1. CANADA AND WORLD WAR TWO (1939-1945)

2. Introduction Learning Goals for this Unit:
To what extent have local, national, and global forces shaped Canadian Identity?
To what extent did World War Two force Canada to take on international responsibilities?
To what extent did WWII change Canada (politically, militarily, economically, socially)?
Students will apply their knowledge via The Canadian Museum Activity.

3. Introduction of WWII
World War Two was the most destructive war in human history.
Both Allied and Axis countries suffered massive destruction and loss of life (“62 million people died – one person every 3 seconds, day and night for six years.”)
The discovery of death camps in Europe and the aftermath of the Atomic bomb in Japan showed Canadians just how destructive discrimination and uncontrolled militarism could be.

4. Introduction of WWII
Canada had one million volunteers – almost 10% of Canada’s population who participated in the war.
Just over 42, 000 Canadians died liberating Europe and the rest of the world from the Nazi menace.

5. Canada and WWII: Government
Even though Britain already declared war, Canada debated about it in the House of Commons.
Finally, on 10 Sept, 1939, PM W.L.M. King declared Canada’s entry in the war against Nazi Germany.

6. Canada and WWII: Government

7. Canada and WWII: Government

8. Canada & WWII: Battle of Britain ‘40
In Aug. Of 1940, the German Luftwaffe (air force) attacked England.
British called the attack the Blitzkrieg (lightning warfare)
80 Canadian pilots helped defend Britain against the Nazis

9. Canada and WWII: Battle of Britain
Night, Target, Germany by Canadian artist Miller Brittain
16 Canadians flew in the 242 “Canadian” squadron.

10. Canada &WWII: Battle of Hong Kong ‘41
1,975 Canadian soldiers and two nurses arrive in H.K.
Right - Six weeks before the battle, this Canadian contingent arrives to bolster British presence.
Little to do they, but 50,000 Japanese soldiers are about to attack!

11. Canada &WWII: Battle of Hong Kong ‘41
Right – Sergeant- Major John Osborne
Canada’s first Victoria Cross winner in WWII.

12. Canada and WWII: Battle of Dieppe

13. Canada and WWII: Battle of Dieppe
4,963 Canadians fought at Dieppe in to help liberate France.
“Dieppe was the greatest sacrifice of Canadian lives during the war.”

14. Canada and WWII: Battle of Dieppe

15. Canada and Operation Husky (Ortona)

16. Canada & Operation Husky (Ortona) ‘43
Right - Operation Husky Canadians in Sicily Troops of The Loyal Edmonton Regiment enter Modica
90,ooo Canadians fought in Italy and 5,400 lost their lives.

17. Canada and Operation Husky (Ortona)
Canadians were given the difficult task of removing the Nazis from Ortona.

18. Canada and Operation Husky (Ortona)
Left - Ortona Infantrymen of the Loyal Edmonton Regiment advance with Sherman tanks of the Three Rivers Regiment

19. Canada and Operation Husky (Ortona)

20. Canada and The Invasion of Normandy

21. Canada & Normandy (Juno Beach) ‘44
“Operation Overlord” began on June 6th.
150,000 American, British and Canadian troops crossed the English Channel to attack the Nazis positioned in Normandy, France.

22. Canada & Normandy (Juno Beach)
Juno Beach The Royal Winnipeg Rifles advance inland on D-Day.
Juno Beach Canadian soldiers guarding German prisoners on Juno

23. Canada & Normandy (Juno Beach)
Juno Beach Museum
15,ooo Canadians landed on Juno Beach Canadians died.
Juno Beach maybe Canada’s greatest military contribution in its history!

24. Canadians in the Air
RCAF
Allan Bundy from Nova Scotia

25. George “Buzz” Beurling ‘43
Canadians in the Air
George “Buzz” Beurling ‘43
George Beurling’s Spitfire VC in which he scored most of his victories in Malta

26. Canadians in the Air
Elsie Macgill
Hawker Hurricane

27. Canadians in the Air (Dambusters)

28. Canadians in the Air (Dambusters) ‘43
Canadian bombers took part in the daring raid on key hydroelectric installations in Germany.
30 Canadian air crew participated in one of the most dangerous air missions in all of WWII.
The average of the Canadian crew was 23!

29. Canadians in the Air (Dambusters)
Lancaster Bombers
Bouncing Bomb

30. Canadians in the Air (Dambusters)
Lancaster Bombers

31. Canadians in the Air (Dambusters)
Canadian Vincent Sanford MacCausland 1941
Squad 617

32. Canadians at Sea
This was probably Canada’s greatest contribution throughout the war!!
The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) supported the war effort through their brave Merchant Marines convoys, etc....

33. Canadians at Sea
The Nazis were going to try to win the war at sea with their U-Boats.

34. Canadians at Sea Canadians also had special war craft to fight back!
113,000 Canadians helped out at sea!

35. Canada and Camp X Existed from 1941- 1944
This is was one of the best kept “secrets” in WWII and was set up in Durham Region!!!

36. Canada and Camp X

37. Canada and Camp X

38. Canada & The Devil’ s Brigade ‘43
This was an elite group of (American & Canadian) paratroopers.
Canadians participated in some of the most difficult and dangerous missions!

39. Canada & The Devil’ s Brigade ‘43
The Devils Brigade- Personnel of the First Special Service Force being briefed before setting out on a patrol. Lt. H. Rayner of Toronto in foreground. April 20, 1944, Anzio beach-head, Italy
Sergeant Tommy Prince (Ojibway Nation)

40. Canadian Women Respond
373, 000 women worked in industry that produced munitions
1,077,000 women worked in the work force by

41. Canadian Women Respond
30,000 women worked in the aircraft industry
Women earned $ per week (double of what they earned before WWII)
Right – “Maintenance Jobs in the Hangar” by Canadian artist Paraskeva Clark

42. Canadian Women Respond
In 1941, the military created their own women’s divisions
A) Can.Women’s Army Corps
B) The Canadian Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (CWAAF)
C) Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service (WRCNS)
50,000 women wore the uniform plus 4,500 served in the medical services.

43. Canadian Women Respond

44. Canada and the Internment of Japanese -Canadians ‘42
After Pearl Harbor was attacked by Japan, Japanese- Canadians were deprived of rights and even had their property confiscated.

45. Canada and the Internment of Japanese -Canadians ‘42
A Royal Canadian Navy officer questions Japanese-Canadian fishermen while confiscating their boat

46. Canada and the Internment of Japanese -Canadians ‘42

47. Canada Liberates Belgium & Holland

48. Canadians in Belgium: The Battle of the Scheldt ‘44
Canadians were true heroes in securing a supply route to Antwerp
Canada suffered casualties
Right - Buffalo amphibious vehicles taking Canadians across the Scheldt in Zeeland (1944).

49. Canadians Liberate Holland ‘45
Nazis were in retreat, but Holland would be another major challenge for Canadians.
175,000 Canadians joined the “Rhine Offensive” to push the Nazis back to Germany.
Soon Hitler would take his own life and the Nazis would surrender on the 5th of May

50. Canadians Liberate Holland ‘45

51. OTHER TOPICS:
Official War Artist (ex. Charles Comfort, Captain Orville Norman Fisher, etc...)
Canadian Prisoners of War (POWs)
Louis Slotin and the Atomic Bomb
C.D. Howe (Canada’s Minister of Everything)
Choose an important group of Canadians (Aboriginals, Black Canadian(s), etc...)
The British Commwealth Air Training Plan
(BCATP)