The Korean War1950-1953

• The Korean War is considered to be Canada’s third deadliest war.

The Korean War1950-1953

The Korean War1950-1953

The Korean War-Canadian Troops getting caught up on the news

The Korean War1950-1953

The Korean War- Monument to Fallen Soldiers in Korea; Memorial Service

African Canadian Soldiers in Korea

• While some last traces of discrimination continued in Canadian military recruiting practices into the mid-1950s, African Canadians became more established in the Royal Canadian Navy and Royal Canadian Air Force, as well.

African Canadian Soldiers in Korea

• The Air Force’s Major Stephen Blizzard was a flight surgeon and also got his wings in the 1960s as a jet pilot during a long and varied career in the Canadian military—a trailblazer both in the air and in medicine.

• He also made important contributions to aviation medicine in both the military and civil fields.

Women in Korea

• More than 5,000 Canadian women were recruited for military service during the Korean War, including 60 Nursing Sisters who served in Korea and Japan.

• When the ceasefire came into effect in 1953, the Nursing Sisters treated the released Canadian prisoners of war.

Aboriginal Soldiers in Korea

• Once again, Aboriginal soldiers fought although a final figure of participants was not reported.

• It is likely that several hundred First Nations people served on the battlefields and also at sea in Korea.

Tommy Prince

• During two tours of duty in the Korean War he won the Canadian Volunteer Service and United Nations Service medals.

• He was wounded in the knee, and was honourably discharged on October 28, 1953.

Tommy Prince- WWII•  In 1944 in Italy, Sergeant Prince was spying on

the Germans. He set up an observation post in an abandoned farmhouse, a short distance from the enemy.

• For days, he reported on the activity in the German camp. Soon after, shelling severed the communication wire.

• Undaunted, Prince donned civilian clothing and acted as a farmer tending his crops. By pretending to tie his shoes, he successfully repaired the break in full view of the German soldiers.

• His actions resulted in the destruction of four enemy tanks that had been firing on the Allies.

Tommy Prince- WWII

•  In the summer of 1944, he walked across miles of mountainous terrain deep behind German lines, going days without food or water, to locate an enemy camp.

• He returned with his unit and they captured more than 1000 German soldiers.

POWs

• Thirty-two Canadians were taken POW during the Korean War and treated harshly, neither North Korea nor the People's Republic of China being signatories to the revised Geneva Convention of 1949.

POWs

• Efforts were made to "brainwash" them in attempts to alter their political perceptions; none died in captivity.

• In contrast, 7 190 US soldiers were captured; 3000 died in captivity.

Koje-Do

• Koje-Do is an island 40 kilometers southwest of Busan, South Korea, where the United States operated a prisoner of war camp during the Korean War.

• The island soon became home to 160,000 North Korean and Chinese prisoners. Individual compounds contained as many as 6,000 men.

Koje-Do• The prisoners, who were

inadequately controlled in the American-operated camp, began to rebel against the camp commanders.

• In May 1952 they captured much of the camp and held captive camp commander Brigadier General Francis Dodd.

• While he was held, Dodd allegedly confessed to the inhumane treatment of POWs. He was released unharmed after a few days.

Koje-Do

• UN forces requested the help of British Commonwealth army units to deal with the camp rebellion.

• A company of the Royal Canadian Regiment went to Koje-Do in May 1952.

• Without bloodshed, it helped to restore order to a portion of the camp and guard some of the prisoners.

Fidel Castro

• one of the most controversial figures in modern history

• longest reigning leader in modern history (almost 50 years)

• ruler of the only communist country in the western world

• estimated number of assassination attempts against him (according to many sources): 638

Fidel Castro

• Castro was born into poverty

• He was smart, well-educated, and eventually became a lawyer at a young age.

• As a young lawyer, he became increasingly discontent with Prime Minister Batista’s government.

Fulgencio Batista• Batista had a very strong

relationship with the US

• As a result, the US owned Cuba’s telephone company; it also owned most of Cuba’s sugar plantations, as well as much of Cuba’s farmland.

• The US had established a number of US-run gas stations in Cuba (Shell, Texaco, Esso); US investors built casinos, hotels, racetracks in Cuba. 

A Successful Revolution

• In 1953, with the help of a guerrilla army, Castro and his fellow dissidents staged a revolution which was ultimately successful, after many years of fighting, in overthrowing the dictatorship of Batista.

• On February 16, 1959, Fidel Castro became Prime Minister of Cuba.

Cuba and Communism

• At first, Castro insisted that he was anti-communist, and against dictatorships in general.

• By May, 1961, Castro had declared Cuba a socialist state, and officially abolished multi-party elections.

• In December 1961, Castro declared that Cuba was adopting communism.

Cuba and the Soviet Union

• Two months later, the US imposed an embargo on Cuba. By 1963, Americans were banned from traveling to Cuba.

