WORLD WAR IIChapter 8

Enlistments

● When war broke out, the Commission of Government decided to recruit men for the British Army○ This way, they did not have to spend money sending

soldiers overseas and sending supplies■ It would be Britain’s responsibility

○ In WW1, Government sent the Newfoundland Regiment overseas

○ This time, the Newfoundland Regiment stayed and defended the island

Branches # Enlisted # of DeathsBritish Royal Navy 3419 352British Royal Air Force 713 139British Army 2343 83Canadian Forces (Men) 1160 119Canadian Forces (Women) 524 1Merchant Marine 5000 266Nfld. Overseas Forestry Unit 3596 34Royal Nfld. Regiment 1668 30Other Forces (ex. American) Unknown 4

Newfoundlanders Who Served in WWII

Which force attracted the largest group of Newfoundlanders? Why?

“These men (Newfoundland fishermen) are the hardiestand most skillful boatmen in rough seas who exist.”

- Sir Winston Churchill (18 September 1938)

Women Enlistments

● There were three women’s branches○ Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service (Navy)○ Women’s Div. of the Royal Canadian Air Force ○ Canadian Women’s Army Corps

● Over 500 women enlisted in World War II

Changing Warfare Since WW1

● Advances in aircraft, tanks, ships, and other weaponry made this a highly mobile war○ WW1 - fighting occurred in trenches

● Much more fighting occured in the air and sea

Land, Air and Sea

● Land○ NL soldiers fought in Africa, Italy, Normandy, etc.

● Air○ Newfoundlanders fought in the skies over Europe,

Africa, Middle East and the Far East● Sea

○ NL soldiers served on hundreds of ships on the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans

Newfoundlanders in Both World Wars

WWIEnlisted: 13,000Died: 1,800

WWIIEnlisted: 18,000Died: 1,000

Others were held as Prisoners of War - soldiers who were captured by the enemy during conflicts

Newfoundland’s Strategic Importance

Newfoundland’s Strategic Importance

● In 1940, Germany occupied France ○ Occupy - take control of something

● There were fears that they would target Britain next● It was believed Hitler would target Newfoundland so he

could have control of the North Atlantic ocean● Newfoundland was already an important shipping point of

goods to Britain ○ Hitler wanted to cut that connection off from Britain

● Canada and U.S. were eager to defend it

Aviation

● NL’s location was extremely important for aviation● Newfoundland was an important stopover point before

crossing the Atlantic● Air bases were built for planes that patrolled the North

Atlantic

GANDER

Canada

Botwood(Seaplane operation)

Canada

Torbay

Canada (Shared with the US)

Goose Bay

Canada (Shared with the US)

Stephenville

USA

Argentia

USA

Aviation

● Airports were also important for shipping planes across the Atlantic

● It was too dangerous to have materials shipped by boat across the ocean and then assemble the plane○ Costly and dangerous (German submarines patrolled

the oceans● They were assembled in the U.S. and flown to Europe

○ NL was an important stopover during these trips● Sent to Montreal -> Goose Bay or Gander -> Britain

Military Bases

● Britain agreed to allow Canada to be responsible for the defense of NL

● They began to build military bases○ Argentia - large naval base○ Fort Pepperrell - Pleasantville

■ Army Base○ St. John’s became a main base for Canadian, American

and British ships

Fort Pepperrell

Signal Hill

Blackout in St. John’s

● There were frequent threats of air raids○ Air Raid - Attacks from planes flying overhead

● Curfews and Blackouts became mandatory● When an air raid siren was sounded…

○ People had to stay where they were○ Make sure all windows and doors were covered

Blackout in St. John’s

● The ARP organization was responsible for enforcing blackouts (ARP - Air Raid Precautions Organization)

● They would walk through the city to make sure all visible lights were out○ All windows/doors were to be covered with black

material or shutters○ Lights on wharfs were to be turned off○ Cars required visors over their headlights

● Patrols flew over the city to make sure rules were enforced

Internment Camps

● All Allies imprisoned residents that were of the same ethnic background as the enemy

● They were kept in Internment camps○ Temporary places of imprisonment and they were kept

as civilian prisoners● This led to a human rights issue

○ “Should a person be kept as a prisoner because of where their ethnic background?”

● NL had several internment camps

Victoria Internment Camp

● An internment camp was built in Victoria in 1940○ Built at the current Heritage Park○ Would hold 1000 internees

● As Britain sent their internees to other places, it was decided to make it a POW camp

● Before any prisoners were sent, Canada and U.S. grew worried that Germany would attack to free the prisoners○ Their military bases would then be in danger

● The camp was completely dismantled in late 1940

Victoria Internment Camp

Important Events in NL During WWII

Sinking of the S.S. Caribou

● October 14, 1942● S.S. Caribou was a ferry that took passengers from Port

Aux Basques to Sydney, Nova Scotia● It was hit by a torpedo from a German submarine while

carrying passengers● 137 of the 238 people onboard were killed

○ Many were women and children● Read p. 203 about the sinking of the Caribou

Sinking of Ore Ships off Bell Island

● September 5, 1942● Ships carrying Iron Ore from the mines in Bell Island were

attacked● First ship attacked was broken in half● Moments later, second ship exploded and took only 15

seconds to sink● Third ship was attached 30 minutes later and sunk quickly● German submarine escaped through Conception Bay

Sinking of Ore Ships off Bell Island

● Two months later○ The PLM 27, a ship saved during the original attack,

was sunk, along with another ship

Impact of WWII - Employment

● NL employment was at an all time high during WWII○ War bases, enlisting in military, etc.

● Economic dislocation occurred○ When large numbers of people move from one type of

work to another○ Mining, fishery and forestry suffered

● Women gained more jobs because men were fighting○ Secretaries, waitresses, ambulance drivers, etc

Impact of WWII - Social Interaction

● 10% of the population on NL were military stationed in NL● They socialized with Newfoundlanders at dances, concerts,

and sporting contests● American tastes in food and entertainment were brought to

NL○ American music was heard on the radio for the first

time○ American movies were shown in theatres○ Radios became a common item (before it was a luxury)

Impact of WWII - Social Interaction

● More merchandise sold at stores were American items● Values and priorities changed

○ Education and health care became high priorities● Many male military workers married Newfoundland women

○ American men were very friendly and willing to take part in community events

Impact of WWII - Social Interaction

● There were negative impacts○ Many NLers had to move to make make room for

military bases■ Over 200 had to move to make room for the base in

Argentia■ This led to a housing shortage in St. John’s

○ Stephenville, which was a mostly French-speaking community, became an English-speaking community

Impact of WWII - Social Interaction

● There were much higher cases of ○ Alcoholism○ Single parenthood

● NL men became jealous of the foreign military workers○ Led to many conflicts between the men

Impacts of WWII - Prosperity and Change

● By 1945, Newfoundland was self-supporting and people felt that the Great Depression was finally behind them

● Fishing, mining and manufacturing became important again after the war

● Paper mills expanded● Look at both tables on p. 217

○ List THREE industries that grew and THREE workforces that declined