NATO, NORAD, The Korean War, Avro Arrow and BOMARC Missile

Canada and the Cold War

Canada was firmly anti-communist during the 1920s and the Great Depression

Canada developed a close relationship with the United States during WWII

The Soviets had set up a spy network inside Canada during WWII (The Gouzenko Affair)

Rumors that the Soviets had set agents to Canada during the depression to organize strikes and protests

Most importantly, Canada was literally in the middle of the Cold War (we were in-between the USA and the USSR)

Why was Canada involved in the Cold War?

In 1949, Canada joined 11 other nations to form an alliance against the Soviet Union (The North Atlantic Treaty Organization or NATO)

NATO has benefitted Canada (Canada has access to the most advanced NATO standard military equipment and has developed trading relationships and business opportunities with other NATO countries)

However, being part of NATO has involved Canada in several conflicts

For example, Canadians are currently fighting in Afghanistan as part of a NATO mission

In 1955, the Soviet Union formed its own alliance against NATO called the Warsaw Pact

How Did Canada Participate?N.A.T.O.

NORth American Air Defense In 1957, Canada signed a treaty that

combined US and American AirspaceFrom this point onwards all Missiles, Aircraft

and Radar Stations from both countries work co-operatively to defend all of North America under a one command

As part of NORAD, the United States set up the Distant Early Warning System (Fifty radar stations in the Canadian Arctic to detect enemy attack)

NORAD

After WWII. Korea was divided into 2 Zones (a soviet, communist zone and an American, democratic zone – just like Germany)

Because of the cold war, 2 separate countries formed – North and South Korea

In 1950, North Korea invades South Korea in an attempt to unify the country under communism

United states and 15 other countries – including Canada - attempt to stop the spread of communism

THE DOMINO THEORY – US political theory which states that Communism is like cancer, if not destroyed, it will spread. Must destroy communism everywhere it appears

The Korean War - 1950 - 1953

The Allies are very successful during the Korean war until the Communist Chinese join the fighting.

2 years of stalemateThe final result: North and South Korea

remain separated and the Borders are in almost the same places – the war was a tie!

Canada supports the Korean war because it was supported by the United Nations. However Canada refuses to help the USA fight in Vietnam when a similar situation arises

Korean War Part 2

The Canadian Government felt threatened by the chance of Soviet bombers crossing over the North Pole

Therefore, the Government orders the construction of a new aircraft capable of destroying fleets of Russian planes

The result is the Avro Arrow, the most advanced aircraft of its day – extremely fast, heavily armed, long range, and technology that was years ahead any other aircraft in the world

The Arrow was a problem from the beginning – too expensive and no foreign buyers

The Arrow was introduced to the public on the same day SPUTNIK 1 was launched . . The age of nuclear missiles had begun

Prime Minister John Diefenbaker though the arrow would be useless and cancelled the project

All prototypes, models and drawing of the Arrow were destroyed and 14,000 people lost their jobs (most of them in Malton, On)

The Avro Arrow

Instead of the Arrow, Diefenbaker purchased the BOMARC Missile

A nuclear tipped weapon designed to blow up in the air and destroy any missiles that are launched at us

However, Canadians did not want nuclear weapons in this country

Diefenbaker’s solution was to keep the warheads in the USA – making the missiles practically useless

Later - Prime Minister Lester Pearson arms the BOMARCs, making Canada a nuclear power

In 1972, the BOMARCs were dismantled

The Bomarc Missile

During the Cold War canada participated by:- Joining NATO and taking part in several missions- Creating NORAD with the USA- allowing the USA to set up the DEW- fighting in the Korean War

Canada built the most advanced fighter plane in the world in 1957 – the Avro Arrow – but it was cancelled

Instead, Canada became a nuclear power through the purchase of BOMARC missiles – retired in ‘72

Key Points