Canada and the Cold War Canadians tracked Soviet submarines in the North Atlantic from military facilities in Halifax. Beacons were placed on the ocean floor. These are now used to track the migration of whales. Canada also had the Distant Early Warning line (DEW) and Mid Canada Line (radar and tracking stations located across the north and middle of the country). Uranium City, Saskatchewan mined weapons grade uranium for use in nuclear weapons. This site is still extremely radioactive. Nuclear weapons were placed here for approximately twenty years. The mid 1960’s to the mid 1980’s.

The DEW Line The Distant Early Warning (DEW) Line began on the 15th of February 1954 when US President Eisenhower signed the bill approving the construction. It was designed and built during the Cold War as the primary line of air defense warning of "Over the Pole" invasion of the North American Continent. The actual construction of the 58 sites took place between 1955 and 1957. Many tons of supplies and equipment were moved to the Canadian Arctic by air, sea and river barge. The DEW Line was declared fully operational on 31 Jul 1957, and has remained in operation for more than 30 years.

The DEW at Hall Beach, NWT (photo by Sergeant Jim Smith/courtesy Canadian Forces).

A DEW Line station in northern Canada

Avro Arrow CF 105 An advanced, supersonic, twin-engined, all- weather interceptor jet aircraft . Purpose: To shoot down Soviet missiles Canadian PM, Diefenbaker, coerced into buying Bomarc missiles from USA and scrapped the Avro Arrow project We will look in more detail at the Avro Arrow next week!

War by Proxy Recall the cold war was never an active battle but rather an era marked with many “hot” conflicts fought in other countries where the USSR was on one side and the USA on the other (communism vs capitalism). Korean War (1950-1953) Cuban Missile Crisis (1962) Suez Crisis (1956) Vietnam War (1965-1975) Nuclear Arms Race (throughout) Space Race

KOREAN WAR 1950-53 During WWII, Korea was under Japanese control After WWII, Korea was split (at the 38th parallel) similar to Germany The North was supported by Communist USSR & China The South was supported by Democratic USA 1950 On June 25, North Korean communist forces cross the 38th parallel and invade South Korea. On June 27, Truman orders U.S. forces to assist the South Koreans

The Korean War Both sides wanted a united country, but under their own rule In June 1950, communist North Korea invaded South Korea United Nations’ forces (i.e. Canada) got involved to help stop Communism from expanding in Korea USA almost attacked China because of their support of communist forces Atomic Bomb was almost used again! Borders were created, creating TWO nations North Korea is still communist & South Korea is democratic

Cuban Missile Crisis Oct 1962 Was the most dangerous episode of the Cold War. No battles were actually fought. But the Cuban missile crisis for the first time raised the possibility of nuclear war between the United States and the Soviet Union.

Cuban Missile Crisis: Oct 1962 13-day political and military standoff in October 1962 over the installation of nuclear-armed Soviet missiles on Cuba, just 90 miles from U.S. shores The disaster was avoided when the USSR offered to remove the Cuban missiles in exchange for the U.S. promising not to invade Cuba. Kennedy also secretly agreed to remove U.S. missiles from Turkey.

Suez Crisis - 1956 Britain & France had built the canal through Egyptian territory. Busiest water way in the world. In 1956, the Egyptian government seized the Suez Canal In response, British & French (and Israeli) troops took over the canal (illegal?) USSR backed Egypt and threatened to attack Britain and France Egypt sinks 40 ships to block Canal.

Suez Crisis - 1956 Foreign Affairs Minister, Lester B. Pearson proposes a UN force be used to separate the parties. Idea for soldiers as Peace Keepers is created. Canadian, Lester Pearson, suggested the United Nations send an emergency force to keep peace in Egypt while a political settlement was worked out The hostile countries withdrew their forces IMPORTANT because… This marked the start of international peacekeeping Pearson received a Nobel Peace Prize for his idea

The Vietnam War 1965-1975 North Vietnam was supported by Communist USSR & China South Vietnam was democratic In 1965, North Vietnam began fighting to re- unite the country under communism USA sent troops to Vietnam to help stop the spread of communism Americans were divided Some believed USA should fight communism Others believed USA involvement was wrong and Vietnam should decide their own future Canadians were also divided The Canadian Government did NOT send troops but supported USA in other ways (weapons & supplies) In 1973, USA withdrew In 1976, North Vietnam re-united the country under COMMUNISM!

The Summit Series September, 1972 Canada vs. USSR Not just a game; it was Capitalism & Democracy vs. Communism Organized to create a true best-on-best competition in hockey Intense feelings of nationalism arose in both countries Canadians down by 2 at the end of the 2nd pd Canadians tied it up in the 3rd pd With 34 seconds to go… Paul Henderson scores the winning goal for Canada! Game 8: Cda 6 USSR 5

Sputnik, October 1957 - Soviet satellite put into space - now missiles could be sent by a push of a button & hit a city across the world with satellites Moon landing, July 1969 - Who could get to the moon first? - On July 26, 1969, USA astronaut, Neil Armstrong stepped onto the lunar surface The Space Race

End of Cold War U.S.S.R. could not afford it (Economic Collapse). Economic decline led to poverty, food shortages. They had spent too much on weapons Satellite nations start to revolt Russian people wanted more freedoms Occupied countries wanted democracy Mikhail Gorbachev, USSR, became more open to western ideas and diplomacy Former communist nations struggling with democracy The Cold War ends The End of the Cold War