1. The Road to 1939 n The Origins of the Second World War –A Thirty Years’ War? –The Rise of Fascism –1935: Italy captures Abyssnia –1936: Germany reoccupies the Rhineland –1938: Austria annexed

2. The Road to 1939 –The Western Response »Appeasement (Munich,1938) »Sudetenland occupied »Kristallnacht, 1938 –1939: Czechoslovakia occupied –23 August: Russian/German non- aggression pact signed –1 September: Germany invades Poland

3. Canada’s Response n The Memory of the First World War –65,000 dead –An act of nation- building –Conscription: An Act of Division http://www.rumneyhighschool.cardiff.sch.uk/docs1/pag e9d.html

4. Canada in 1939 n Population: 11 million n 750,000 unemployed n Largest City: Montreal n 9 provinces; 2 territories

5. Prime Minister King n 64 years old n Liberal leader since 1919 n Prime Minister 1921-1926 n 1926-1930 n 1935-1948

6. Why Does Canada Go to War in 1939? n An autonomous nation –Statute of Westminster, 1931 n No direct threat from Europe n Insignificant armed forces –Intended to fight... the Americans? –Intended for home defence? »Spending priorities: Air Force- Navy-Army

7. The Decision n Was it simply because Canadians were sympathetic to their British origins? –“irrational, incoherent, and to most intellectuals, unintelligent flow of opinion.” n Some Church leaders opposed war. n So did CCF leader J.S. Woodsworth

8. But attitudes were changing... n By 1938, many were determined to stop Hitler n “Fascism means war. It has meant war and conquest in every land in which it has so far reared its ugly head. And our awakening to this state readily cannot come a moment too soon.” –The New Outlook, United Church of Canada, 22 April 1938.

9. King’s Decision n “Parliament Will Decide” n 10 September 1939 –Canada officially goes to war for the first time independently –But what does it reflect? n 26 August 1939: More significant?

10. A War of Limited Liability n Canada’s Home Defence is a first priority n Canada’s industrial and agricultural resources to be a measure of our position n British Commonwealth Air Training Plan

11. King’s Dilemma n Maurice Duplessis, Premier of Quebec n Mitch Hepburn, Premier of Ontario n Too much or too little?

12. King and the Premiers n Quebec: No conscription n If Duplessis wins, no Quebec representation in the Cabinet n Ontario: Denouncing the War Effort n King Calls an Election

13. British Commonwealth Air Training Plan n Est’d December 1939 n “Aerodrome for Democracy” n Would this be Canada’s main contribution to the War? –“A War of Limited Liability”

14. BCATP 131,000 pilots, navigators, aircrew are trained to 1945

15. December 1939: The First Division Goes Overseas n The Seaforth Highlanders (Vancouver)

16. First Canadian Infantry Division

17. The Phoney War Ends n King calls an election, March 1940 –a massive wartime mandate n April: The Blitzkrieg begins in Western Europe –Denmark/Norway n 10 May: The low countries and France n 10 June: Italy joins the war n 14 June: Paris falls n 17 June: France sues for peace

18. An End to Limited Liability n Winston Churchill, PM “We shall never surrender” n http://www.bbc.co. uk/history/war/wwt wo/churchill_audio. shtml n Britain Stands Alone (with Canada)

19. An End to Limited Liability n 6 June 1940: National Resources Mobilization Act –two Canadian armies created: –Home Defence (conscripts) –General Service (Overseas)