1. Canada, and The Beginning of WWII

2. Canada’s Initial Role
Canadian Prime Minister MacKenzie King was “Isolationist”.
He didn’t want Canada to get involved in the wars of Europe during the late 1930s

3. Canadian Prime Minister Mackenzie King planned to send only 40,000 troops and serve more as a supplier of war materials.
What events from WWI would King want to avoid?
King wanted to avoid Canadian causalities. In WWI, 40% of Canadian soldiers were killed or wounded.
King wanted to avoid dividing the country along English and French lines over conscription. French- Canadians did not feel loyalty to the British monarchy or Europe.

4. Franco and Mussolini Mussolini invaded Abyssinia (Ethopia) in 1935.
The League of Nations wanted to impose sanctions but King said “no!”
The Spanish Civil War erupted in Canada’s policy was not to stand up to either one of these Fascist dictators (Franco, Mussolini)
Bunito Mussolini
Franciso Franco

5. Norman Bethune
Dr. Norman Bethune did get involved in the Spanish Civil War to “stop the fascists of Franco”.
He aided the Communists in this war and would later become famous for inventing blood transfusions.
Famous Canadian Doctor, Dr. Norman
Bethune did get involved

6. The Invasion of Poland
On Sept 1st, 1939, the German Army invades Poland.
On Sept 3rd, France and Britain declare war on Germany
Canada declares war one week later on Sept. 10th, 1939.
Why?
The Blitz over Poland in 1939
German Troops march into
Warsaw, Poland

7. Emerging Independence
Important note: Canada DECLARES war in 1939
How is this different than WWI?

8. The Axis and the Allies The Allies
Great Britain (Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa too)
France
Canada
Russia
The United States (After 1941
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill,
American President Franklin D. Roosevelt,
And Russian President Joseph Stalin

9. The Axis and the Allies The Axis Powers: Germany Italy Japan
Italian Leader Mussolini with
German leader Adolf Hitler

10. Let’s Think…
Britain and France were natural Allies in this fight, opposing German aggression in Europe
When and why does The USSR join the Allies?
When and Why does the US join the Allies?