1. 1939 – 1945
Second World War

2. European political and economic climate
The Great Depression caused socio - political unrest in Europe. This led to a fascists ideology in Italy, Spain and more specifically Germany.
Fascism: ideology that promotes a totalitarian regime founded on extreme nationalism
In 1933, Adolf Hitler was elected. His speeches were militaristic, nationalistic and discriminatory.
His discriminatory ideology was mainly against Jews. He thought that Jews were the reason for Germany’s problems

3. 1939: Start of the Second World War
The Second World war was initiated by the invasion of Poland
France, the United Kingdom and Canada declared war on Germany
Germany, Italy and Japan vs. France, UK and Canada
1941: US and USSR join the Allied powers

4. Federal Government
The Second World War induced the great mobilization of men, women and resources.
Unlike the First World War, Canada now made its own decisions (defence and international relations)
Canada, under the WLMK government wanted to give its full commitment with military and resources to defeat Nazi Germany and the Axis powers.

5. War Measures 1939: War Measures Act is implemented
The Act allowed the Federal government to put in place measures that were essential for the war
Enabled the government to control the economy to ensure war production, control prices, and wages.
Material such as rubber, fuel and nylon was rationed

6. Resources June 1940: National Resources Mobilization Act
Allowed a country wide registration for men for home defence
Created the Department of Munitions and Supply
Managed the production of munitions and regulated war supplies

7. Immigration and Population
As the First World War, Canada changed its immigration policy.
It reduced the number of immigrants
It closed the door to many Europeans trying to escape Nazi Germany
Interned many Canadians who were originally from enemy countries in work camps
Camillien Houde

8. Canada’s War Effort
Canada mobilized all of its material, food, military and financial resources for defeat the enemy.
Industrial production and exports were on a rise
Tanks, ships, planes and food production

9. War Time production/ Financial resources
Victory Bonds:
The federal government spent 35 million dollars in 1938 and ended up spending 4.24 billion dollars in 1943.

10. Plebiscite
During the first years of the war, soldiers went to Europe on a voluntary basis only.
In 1942, the federal government organized a plebiscite
It asked the population to release it from its past promise of not imposing conscription if it came necessary to deploy soldiers the front.

11. Plebiscite
Most French Canadians refused to release the government from its promise.
However, since the majority of the Canadian population was English, the government’s request was granted.

12. Conscription
In 1944, the government had no choice but to impose conscription for overseas service.
16,000 soldiers enlisted in and 13,000 were sent to Europe. However, only 2500 actually fought in the war.

13. The Godbout government: 1939 – 1944
In 1939, when the war broke out in Europe, provincial elections were held in Quebec.
Maurice Duplessis’ Union National and Adélard Godbout’s Liberal Party were seeking election
In 1939 the Godbout’s Liberal Party won the election and commenced on a series of reforms in Quebec.
One of the main reasons for his victory in 1939 was the support of the federal government.

14. Quebec on Conscription
Even though the Canadian government promised that they would not impose conscription, the campaign gave the candidates the platform to express their opposition on the issue.

15. Federal & Provincial relations
Many changes rose between federal and provincial relations throughout the Second World War.
The Godbout government maintained close ties with the federal Liberals in Ottawa
Canada’s federal government and Godbout’s Quebec government had a common commitment to the war effort.
The federal government passed a law that enabled the federal government to levy income taxes for a predetermined time towards the war efforts.
As compensation to Quebec, and other provinces, provincial governments received an annual sum from Ottawa.
In addition, the federal government intervened in many provincial jurisdictions.
In 1940, Ottawa created unemployment insurance and a family allowance in 1944

16. Godbout Reforms
The Liberal Party did not share the same values of the conservative and traditional Union Nationale.
Once the Godbout government was elected, it commenced its series of reforms that promoted democratization and modernization of the French Canadian Society

17. Godbout Reforms
In 1944, the Godbout government embarked on the nationalization of the provinces largest hydroelectric companies: the Montreal Light, Heat and Power Company.
This created the provinces new hydro electric commission: Hydro Quebec
Godbout wanted the province to gain more control over its economy and be les dependent on other large businesses.

18. Women
Women were called to participate in the war effort, and more specifically the rationing and salvaging of materials
1942: Women started to work in factories to compensate for the labour shortages
265,000 women worked in labour factories in 1944
After much pressure from women’s movements, the Canadian government called on women to join the women’s divisions of Canada’s armed forces
Women during the Second World War

19. Women and Work
As women closed the labour shortages, they were still paid with lower wages than men.
However, their employment increased their standard of living and gave them financial autonomy
After the war, some women decided to keep their jobs, which results in a demand for greater employment and pay equity.
Although, many women were laid off when soldiers returned home

20. Life in Nazi Germany
Hitler rose to power in 1933 with his Nazism ideology
Racists ideologies and German superiority
Discriminatory rules against minorities who were inferior such as Jews
Hitler also hunted down intellectuals who would spread contradicting ideas

21. Life in Nazi Germany Hitler burned thousands of books
Intellectuals were forced to flee the country and others were sent to concentration camps.
Individuals who were disabled, homosexual and other minorities were also persecuted
August Landmesser

22. The holocaust
Refers to the period between 1933 – 1945 where six million European Jews were persecuted and exterminated. Moreover, other groups such as the Roma, the homosexuals and the disabled were also victims of these acts. This period of time was rooted in a anti-semitic ideology which is the directed hostility against Jews. During 1933, the Nazi Regime implemented concentration camps.

23. Normandy
Thousands of Canadian soldiers took part in the Operation and landed on a beach that was code – named “Juno”
More than 350 never returned home.
The Normandy landing marked the beginning of liberation for several countries that were occupied by German forces.
German forces gradually retreated to Germany and ultimately capitulated.

24. The end of the WAr
August leaders from the United States and United met Quebec City to discussed preparations for large a scale military operation.
This large operation took place on June 6, 1944 on the shores of Normandy
In May 1945, Hitler surrendered. However, now another country was the target...
Atomic Bomb

25. The Return home
With the end of the second world war in 1945, the federal government reduced the number of enlisted in the Canadian Army.
As veteran’s returned home, civilian life was facilitated by the economic life that continued much after the war.
Many veterans struggled with physical and psychological scar after the war

26. Second World War Resources
Textbook
Notes
Videos: