J. Marshall 2011

CanadaCanada & the Cold War& the Cold War1945 to 1991:1945 to 1991:Effects on Our AutonomyEffects on Our Autonomy

CanadaCanada & the Cold War& the Cold War1945 to 1991:1945 to 1991:Effects on Our AutonomyEffects on Our Autonomy

The map of post-war

Europe: 1949

The map of post-war

Europe: 1949

NATONATO

SOVIET UNION

SOVIET UNION

The Superpowers knew that a war between themselves was impossible so they used brinkmanship and proxy wars to exercise their competition.

The genie was out of the bottle…The genie was out of the bottle…

Igor Gozenko: 1945Igor Gozenko: 1945• Soviet embassy cipher clerk

• Spy ring in Canada

• Game-on!

Crisis in Europe: Crisis in Europe: Berlin BlockadeBerlin Blockade

• Jun 1948 – May 1949• Stalin• Brinkmanship

Apr 4, 1949Apr 4, 1949: :

Canada signs Canada signs North Atlantic North Atlantic TreatyTreaty

The UN has become "frozen in futility and divided by dissension.”

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Louis St Laurent, summer, 1947

Canada’sCanada’s role in NATO role in NATO• Demobilization after the war

we quickly shrank back to a small military power.

• We committed to provide in western Germany:two

fighter squadrons + an army brigade

• We prepared to fight a blitzkrieg-style mechanized war in western Europe against the Soviets who had an ENORMOUS army.

What would the Cold War look like if it ever heated up?What would the Cold War look like if it ever heated up?

Other Soviet-era threats:Other Soviet-era threats:• BERLIN BLOCKADE,1948 - 49; • SUPPORT FOR THE NORTH IN KOREA,

1950 - 53; • REVOLT IN HUNGARY,1956; • BERLIN WALL, 1961; • CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS, 1961;• DEPLOYED SPIES;• DEVELOPED A NUCLEAR

ARSENAL/ICBMs ;• “TESTED” NATO DEFENSES

ex. OVER-FLIGHTS/SUBS

 

Multinational Training• Communication

• Equipment/standards

• Tactics/strategy

• The future of international participation

NORADNorth American Air Defence Command

Hitler’s Vengeance Weapons• First “cruise missile”

• Retaliation for bombing raids

• NASA’s forebear

V1 Rocket Plane V2 Ballistic Missile

Werner von Braun

Doodle Bug

ICBM

+ new SLBM

SLBM

SLBM: Trident

Located south of Victoria, Located south of Victoria, BC at Bangor, WashingtonBC at Bangor, Washington

2. Mid-Canada Line

3. DEW Line

1. Pinetree Line

DEW Staffing

• Mostly American

We sent 2 RCAF fighter interceptor squadrons

ARROW vs. BOMARC

Since the Arrow, we’ve bought all of our fighters from the USA

Cuban Missile CrisisCuban Missile Crisis

• The doomsday clock

• Brinkmanship

• NORAD commitment

• Diefenbaker vs. Kennedy

Nuclear Midnight

Frog 7 with Luna MissileFrog 7 with Luna Missile

How Close were Canada’s Nukes?

70 kilometers

Texeda Island

more missiles

(+ more dudes)

more

bombers &

MIRVs

more missiles

(+ more dudes)

more

bombers &

MIRVs

Cruise Missiles fly under RADAR and so cannot be detected: an example of non-traditional

Western technology (not included in SALT 2)

In the 80s, Cruise tests at Cold Lake were a political hot-potato for Cdn PMs.

kinetic @ 23,000 f/s

Peace Movement:

When did

Cda stand up to the

USA?

When did it acquiesce?

NATO

We Disagreed

S.D.I. (Star Wars)

Cuba/P.R. of China

Vietnam

Cuban missile crisis

NORAD / DEW Line

Cruise missile tests

Bomarc vs. Arrow

Accepting nukes

We Agreed

50s50s 90s90s80s80s60s60s 70s70s

Autonomy:

Unarmed Cruise Missile Tests: Cold Lake Weapons Testing Range

Summary:Post-War DefenceSummary:Post-War Defence

• Why would these be included in a unit on Canadian autonomy?– Compare NORAD to the BCATP– What nationality is NATO’s top general?– What nationality is NORAD’s top general?– DEW Line staffing– Defence projects/contracts– Nuclear warheads on Cdn fighters– Cruise missile testing in Canada in the 80s– Foreign policy/defence policy

Post-War Defense ParagraphPost-War Defense Paragraph

• How was Canada’s autonomy affected by post-war defense issues?– Please note that after fighting so hard in

the first half of the 20th century to gain autonomy, we seem to have willingly surrendered some of it to the USA though our participation in NATO and NORAD. Was the trade-off worth it?

Fun Quiz:1. Define NATO:

• What does the acronym stand for?• When was it introduced?• What was the program about?

2. How was Germany governed immediately after the Second World War and how did that change the map of Europe?

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