World War Two An Overview

September 1, 1939 Germany invades Poland, prompting Britain and France to declare war on Germany two days later. In Parliament, Mackenzie King argued in favour of Canada declaring war too. He assured Quebec voters that conscription would not be used. “...we will never agree to conscription and will never be members or supporters of a government that will try to enforce it.”

The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) Advantages: RCAF “Hurricane” -Kept the Canada’s war effort at home -Canada’s open skies -Canada’s favourable climate -Canada’s distance from enemy aircraft

Total War Canadian Govt. much more involved in the planning/control of the economy C.D. Howe—Minister of the Department of Munitions and Supplies

Farmers were told to produce more wheat, beef, dairy products and other food Howe told industries what to produce and how to produce it Vancouver build naval ships Total War under C.D. Howe Govt. ran telephone companies mined uranium, refined fuel, etc. Canada’s car industries produced military vehicles and tanks Montreal built new planes and bombers

After the “phoney war”, Germany resumes its blitzkrieg Germany first conquers Denmark in just hours Next, Germany conquers Norway in just two months Then, Germany invades the Netherlands, Belgium, and France The Allies are soon surrounded in the French port of Dunkirk and must try to escape via the sea THE WAR IN EUROPE

Miracle Evacuation at Dunkirk German Army   British rescue boats  British troops

Battle of Britain: “Operation Sea Lion” August-September, 1940

Hiding from the Nazi bombs in the Underground

Cleaning up the devastation caused by the Blitzkrieg

“Operation Barbarossa” Invasion of the USSR: “Operation Barbarossa”

The effects of Barbarossa were staggering Death count: Almost 27 million inhabitants of the former Soviet Union lost their lives, including 8.5 million soldiers Approximately three million German soldiers Millions of prisoners of war and German civilians on whom the Red Army took revenge when it entered Germany.

Adolph Hitler had said "When 'Barbarossa' commences, the world will hold its breath and make no comment." Indeed.

Dieppe A disaster for the Allies

The Result

Battle of the Atlantic An ongoing conflict in the Atlantic Ocean Allied merchant ships were being sunk by “wolf packs” of German U-boats Germany trying to starve Britain by cutting off vital shipping routes

1942: The Year the Tide Turned United States entered the conflict Dec. 1941 Allies began to win Battle of the Atlantic By 1943, Allies had cleared North Africa of Axis forces and attacked Europe through its “soft underbelly”, Italy and Sicily

The Italian Campaign Invasion of mainland Italy begins. Canadian soldiers attacking Ortona, Italy, the bloodiest battle of the Italian campaign.

June 6, 1944: D-Day Full-scale allied invasion of Europe

V-E Day May 7, 1945

August 6, 1945 U.S. drops atomic bomb on Hiroshima This is the crew...

This is the bomb after being dropped...

The city destroyed in an instant...

The bomb’s effects on Hiroshima’s people

The War at Home Propaganda was used in movies, on radio, and in posters to remind Canadians of the need for everyone to play a part in the war effort.

http://www3.nfb.ca/ww2/for-teachers/?lesson=704062#prof_player

Canada’s Wartime Economy

Mackenzie King Wanted to avoid INFLATION: “too many dollars chasing too few goods” Also wanted to avoid massive debt problem Encouraged Canadians to buy Victory Bonds Increased income taxes

How the war affected the home front Food Rationing: Each Canadian adult limited to weekly ration of 1 kg of 115 g of 250 g of

Growing Demand for Social Change Rise of Labour Unions Support for the C.C.F. -Many Canadians liked the high government involvement in people’s lives; wanted it to continue -In Saskatchewan, the C.C.F. Under Tommy Douglas formed the government 1940: King brought in unemployment insurance program 1945: King brought in Family Allowance program

Canada’s policy of “Cradle to Grave” had begun

Mackenzie King’s Conscription Crisis http://www3.nfb.ca/ww2/home-front/recruitment-and-conscription.htm?autoplay=1&view=693971&subtype=extraits&pext=1#aPlayback (warning: some explicit language!)

“Not necessarily conscription, but conscription if necessary.”