The Second World War: Total War Returns

Total War ReturnsWar in the AtlanticWar in the Pacific

Diversity in the Armed ForcesChanges in Canada During WWII

Controversies: ConscriptionControversies: War Measures Act

Total War Returns WWII lasted from 1939 –1945 Adolph Hitler, fascist dictator of

Germany, wanted to “right the wrongs” against Germany from WWI

He was also seeking “Lebensraum” or “living space” for Germany

He worked with Benito Mussolini of Italy towards his goal

Total War Returns They went against the values

of the Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations

Hitler, during 1938 and 1939, annexed Austria and Czechoslovakia

Appeasement was adopted by the League of Nations, in return Hitler was not to annex any more territory

Total War Returns On Sept. 1, 1939 Hitler broke his promise

and launched a blitzkrieg (Lightning Strike) on Poland

Britain and France declared war on Germany two days later, Canada declared war against Germany on Sept. 10, 1939

Using blitzkriegs Germany spread it forces across Europe

By 1940 France fell under German control and Italy allied with Germany

War in the Atlantic Canada’s navy was used primarily for

coastal defence of our own waters German U-Boat attacks made it

necessary for the Royal Canadian Navy to defend the merchant ships supplying the war effort in Europe

Britain supplied the RCN with destroyers to aid in protecting the convoys

By the end of WWII Canada had the fourth largest navy in the world

War in the AtlanticMerchant Marines Thousands of Canadian soldiers

served as Merchant Marines shipping supplies across the Atlantic to Europe

10% lost their lives Without Merchant Marines the

Allies could not have lasted the war After the war they were not given

the same benefits as war veterans, even though they directly entered combat zones

War in the AtlanticWar in the Air At the beginning of the war the RCAF had

40 combat aircraft and 5000 personnel The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan

trained more than 131 500 RCAF personnel By the Ed of WWII the RCAF was the fourth

largest in the world Canadians played a crucial role in the

victory of the Battle of Britain (blitzkrieg of British cities) against the German Luftwaffe

War in the AtlanticThe U.S. Enters the War. Dec. 7, 1941 Japan attack Pearl Harbour

killing 2400 and destroying four ships. The U.S. was neutral until this day. They declared war on Japan. Hitler supported Japan and therefore

declared war on the U.S. Germany also went against it’s non-

aggression treaty with the USSR and invaded.

Two new, and very powerful players were on the stage as British Allies.

War in the Atlantic

Dieppe 1942 the Allied forces launched a

limited invasion of France led by Canadians

It failed horribly – 900 died, 1900 were taken prisoner

War in the AtlanticD-Day June 6, 1944 the Allies launched Operation

Overlord – largest full scale invasion in history

5000 ships carrying 107 000 Allied soldiers Canadians landed at Juno Beach and took

more ground than any other Allied division D-Day marked the beginning to the

liberation of Europe from Germany

War in the Atlantic In the spring of 1945

Canadian forces moved east and liberated the Netherlands

The Allied forces eventually encircled Berlin in April of 1945

The Soviets were the first to enter Berlin – Hitler committed suicide

May 7, 1945 (VE Day) Germany surrendered and the war in Europe was over

War in the Pacific Canadian soldiers fought in the

Battle of Hong Kong Hong Kong was under British rule 1900 Canadian soldiers were sent Experts considered Hong Kong

impossible to defend Japan eventually took Hong Kong

on Christmas Day 1941

War in the Pacific After Germany surrendered Japan

continued their fight The U.S. put a swift end to this

conflict by dropping the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima Aug. 6, 1945

A second was dropped on Nagasaki three days later

War in the Pacific 200 000 people perished, a further

500 000 died for reasons relating to radiation exposure

Japan surrendered on August 14, 1945

WWII was finally over

Diversity in the Armed Forces During the war some of the gender and

ethnicity barriers to enlistment were removed

45 000 women had enlisted in several capacities, but were never involved in combat

Several thousand African Americans were enlisted, and, unlike WWI, saw combat

Aboriginals had to sacrifice their Indian status under the Indian Act, 1876 to enlist. Over 3000 served in Europe

Changes in Canada During WWII After the Great Depression the war

brought prosperity to Canada. The GDP doubled.

Women took over many occupations in Canada since men left to fight breaking several social barriers for women.

The Baby Boomers – when the soldiers came home there were unprecedented numbers of marriages. Combined with economic prosperity came the highest birth rates n Canadian history.

Controversies: Conscription Prime Minister King promised no conscription Serious fear of Britain falling to the Nazis

required reinforcements from Canada King implemented the NRMA requiring single

men no younger than 18 to serve – there were a lot of marriages during this time

These drafted men were to stay and guard Canada – were referred to as Zombies

Controversies: Conscription Pressure increased for soldiers so King

held a referendum on conscription 80% English were for it, 73 of French

were against it The split led to appeals from King for

voluntary enlistment In the end the Zombies were sent

overseas in late 1944, but few saw battle

Controversies: War Measures Act The government invoked the War

Measures Act People with roots to enemy nations

were required to register with the RCMP

The Canadian citizenship of Italian and German immigrants was revoked

Controversies: War Measures Act Many were sent to internment camps Japanese Canadians were displaced from

their homes to internment camps, all property was sold to pay for the camps

In 1988 the Canadian Government officially apologized to the Japanese Canadians that were displaced and gave reparations of $21 000 to each evacuee

Case Study 61. Read chapter 5 and record

vocabulary.2. Answer question 2 on page 71.3. Create an organizational chart

showing the changes in the Canadian Navy and Air Force between the beginning and end of WWII.

4. Outline the significant events of WWII in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

Case Study 65. What happened to Japanese, German,

and Italian Canadians under the War Measures Act during WWII? Did you agree with the actions of the Canadian government? What alternative might there be that would respect human rights?

6. Given the recent Terrorist attacks and the War on Terrorism would you agree with holding Islamic-Canadians in internment camps? Why or why not?

Case Study 6

7. Who were the Zombies? How were they created?

8. Why were French Canadians in opposition to conscription?