MUNDY 2010

CANADA’S PARTICIPATION IN FOREIGN CONFLICTS, PT. 1

World War IBritain and allies went to war with

Germany on August 4, 1914Canada did not have authority in

international defence, so it was automatically participating

Germany & Austria-Hungary vs. Britain, France and Russia for control over Europe

Often seen as struggle of nationalism vs. imperialism

World War ICanada initially asked for volunteers (no draft)April 1915 – Battle of Ypres – first gas attack1916 – Battle of Somme – 20000 Canadian

casualties of German bombing and machine gun fire

April 1917 – Battle of Vimy Ridge: Completely organized by Canadian forces, took over major hill from Germans (months to plan and coordinate)

1917 – Passchendaele – Canadians captured ridge

World War IBilly Bishop – flying ace from Canada, used

as poster boy for recruitment and patriotism for Canada’s war effort

Canada sent much food and supplies by ship to England; workers in factories mainly women

Canada contributed to war effort, but were only a part of Britain’s army, not their own

On Treaty of Versailles, Canada demanded to have own signature shown

World War IIGermany invaded Poland; Britain and

France declare war on Sept 1, 1939Canada asserts independence by choosing

to vote in parliament on Sept 10Allies were England, Canada, France

(initially), Russia, U.S., China

World War II1941 – Hong Kong – 2000 Canadian soldiers

were captured of surrendered by Dec. 251942 – Dieppe – Allied forces use French port

town as practice run for beach invasion. Fails and 3000 of 5000 Canadians are casualties

1943 – Italy – Canada fights for two long years to take parts of country; ultimately successful

1944 June 6 – Battle of Normandy (coast of France), also known as D-Day. Along with Allied forces, Canada captures Juno Beach

World War IIFrom Normandy, Canadian forces head east

along the coast and finally liberate the country of Holland (spring 1945)

Canada developed huge Home Front industries to supply forces in Europe – mostly run and staffed by women

Merchant marine shipped supplies in convoys to Europe under watchful eye of Canadian ‘Corvettes’ – fast-moving battleships

Trained many pilots and assisted in bombing runs through Royal Canadian Air Force

Cold WarStarted when Igor Gouzenko, spy working in

Canada under Russian embassy, decides to inform public of his activities

Allied powers cut off diplomatic ties to Russia, create “iron curtain” – an imaginary dividing line between western and eastern Europe

North Atlantic Treaty Organization created as military alliance between allies to act as defence and deterrent against Stalin’s ideas to push more countries into communist control

Cold WarAs United States and Russia (U.S.S.R.)

emerge as full superpowers with nuclear capabilities, a `cold war` exists wherein no side dared openly fight, but both took every precaution for possibility through measures of high alertness

Canada and U.S. create NORAD (North American Aerospace Defence) with a series of DEW (Distant Early Warning) lines across Canadian Arctic in order to check for Russian planes or warheads

Cold WarCanada refuses to house nuclear

warheads on Canadian soilAvro Arrow company in Canada creates

supersonic jet, but project is scrapped by Canadian government without much explanation. From here on U.S. becomes major weapons manufacturer

Korean WarJune 1950 – North Korea invades South

Korea along 38th parallelUnited Nations Security Council votes to

send army to intervene25 countries participate, including Canada

(27000 troops)Fighting continued to 1953, when

armistice signed. As of today, war technically still exists

Vietnam WarAlthough mostly from 1945 – 1975, most

fighting in 1960`sNorth Vietnamese (Communist)

attempting to take over country from South Vietnamese (Capitalist)

Neither United Nations nor NATO involved. Canada did not fight in this war

U.S. citizens, attempting to avoid draft, flees to Canada