Transcript The Second World War: Total War Returns

The Second World War: Total
War Returns
Total War Returns
War in the Atlantic
War in the Pacific
Diversity in the Armed Forces
Changes in Canada During WWII
Controversies: Conscription
Controversies: War Measures Act
Total War Returns
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WWII lasted from 1939 –1945
Adolph Hitler, fascist dictator of
Germany, wanted to “right the
wrongs” against Germany from WWI
He was also seeking “Lebensraum”
or “living space” for Germany
He worked with Benito Mussolini of
Italy towards his goal
Total War Returns
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They went against the values of
the Treaty of Versailles and the
League of Nations
Hitler, during 1938 and 1939,
annexed Austria and
Czechoslovakia
Appeasement was adopted
by the League of Nations, in
return Hitler was not to annex
any more territory
Total War Returns
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On Sept. 1, 1939 Hitler broke his promise and
launched a blitzkrieg (Lightning Strike) on
Poland
Britain and France declared war on Germany
two days later, Canada declared war against
Germany on Sept. 10, 1939
Using blitzkriegs Germany spread it forces
across Europe
By 1940 France fell under German control
and Italy allied with Germany
War in the Atlantic
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Canada’s navy was used primarily for coastal
defence of our own waters
German U-Boat attacks made it necessary for
the Royal Canadian Navy to defend the
merchant ships supplying the war effort in
Europe
Britain supplied the RCN with destroyers to
aid in protecting the convoys
By the end of WWII Canada had the fourth
largest navy in the world
War in the Atlantic
Merchant Marines
 Thousands of Canadian soldiers
served as Merchant Marines shipping
supplies across the Atlantic to Europe
 10% lost their lives
 Without Merchant Marines the Allies
could not have lasted the war
 After the war they were not given the
same benefits as war veterans, even
though they directly entered combat
zones
War in the Atlantic
War in the Air
 At the beginning of the war the RCAF had 40
combat aircraft and 5000 personnel
 The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan
trained more than 131 500 RCAF personnel
 By the Ed of WWII the RCAF was the fourth
largest in the world
 Canadians played a crucial role in the victory
of the Battle of Britain (blitzkrieg of British
cities) against the German Luftwaffe
War in the Atlantic
The U.S. Enters the War.
 Dec. 7, 1941 Japan attack Pearl Harbour
killing 2400 and destroying four ships.
 The U.S. was neutral until this day.
 They declared war on Japan.
 Hitler supported Japan and therefore declared
war on the U.S.
 Germany also went against it’s nonaggression treaty with the USSR and invaded.
 Two new, and very powerful players were on
the stage as British Allies.
War in the Atlantic
Dieppe
 1942 the Allied forces launched a
limited invasion of France led by
Canadians
 It failed horribly – 900 died, 1900 were
taken prisoner
War in the Atlantic
D-Day
 June 6, 1944 the Allies launched Operation
Overlord – largest full scale invasion in history
 5000 ships carrying 107 000 Allied soldiers
 Canadians landed at Juno Beach and took
more ground than any other Allied division
 D-Day marked the beginning to the liberation
of Europe from Germany
War in the Atlantic
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In the spring of 1945
Canadian forces moved east
and liberated the Netherlands
The Allied forces eventually
encircled Berlin in April of
1945
The Soviets were the first to
enter Berlin – Hitler
committed suicide
May 7, 1945 (VE Day)
Germany surrendered and the
war in Europe was over
War in the Pacific
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Canadian soldiers fought in the Battle of
Hong Kong
Hong Kong was under British rule
1900 Canadian soldiers were sent
Experts considered Hong Kong
impossible to defend
Japan eventually took Hong Kong on
Christmas Day 1941
War in the Pacific
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After Germany surrendered Japan
continued their fight
The U.S. put a swift end to this conflict
by dropping the first atomic bomb on
Hiroshima Aug. 6, 1945
A second was dropped on Nagasaki
three days later
War in the Pacific
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200 000 people perished, a further 500
000 died for reasons relating to
radiation exposure
Japan surrendered on August 14, 1945
WWII was finally over
Diversity in the Armed Forces
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During the war some of the gender and
ethnicity barriers to enlistment were removed
45 000 women had enlisted in several
capacities, but were never involved in combat
Several thousand African Americans were
enlisted, and, unlike WWI, saw combat
Aboriginals had to sacrifice their Indian status
under the Indian Act, 1876 to enlist. Over
3000 served in Europe
Changes in Canada During
WWII
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After the Great Depression the war brought
prosperity to Canada. The GDP doubled.
Women took over many occupations in
Canada since men left to fight breaking
several social barriers for women.
The Baby Boomers – when the soldiers came
home there were unprecedented numbers of
marriages. Combined with economic
prosperity came the highest birth rates n
Canadian history.
Controversies: Conscription
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Prime Minister King promised no conscription
Serious fear of Britain falling to the Nazis
required reinforcements from Canada
King implemented the NRMA requiring single
men no younger than 18 to serve – there
were a lot of marriages during this time
These drafted men were to stay and guard
Canada – were referred to as Zombies
Controversies: Conscription
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Pressure increased for soldiers so King held a
referendum on conscription
80% English were for it, 73 of French were
against it
The split led to appeals from King for
voluntary enlistment
In the end the Zombies were sent overseas
in late 1944, but few saw battle
Controversies: War Measures
Act
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The government invoked the War
Measures Act
People with roots to enemy nations
were required to register with the RCMP
The Canadian citizenship of Italian and
German immigrants was revoked
Controversies: War Measures
Act
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Many were sent to internment camps
Japanese Canadians were displaced from
their homes to internment camps, all property
was sold to pay for the camps
In 1988 the Canadian Government officially
apologized to the Japanese Canadians that
were displaced and gave reparations of
$21 000 to each evacuee
Case Study 6
1.
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4.
Read chapter 5 and record vocabulary.
Answer question 2 on page 71.
Create an organizational chart
showing the changes in the Canadian
Navy and Air Force between the
beginning and end of WWII.
Outline the significant events of WWII
in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
Case Study 6
5. What happened to Japanese, German, and
Italian Canadians under the War Measures
Act during WWII? Did you agree with the
actions of the Canadian government? What
alternative might there be that would
respect human rights?
6. Given the recent Terrorist attacks and the
War on Terrorism would you agree with
holding Islamic-Canadians in internment
camps? Why or why not?
Case Study 6
7. Who were the Zombies? How were
they created?
8. Why were French Canadians in
opposition to conscription?