1. Canada and the Second World War
How did the Second World War impact Canada socially, politically, and economically?

3. World War One: Significance
Over 61,000 Canadians killed; 172,000 wounded.
Failures and successes
Nation-building
Conscription tore the country apart
Emerging autonomy.

4. Rise of Totalitarianism
Economic crisis of the 1930s leads to social and political upheaval around the world, and powerful dictators emerge.
Stalin- Russia (Communist)
Mussolini-Italy (Fascist)
Hitler-Germany (Fascist)
Franco- Spain (Fascist)
Hirohito- (Totalitarian)

5. The Many Causes of WWII Totalitarianism regimes in Europe and Japan.
Anger at reparations and loss of territory and resources.
Nationalistic and Imperialistic ambitions.
ex: Hitler’s plan to unite a “master race” of
German people
Failed attempts at Appeasement.
ex: Munich Agreement
The Nazi- Soviet Non-aggression Pact.
Failure of the League of Nations.
Sorry, but there is no handy acronym like “MAIN” for WWI.

6. Lead up to War German Rearmament (1935)
Reoccupation of the Rhineland (1936)
Italy invades Abyssinia (1935)
Anschluss with Austria (1938)
Sudetenland Crisis (1938)
Munich Conference (1938)
Nazi-Soviet Pact (1939)
Invasion of Poland (Sept 1, 1939)
If it seems like there were invasions happening everywhere, there were! Japan invaded Manchuria in 1931 and expanded its invasion of China in 1937, and the two countries were at war.

7. Canada’s Reaction
ISOLATIONISTS - Canada remained isolationist in the late 1930’s.
PACIFISTS – a person who is opposed to war or violence of any kind.
The horrors of WW1 were not yet forgotten.
The effects of the Depression were still being felt.
PM King decides to visit Germany himself
Isolationists: People who hold the belief that one’s country should keep separate from the politics and disputes of other countries
Pacifist: . A person who is opposed to war or to violence of any kind. This may cause him or her to refuse being drafted into military service.
Conscientious Objector: Someone who opposes war for religious or moral reasons.

9. Anti-Semitism in Canada
Some Canadians supported the dictators of Europe, and approved of Hitler’s policies and hatred of Jewish people,
Anti-Semitism in Canada during the 1930’s was shared by many in mainstream society, reflected in newspapers, and in daily conversation.
It influenced immigration policy.
After Kristallnacht in Nov. 1938, Liberal Cabinet Minister Thomas Crerar recommended that 10,000 Jewish people be allowed entry to Canada. Cabinet refused.
SS St. Louis- tragedy of Canadian immigration policy.
During this time. Canada remained reluctant to accept immigrants from countries other than Britain or the US. The government had restricted immigration throughout the 1930s. And while the numbers of immigrants decreased, the numbers of deportations increased to nearly by 1936.
One of the most tragic stories of Canada’s immigration policy and refusal to accept Jewish refugees. The SS St Louis left Hamburg, Germany in May with 907 Jewish passengers abourd desparately trying to escape the persecution they faced in Germany. The St. Louis was denied entry in Cuba, South America, the US. Canada was its last hope, but the government refused to allow the ship to dock in any Canadian port, saying that the passengers did not qualify as immigrants. The shop was forced back to Europe where most of the people abourad later died in concentration camps during the Holocaust.

10. And so it begins….again On Sept 1, 1939 Germany invaded Poland.
On Sept 3, France and Britain declare war on Germany.
But now Canada is an autonomous nation…

11. Britain is at war!

13. The Decision This time Parliament will decide.
A special session was called on Sept. 7
Canada remained neutral until Sept. 10
Parliament approved the Prime Minister's request to go to war.
King George VI announced declared war on Germany in the name of Canada the same day.
PM Mackenzie King believed entrance into the war was “a self-evident national duty.”
PM Mackenzie King believed entrance into the war was "a self-evident national duty."

14. The Declaration
The largest broadcast that had ever been made from Canada
It was a world wide broadcast.
The Declaration
But were we ready?

15. Canada’s declaration that
a “state of war with the
German Reich” has
existed in Canada as and
from September tenth”

16. Was Canada Ready for War?
4500 Regular soldiers
51,000 reservists (partially trained)
20 modern combat planes
6 Destroyers (smallest ocean-going ship)
King promises to not introduce overseas conscription for the duration of the war.

17. Canada in 1939 Population: 11 million 750,000 unemployed
Largest city is Montreal
9 provinces and 2 territories
The Red Ensign- Canada’s flag in 1939

18. Why go? Canada is now an autonomous nation
No direct threat from Hitler
Very small armed forces
Many opposed the war
JS Woodsworth
Pacifists
Isolationists
French Canadians

19. Soldiers leaving Halifax for the battlefields of Europe. December 1939.

20. The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan- BCATP
King hoped the Canadian contribution to the war effort would primarily be supplies and training.
December 1939, Canada agrees to hops and run the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan.
Pilots and other flight personnel come from all over the Commonwealth to train with British instructors (initially).
Airfields built on the Prairies, and near small towns and villages.

21. BCATP- Calgary. Glenmore reservoir in the background

23. The BCATP trained more than 130,000 pilots, navigators, flight engineers and ground crew.
Total cost: $2.2 billion.
Canada paid more than 70%
Contrary to King’s hopes, Canada’s role went far beyond its involvement in the BCATP

24. Total War
Total War= the mobilization of the entire resources of a nation for war.
Federal government became more involved in planning and controlling the economy.
April 1940, Department of Munitions and Supply created.
C.D. Howe put in charge. “Minster of Everything”
CD Howe told industries what to produce, how and when to produce it. He convinced manufacturers and businesses to produce goods they had never made before. Vancouver-ships
Montreal- planes and bombers
Car manufacturers- military vehicles and tanks.

25. Crown corporations were created.
Farmers were told to produce more wheat, beef, dairy and other foods.

26. Review
What assurance did Mackenzie King give Canadians during the debate on Canada’s involvement in the war? Why did he do this?
What was the BCATP?
Compare Canadians reaction to the announcement of the First World War tot hat of the Second World War. Why did so many people still volunteer?
How did Canada’s policy of total war change the economy?