment believe, this island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our

Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in God's good time, the New World,

with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old.

Winston Churchill, June 4, 1940One day after the Miracle at Dunkirk

June 22, 1940: Germany now has control over Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands and France .

July 10 - October 31, 1940: The Battle of Britain begins

Hitler had a grand plan to invade the British Isles. Before he could do this, he decided to begin a MASSIVE bombing campaign to pound Britain into submission. By October

31st Hitler realized he could not cripple the Royal Air Force (RAF) OR the British people, and quit the campaign.

From the Outbreak of War toOperation Barbarossa

What General Weygand has called the Battle of France is over. The Battle of Britain is about to begin. Upon this battle depends the

survival of Christian civilization. Upon it depends our own British life, and the long continuity of our institutions and our Empire. The whole

fury and might of the enemy must very soon be turned on us.

Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this Island or lose the war. If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be free and the life of the world may move forward into broad, sunlit uplands. But if we fail, then the whole world, including the United States, including all that we have known and cared for, will sink into the abyss of a new Dark Age made more sinister, and perhaps more protracted, by the lights

of perverted science.

Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand

years, men will still say, 'This was their finest hour.‘

Winston Churchill, June 18, 1940Four days before the Battle of Britain began

August 26, 1940: No. 1 Fighter Squadron, RCAF, became the first Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) unit to engage enemy planes in battle when it met a formation of German bombers over southern England.

April 6, 1941: Nazis invade Greece and Yugoslavia.

From the Outbreak of War toOperation Barbarossa

From the Outbreak of War toOperation Barbarossa

June 22, 1941: Germany attacks Soviet Union as Operation Barbarossa begins.

Operation Barbarossa was the code name for Germany’s full assault on the Russian frontier. Hitler invaded the Soviet Union with a 3.8 million man army, 4,300 tanks, 4,389 aircraft and 7,200 artillery pieces. This obviously

shattered the Treaty of Non-Aggression between the two countries. Hitler broke yet another international

agreement.

From the Outbreak of War toOperation Barbarossa

From the Outbreak of War toOperation Barbarossa