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Causes of WWII
In the 1930’s, different forms of totalitarian states arose in Italy, Spain, Japan, the Soviet Union, and Germany. After the treaty of Versailles, Germany tried to become more powerful under Hitler’s rule. This included invading Rhineland, Austria, Czechoslovakia, and Poland. The League of Nations failed to prevent German aggression due to its lack of military to enforce its decisions. -
Causes of WWII (2)
It also did not prevent Japan invading Manchuria (done to expand Japans territory) and Italy invading Abyssina (done to expand Italy’s territory and resources). The Leagues ineffectiveness with these two military conflicts helped pave the way for the Second World War. -
Canada's Response to the Threat of War
In threat of war Canada tried to remain isolationists and refused Jewish refugees. Prime Minister King did not want Canada to be involved in another world conflict. Canada did not let Jews immigrate because of anti-Semitism and they thought the problem was a German domestic issue. Canada, as an isolationists, kept to themselves and turned a blind eye to the problems manifesting in Germany and other parts of the world. -
Axis Advances
In 1939, the Axis Alliance of Germany, Italy and Japan were formed. Using a tactic of surprise attacks by tanks and fighter planes, Hitler overrun the Netherlands, Luxemburg, and Belgium. At the Evacuation of Dunkirk, 340,000 Allied soldiers were evacuated before being surrounded by Germans. France was soon captured, and Britain and the Commonwealth stood alone against Germany. Germany then started a massive bombing campaign targeting London. -
Axis Advances (2)
In retaliation, the Royal Air Force bombed Berlin, and Germany was unsuccessful in capturing Britain. -
The Beginning
King called a special parliament to take a vote to decide if Canada would go to war, King was supported by the opposition Conservative party to join the war. In an attempt to avoid conscription, King hoped that Canada would only supply the supplies for the war, instead of troops. Canada hosted the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) was a major contribution. In 1940 the Department of Munitions and Supply was created and C.D. Howe was placed in charge. -
Axis Advance ll
The second axis advance was the North African campaign and Operation Barbosa. The three year North American Campaign was for the Axis powers to gain control of the Suez Canal and the Straight Gilraltar so they could access the oil rich Middle East. After long battles the Allies won against the Italian power in North Africa forcing the Germans to bring aid and causing a second front. Operation Barbosa or “Red Beard” was the German attack on the Soviet Union which broke their non-aggression pact. -
Axis Advance ll (2)
The Soviet Union was unprepared for the attach but Germany was unprepared for the Soviet Union’s cold winter which led to the German defeat in that area. -
War in the Pacific
By 1941, Japan was prepared to take over American colonies in Southeast Asia for their valuable resources. Japan had a battle plan that included surprise attacks on an American naval base called Pearl Harbour in Hawaii. On December 8th, the U.S. joined the Allies and was at war with Japan, Germany and Italy. Following Pearl Harbour, only hours later Japan attacked Hong Kong. Battalions of Canadian troops had been sent prior, but after an 18 day battle, all were either prisoners of war or dead. -
Canada's Contribution
By 1941, the Battle of the Atlantic was in full swing, and Canada’s contribution was needed for supplying Britain with food and military supplies. Allied supply ships were attacked by patrolling German U-Boats trying to starve off Britain. To protect from torpedoes, allies sailed in convoys to protect vessels, and used quick, well- manoeuvred ships called Corvettes. The RCAF (Royal Canadian Air Force) grew quickly and was posted overseas. While the WD (Women’s Division) of the RCAF were trained -
Canada's Contribution (2)
as clerks, cooks, hospital engineers, and instrument and machine mechanics. The RCAF bomber Germany relentlessly and tens of thousands were killed. -
Canada's Involvment
The Allies improved their position when the U.S. joined the war in 1942, and with the help of Canadian troops in the Dieppe Raid, the Italian Campaign, and the battle of Ortona. The Dieppe raid was a terrible failure, but the 2nd Canadian division chosen for the main attack caused a second front to weaken Germany. The Italian Campaign was a 38 day Canadian attack on Sicily that led to Mussolini’s downfall. -
Canada's Involvement (2)
Ortona was a slow fight with heavy Canadian casualties but was eventually captured December 28, 1943. -
D-Day
D-Day, the largest Allied invasion took place on June 6, 1944 and included a full scale attack on Europe called “Operation Overlord”. They dropped paratroopers to disrupt German communications then the Allies naval support dropped over a million troops along 5 beaches across Normandy. As part of the first wave of attack, Canadians were assigned the task to clear all enemy troops from the Scheldt River. Then the Allies performed an attack to force the Germans to withdraw from the Netherlands. -
Crimes against Humanity
There were many crimes against humanity endured in WWll the mist prominent being the German Holocaust and Asia’s treatment towards prisoners of war. In both circumstances people experienced torture, discrimination, mass killings, and human experimentation. In the German Holocaust eleven million Jews and other “undesirables” were targeted and prosecuted. -
Crimes against Humanity (2)
After the war had ended the German Nuremburg and Tokyo trials occurred. In these trials it was the first time leaders were prosecuted for crimes against humanity. -
Japan Surrenders
After the Allied victory in 1945, Americans began fire-bombing Japanese cities, trying to force them into surrender. American and British scientists had been working on the Manhattan Project (a plan to develop an Atomic Bomb) and Canada agreed to contribute Uranium. On August 6th, 1945, an American bomber plane dropped an Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima. Three days later, a second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. The Japanese could not withstand the power of the US weapon, and surrendered on August 14th. -
Change in Canada
WWll led to massive changes in Canada economically, socially, and politically. During the war Canada experienced an economic boom that turned rural Canada into a modern industrial nation. Socially, women raised profile in society and rights as workers. Immigration standards were also loosened to meet demands for labour. WWll helped develop Canada’s identity leading to Canada emerging as a major player in world conflict with one of the largest navies and the fourth largest Allied air force. -
Women and the Economy
Since virtually all the working men were at war, women were in high demand as factory works. The government took certain steps in hopes to prevent massive debt. Workers demanded higher wages but also wanted the right to create unions that had to be respected by the employers. The war time government had been involved in almost every aspect of Canadians lives. The Germans were occupying Europe very quickly, more soldiers were needed so the National Resources Mobilization Act was created.
