1. Canada: A Nation at War

2. Lecture Outline Appeasement Fails Reluctance Limited Liability
Preparations for War
War Measures Act
Production
Early Contributions
Canadian Battles

3. Appeasement Fails
Despite visiting Hitler in Germany prior to the war, Prime Minister Mackenzie King soon realized the Policy of Appeasement was a failure - Hitler would not stop.
On September 1, 1939 Hitler invaded Poland, two days later France and Britain declared war on Germany. Canada declared war on September 10, 1939.

4. Reluctance for War
The decision to declare war was made independent of Britain. The Statute of Westminster (1931) gave Canada greater decision making abilities.
When Canada declared war on Germany, there were few parades in the streets. The experiences of World War One still haunted many.

5. “Limited Liability”
King promised that Canada would contribute armed forces.
However, Canada’s priority was to provide money and supplies for the war effort.
In addition to the supplies, over the course of the war over 1 million men would serve in the armed forces.

6. Military Preparations
Canada’s military was poorly prepared:
troops.
14 tanks, 23 Bren Guns, 29 anti-aircraft rifles, 5 small mortar guns
50 aircraft
Permanent Forces (PF) 4, 261 men and officers
51, 000 Non-Permanent Forces

7. Production Canadian industries proved to be vital to the war effort.
During the 1920s Canada was one of the largest automobile manufacturers.
As the war continued these industries and others shifted over to wartime production.
The Lancaster Bomber

8. The War Measures Act
The War Measures Act gave the government greater decision making power.
For example:
They established training bases across the country and soon increased recruitment to
“Enemy Aliens” were interned in camps (eg. Japanese-Canadians).
Curfews were imposed.
Freedom of speech was limited.

9. Soldiers Leave for Europe
Over 1 million men would serve during the war.
Many women would also go overseas as nurses of the Red Cross and W.R.N.S (Women’s Royal Naval Service).

10. Battles involving Canadian Soldiers
As the war progressed Canadian soldiers took part in many important battles:
Battle of Britain
Defense of Hong Kong
Dieppe
Italian Campaign
Commando Units
Battle of the Atlantic
Battle in the Air
D-Day
Liberation of Europe