1. Canadian Preparations
Page 227 Spotlight Canada
Describe the state of Canada’s military in 1939
What had King hoped would be Canada’s main role for the war?
Assess some of the comparisons and contrasts between Canada in 1914 and in 1919

2. Europe- Blitzkrieg Blitzkrieg – Lightening War
Relentless Nazi air and ground attack using Stuka dive-bombers, tanks and mobilized infantry
Was quick and took the enemy by surprise

3. Sept 1939, Spring 1940 Sept 1939 - crushed: Poland > 1 month
The Phoney War (Winter 1940) when no fighting took place
Spring 1940 – Nazi success:
Denmark - 1 day
Norway - 2 days
The Netherlands – 5 days
Belgium – 18 days
France – 6 weeks

5. Spring 1940 – Miracle of Dunkirk
British and French troops pushed back to the English Chanel by advancing German soldiers – town of Dunkirk
Britain could not afford to have any naval ships sunk during an attempted rescue
Fisherman, ferry boats and pleasure sailors rescued trapped British soldiers.
rescued, all equipment left behind

7. IMPORTANCE OF DUNKIRK:
The Northern Allied army was trapped on the French beach; for 9 days, boats ferried across the English Channel from England to bring troops to safety;
it remains the most successful military evacuation in history; many of Britain’s top military officials were rescued and they would fight another day

8. “blood, toil, tears, and sweat”
Summer 1940
Britain stood alone in Europe- Battle of Britain
Winston Churchill – Britain’s new P.M. “blood, toil, tears, and sweat”
Halifax – assembling convoys (food, weapons, soldiers)
Eiffel Tower – 1889 centennial
of French Revolution

10. Battle of Hong Kong
Britain wanted to reinforce its colony, Hong Kong – fear of a Japanese attack
Canada loaned 2 battalions: (1,975 personal). They were under trained
Canada believed there would be plenty of time to get its troops in Hong Kong battle ready.
Canadians arriving in Hong Kong
November 1941

11. Dec 7, 1941 Mass Japanese offensive
Japanese attacked U.S.A. – Pearl Harbor, Malaya, the Philippines, Guam, Wake Island and Hong Kong
USA joins the war
Canadians see combat for the first time in WW2

12. Hong Kong
December 8-25, 1941
A quick and decisive victory for the Japanese. The Canadian rookies were no match for the battle ready and experienced Japanese
Canadians surrendered on Christmas day, 1941 – “Black Christmas”

13. Battle of Hong Kong aftermath
3 years, 8 months of Japanese Imperial rule in Hong Kong
Japanese army terrorized local populations (murder, rape, looting)
1,689 Canadians became POWs. It's thought that 1,405 survived the camps in Hong Kong and Japan. They would be liberated in August 1945 when the Japanese surrender