• Cuba needed a new trading partner. Castro turned to the world’s other great superpower, the Soviet Union, for support in trade.

The Bay of Pigs Invasion1961

The Bay of Pigs- Cuban exiles are easily put down by Cuba

The Bay of Pigs- Castro and his men celebrate their success

The Cuban Missile Crisis1962

The Cuban Missile Crisis1962

The Cuban Missile Crisis- President Kennedy vs. Fidel Castro

The Cuban Missile Crisis- Proof of Warheads?

The Cuban Missile Crisis- Proof of Warheads?

The Cuban Missile Crisis- US- ordered blockade of Cuba

The Cuban Missile Crisis- Kennedy and Diefenbaker; Douglas Harkness

The Cuban Missile Crisis- Kruschev and Kennedy negotiate peace

The Vietnam War1965-1975

The Vietnam War1965-1975

The Vietnam War1965-1975

My Lai Massacre

• On March 16, 1969, at 8:00 AM, a unit of the US Army America division invaded My Lai, an alleged Vietcong stronghold.

• Over 500 unarmed civilians, including women and children, were shot to death.

• My Lai village had about 700 residents. The village was surrounded by dense foliage.

My Lai Massacre• Soldiers were informed that

My Lai was a Vietcong stronghold village and were led to believe by commanders that the entire village was occupied by enemy soldiers.

• Soldiers entered the town, and after searching the village and finding no men of military age, began killing the innocent civilians living there.

• The massacre at My Lai was not the only war crime committed in My Lai. Rape was also widespread.

My Lai Massacre• Hugh Thompson, a helicopter

pilot who reached My Lai about an hour after the killings had begun, had a clear view of what was going on, and was furious at what he saw. He reported the wanton killings to brigade headquarters.

• Thompson discovered survivors lying under many of the dead and evacuated them. Nine civilians were flown to the nearest army hospital.

• By 11:00 AM, the killing stopped, however the village was burned to the ground. Most of its villagers were dead or dying.

My Lai Massacre• The cover-up of the

massacre began right after the killing. It was reported that the operation ended in victory, with 128 Vietcong dead.

• After Thompson filed numerous complaints, an investigation was ordered. When the commander responsible was sent back to My Lai to do a body count, he reported that only 20-28 civilians had been killed.

• Some of the soldiers who witnessed My Lai were so troubled by what they saw that they wanted to write letters to their congressman, but were advised against it.

My Lai Massacre• Ultimately, a GI named

Ronald Ridenhour launched his own investigation and sent a letter to President Nixon, as well as others, asking that the matter be looked into.

• Finally in August, 1969, the matter was in the hands of the army’s Criminal Investigation Division.

• Criminal charges were laid (including six counts of premeditated murder) against the lieutenant who led the platoon into the village that morning in 1968.

My Lai Massacre

My Lai Massacre

Agent Orange

• Agent Orange is a defoliant herbicide mixture used during the Vietnam War to destroy forests.

• Its name was derived from the colour of the drums it was stored in.

• Its main ingredient was dioxin, the most toxic chemical known to humans.

Agent Orange• It was used so that

American troops could see the enemy more easily. It was also meant to turn Vietnam into a desert, so that rebuilding life there would be difficult, if not impossible.

• Twenty million gallons were dropped on 6 million acres of forest.

• The deforestation was originally codenamed “Operation Hades”. This name changed to “Operation Ranch Hand.”

Agent Orange• Exposure to Agent Orange

is linked to numerous cancers and other diseases.

• The number of children born with deformities in Vietnam since the 1960s is estimated to be as high as 500 000.

• Agent Orange was tested right here in the Maritimes, at CFB Gagetwon.

Chalk River Laboratories

Nuclear Power Plants Across Canada

The Evolution of Nuclear Weapons

• Four years after the United States dropped atomic bombs on Japan in August 1945, the Soviet Union detonated its first nuclear device. The United Kingdom (1952), France (1960), and China (1964) followed. Seeking to prevent the nuclear weapon ranks from expanding further, the United States and other like-minded states negotiated the nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) in 1968.

Non-Proliferation Treaty• The NPT is an

international treaty whose objective is to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology, to promote cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and to further the goal of achieving nuclear disarmament and general and complete disarmament.

Non-Proliferation Treaty• More countries have

adhered to the NPT than any other arms limitation and disarmament agreement, a testament to the Treaty's significance.

• A total of 190 states have joined the Treaty. Four UN member states have never joined the NPT: India, Israel, Pakistan and South Sudan.

• In the decades since, several states have abandoned nuclear weapons programs, but others have defied the NPT. India, Israel, and Pakistan have never signed the treaty and possess nuclear arsenals. Iraq initiated a secret nuclear program under Saddam Hussein before the 1991 Persian Gulf War. North Korea announced its withdrawal from the NPT in January 2003 and has tested nuclear devices since that time.

