Canadian Involvement in World War II

Hitler invade Poland on 1 September 1939 Britain and France immediately declared war on Germany

Unlike WWI, Canada was not automatically brought into the conflict -Some people still felt strong ties to Britain -Other people wanted to end German aggression (FEAR)

The Athenia Torpedoed by a German U-Boat on Sept. 3 There were 500 Canadians on board 112 Civilians were killed

Prime Minister W.L. McKenzie King announced Canada’s entry into the war a week later

Supported in Quebec Condition: Government promised to not introduce conscription

Canadians entered the “Business of War”

The excitement that came at the beginning of WWI did not exist this time

A New Kind of War Not the slow-moving Trench warfare of WWI

At Home, scientists tirelessly worked to create new technologies. CRYPTOLOGISTS – Men and women trained to develop secret codes for commanders to use to send orders and to break enemy codes.

Recruiting began quickly Canada was ill-prepared to fight a war First troops left for Britain In December 1939

The Phony War Little action on the Western Front in the first couple of years. This gave the Canadians a chance to get in some intense training

Not Inactive For Everyone German’s occupied Czechoslovakia and Poland German’s occupied Czechoslovakia and Poland Finland unsuccessfully fought off Soviet attacks Finland unsuccessfully fought off Soviet attacks April 1940: Germany launched a BLIZKRIEG on the west (Norway, Denmark, Holland, Belgium and Luxembourg) April 1940: Germany launched a BLIZKRIEG on the west (Norway, Denmark, Holland, Belgium and Luxembourg)

The Nazi’s then marched into France British and French troops retreated to the Beaches of Dunkirk (June) 350,000 soldiers rescued by British ships (Dunkirk Evacuation)

The French surrendered and Germany had a new stronghold on the Western Front

1941 After attacking Greece and Yugoslavia, the German’s made gains in Northern Africa

In 1942, Hitler broke the Nazi-Soviet Pact and sent an all-out attack Consisting of over 1 million soldiers to the Soviet Union Operation Barbarossa

The Dieppe Raid The first major Canadian offensive in Europe The Allies wanted control of German fortifications at Dieppe on the French Coast

16 August ,000 soldiers (5,000 Canadians with British and American support)

The Plan Failed -Convoy was supposed to land during the darkness. -Delays caused them to land in the broad daylight. -A small battle at sea alerted German coastal defenses.

The beach was Heavily Fortified Barbed wire Enemy was well-positioned Heavy artillery

Most Canadian Losses in WWII 1400 Killed or Wounded

2,000 taken prisoner

Was it a success in any way? Dieppe served 2 strategic purposes: Dieppe served 2 strategic purposes: Satisfied Soviet demands by diverting German attention from the Eastern Front Satisfied Soviet demands by diverting German attention from the Eastern Front Provided a chance for Canadian troops to gain valuable experience for an invasion that would come in 1944 (D-Day) Provided a chance for Canadian troops to gain valuable experience for an invasion that would come in 1944 (D-Day)

The Italian Campaign

By the end of 1942, the Allies had regained control of Northern Africa Led by American General Dwight Eisenhower

Next, they planned the invasion of Italy A large Canadian force landed in Sicily in July 1943

Pushed Northward Faced little resistance until they reached Ortona on the Adriatic Sea Faced little resistance until they reached Ortona on the Adriatic Sea German’s took strong stand German’s took strong stand Bloody fighting occurred throughout December Bloody fighting occurred throughout December German’s finally driven back German’s finally driven back

French-Canadian unit, The Vandoo’s distinguished itself Continued through until they broke the last line of defense in Northern Italy in the Fall of in Northern Italy in the Fall of 1944.

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