War in the Pacific

 Phase 1: September 1939 to June 1940 “Phony war” – when little happened in Western Europe after Germany invaded Poland.

 Asia: Japan and China at war since  Europe: Poland defeated; France and Britain prepare in case of attack. France depended on Maginot Line of fortifications, but that was easily brought down using BLITZKRIEG. The French surrendered.

 Following WW1, Canada’s army had been reduced in size; for WW2, they offered a small, volunteer army.  Merchant marine – used to transport (ship) military personnel and war goods.  Canada’s Airforce trained Allied pilots and air crews in Canada.

The policy of having a small, volunteer army was popular UNTIL May 1940, when Germany took over Holland, Belgium and France. Canada’s position changed. Canada went from having a limited effort in the war to TOTAL COMMITMENT.

 June 1941 – Germany invaded the Soviet Union, turning them to Britain’s ally. The S.U. would suffer over 30 million casualties of war.  December 7, 1941 – Japan made a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, USA. Japan had wanted to make itself the dominant power in the PACIFIC.

 The U.S. had been neutral throughout the war up to this point, but now they were heavily involved.

 June 1942 – Battle of Midway, US forces destroyed much of Japan’s naval and air forces.  October 1942 – Allied army pushed German army out of El Alamein, North Africa.  February 1943 – German defeat at the hands of the Soviet Union, near the city of Stalingrad.

 Battle of the Atlantic – Convoys were very important to ship crucial war materials. German boats were attacking and sinking these convoys.  By mid-1943 more effective anti-submarine tactics and weapons dramatically decreased the number of ships lost to the Germans.

 Canadian army suffered two defeats : (1) By the Japanese in Hong Kong, There were 1,975 solders: 290 were killed, 1685 became POWs (Prisoners of War) and 260 of those died in captivity.

(2) Dieppe, France, 1942 A raid was conducted and was a disaster, over 900 Canadians were killed and more than 1900 POWs. Questions arose as to whether the Canadians had been properly equipped and trained.

“We had no cover. We couldn’t dig in the pebbles-it was like trying to make a hole in the water…. We had no protection. We were in crossfire from the two high sides of the beach, and the frontal fire which covered the whole beach…. We couldn’t walk back, we couldn’t get forward, we couldn’t go to the sides. We were dead, really, before dying.”

 The Pacific - The US began to “island hop,” pushing the Japanese back.  Europe – Soviet Union was pushing Germany back as well.

 By 1943, there was an ALL BOMBER group.  The bombing of German’s industrial cities took place around the clock: Why is this important?Why is this important?  The Allies then invaded Sicily, Italy (who were with the Axis). Italy surrendered, the fascist government was overthrown and the new government surrendered.  Germany sent forces immediately.

 The goal was to destroy Germany’s industry and its ability to wage war.  If they could not produce ammunitions, they could not fight!  Another effect of this were the killing of civilians.

 An intense battle over Italy began, and lasted until February 1945.

 The final year of the war, the Allies invaded Europe  D-Day landings at Normandy, France.  Now the Germans had to fight on TWO fronts: the Soviets in the East and the British, Canadian and U.S. army in the West.

 June 6, 1944  Canadian, British and US forces landed on a series of beaches on the coast of Normandy, which Canada code named Juno.  Allied forces were successful.