Suspicion of Nuclear Weapons

• Iran and Libya have pursued secret nuclear activities in violation of the treaty’s terms, and Syria is suspected of doing the same. Still, nuclear nonproliferation successes outnumber failures and dire forecasts decades ago that the world would be home to dozens of states armed with nuclear weapons have not come to pass.

Officially Recognized Nuclear Weapon States

• The nuclear-weapon states (NWS) are the five states—China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, and the United States—officially recognized as possessing nuclear weapons by the NPT.

• Some claim that the five authorized nuclear weapons states

still have 22,000 warheads in their combined stockpile 

The Cold War Ends

• During the Cold War, relations between the US and the Soviet Union dominated the world. The situation began to change during the late 80s.

• When Mikhail Gorbachev became leader of the Soviet Union in 1985, he reformed the political and economic systems.

The Cold War Ends• Remember the Soviet Union

had a one-party system. Under Gorbachev, Soviet citizens could criticize the government, and more than one party ran in the 1989 elections. Gorbachev also introduced capitalist elements into the economy. The US and Soviet Union were on friendlier terms by the 1980s, so the Soviet Union felt less pressure to continue competing in the arms race.

The Cold War Ends• Gorbachev’s reforms had

another result. The satellite countries of the Soviet Union, such as Poland, Hungary, East Germany, and Czechoslovakia, began to reject communism and break away from the Soviet Union in 1989. The republics of the Soviet Union, such as Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Azerbaijan, broke away in the following years. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics no longer existed. Russia stood on its own, no longer a superpower, and the Cold War ended.

The Cold War Ends

Terrorism and the War in Afghanistan2001-2011

Terrorism and the War in Afghanistan2001-2011- World Trade Towers

Terrorism and the War in Afghanistan2001-2011

Terrorism and the War in Afghanistan2001-2011- The Pentagon

Terrorism and the War in Afghanistan2001-2011- The Pentagon

Terrorism and the War in Afghanistan2001-2011- Flight 93

Terrorism and the War in Afghanistan2001-2011- Osama Bin Laden

Terrorism and the War in Afghanistan2001-2011- The Taliban

Life Under the Taliban• Rules and laws for women:• They had to wear a burqa (a head-to-toe garment with only

a mesh screen for vision) outside their home• They were not allowed to wear a white burqa, white socks,

or white shoes• Women were not allowed to wear shoes that “click” when

they walk• Women in homes could not be visible from the street• Women were not allowed to drive• Women were not allowed to be treated by male doctors• Women were banned from working outside the home• Women had to wear a burqa inside if a male was present• There was no schooling for females• Women had to do all of the household chores• Women could not talk or laugh in public• Women could not travel on a bus without a man or note

authorizing permission • Women and girls were not permitted to enter mosques

Terrorism and the War in Afghanistan2001-2011-Life Under the Taliban

Life Under the Taliban• Rules and laws for all:

• No television• No movies• No toys • No music• The only books available had to be approved by the Taliban• Enemies of the Taliban were put in jail• Protesting was not permitted• All windows had to be painted black so that no-one was able to

see inside• Freedom of religion was severely restricted• Muslims had to take part in five daily prayers• Free speech was prohibited• Prayer was mandatory for all• Photographs were illegal• Mens’ beards had to protrude farther than would a fist clamped at

the base of the chin• Men had to wear head coverings, and could not have long hair

Terrorism and the War in Afghanistan2001-2011- Life Under the Taliban

Countries involved in the War in Afghanistan

• Afghanistan, Australia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Belgium, Canada, China, Congo, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, France, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, India, Italy, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malaysia, Montenegro, New Zealand, Norway, Netherlands, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uzbekistan

Canada in Afghanistan

• Canada originally agreed to a two-year troop commitment to the rebuilding of Afghanistan, with a 200 million dollar price-tag attached to the mission

• We stayed 10 years, continuing to fight against small resistance groups, and helping the Afghani people rebuild their lives

• It is estimated that our efforts in Afghanistan cost over $18 billion

Canada in Afghanistan• Some of our efforts have

included:-training Afghani police

-building dams and irrigation systems for farming

-clearing mines (there are 10-15 million land mines in Afghanistan)

-collecting, storing, and decommissioning heavy weapons

Canada in Afghanistan

• improving education system

• vaccinating millions of children against polio

Canada in Afghanistan

• Since February 2002, 158 Canadian soldiers have died in the war in Afghanistan.

Canada in Afghanistan

• There have been a number of reports of detainee abuse

• There is a strong likelihood that all the Taliban prisoners handed over by Canadians have been tortured as part of their interrogations.

Canada in Afghanistan• While their have been no

reported cases of abuse by Canadians, the issue concerns whether or not the Government of Canada and/or the Canadian Forces had knowledge about alleged abusive treatment of detainees in Afghanistan.

• If the allegations of torture are true it would mean Canada is guilty of war crimes.