The Road to 1939The Road to 1939

The Origins of the Second World WarThe Origins of the Second World War

–A Thirty Years’ War?A Thirty Years’ War?

–The Rise of FascismThe Rise of Fascism

–1935: Italy captures Abyssnia1935: Italy captures Abyssnia

–1936: Germany reoccupies the 1936: Germany reoccupies the RhinelandRhineland

–1938: Austria annexed1938: Austria annexed

The Road to 1939The Road to 1939

–The Western ResponseThe Western Response

»Appeasement (Munich,1938)Appeasement (Munich,1938)

»Sudetenland occupiedSudetenland occupied

»Kristallnacht, 1938Kristallnacht, 1938

–1939: Czechoslovakia occupied1939: Czechoslovakia occupied

–23 August: Russian/German non-23 August: Russian/German non-aggression pact signedaggression pact signed

–1 September: Germany invades Poland1 September: Germany invades Poland

Canada’s ResponseCanada’s Response

The Memory of the The Memory of the First World WarFirst World War

– 65,000 dead65,000 dead

–An act of nation-An act of nation-building building

–Conscription: An Conscription: An Act of DivisionAct of Division

http://www.rumneyhighschool.cardiff.sch.uk/docs1/page9d.html

Canada in 1939Canada in 1939

Population: 11 Population: 11 millionmillion

750,000 750,000 unemployedunemployed

Largest City: Largest City: MontrealMontreal

9 provinces; 2 9 provinces; 2 territoriesterritories

Prime Minister KingPrime Minister King

64 years old64 years old Liberal leader since 1919Liberal leader since 1919

Prime Minister 1921-1926Prime Minister 1921-1926 1926-19301926-1930 1935-19481935-1948

Why Does Canada Go to War Why Does Canada Go to War in 1939?in 1939?

An autonomous nationAn autonomous nation

–Statute of Westminster, 1931Statute of Westminster, 1931 No direct threat from EuropeNo direct threat from Europe Insignificant armed forcesInsignificant armed forces

–Intended to fight . . . the Americans?Intended to fight . . . the Americans?

–Intended for home defence?Intended for home defence?

»Spending priorities: Air Force-Navy-Spending priorities: Air Force-Navy-ArmyArmy

The DecisionThe Decision

Was it simply because Canadians Was it simply because Canadians were sympathetic to their British were sympathetic to their British origins?origins?

–““irrational, incoherent, and to most irrational, incoherent, and to most intellectuals, unintelligent flow of intellectuals, unintelligent flow of opinion.”opinion.”

Some Church leaders opposed war.Some Church leaders opposed war. So did CCF leader J.S. WoodsworthSo did CCF leader J.S. Woodsworth

But attitudes were changing . . .But attitudes were changing . . .

By 1938, many were determined to stop By 1938, many were determined to stop HitlerHitler

““Fascism means war. It has meant war Fascism means war. It has meant war and conquest in every land in which it and conquest in every land in which it has so far reared its ugly head. And our has so far reared its ugly head. And our awakening to this state readily cannot awakening to this state readily cannot come a moment too soon.”come a moment too soon.”

–The New Outlook, United Church of The New Outlook, United Church of Canada, 22 April 1938.Canada, 22 April 1938.

King’s DecisionKing’s Decision

““Parliament Will Decide”Parliament Will Decide”

10 September 193910 September 1939

–Canada officially goes to war for Canada officially goes to war for the first time independentlythe first time independently

–But what does it reflect?But what does it reflect? 26 August 1939: More significant?26 August 1939: More significant?

A War of Limited LiabilityA War of Limited Liability

Canada’s Home Defence is a first Canada’s Home Defence is a first prioritypriority

Canada’s industrial and agricultural Canada’s industrial and agricultural resources to be a measure of our positionresources to be a measure of our position

British Commonwealth Air Training British Commonwealth Air Training PlanPlan

King’s DilemmaKing’s Dilemma

Maurice Duplessis, Premier of QuebecMaurice Duplessis, Premier of Quebec Mitch Hepburn, Premier of OntarioMitch Hepburn, Premier of Ontario

Too much or too little?Too much or too little?

King and the PremiersKing and the Premiers

Quebec: No conscriptionQuebec: No conscription If Duplessis wins, no Quebec If Duplessis wins, no Quebec

representation in the Cabinetrepresentation in the Cabinet Ontario: Denouncing the War EffortOntario: Denouncing the War Effort King Calls an ElectionKing Calls an Election

British Commonwealth Air British Commonwealth Air Training PlanTraining Plan

Est’d December 1939Est’d December 1939 ““Aerodrome for Democracy”Aerodrome for Democracy” Would this be Canada’s main Would this be Canada’s main

contribution to the War?contribution to the War?

–““A War of Limited Liability”A War of Limited Liability”

BCATPBCATP

131,000 pilots, 131,000 pilots, navigators, aircrew navigators, aircrew are trained to 1945are trained to 1945

December 1939:December 1939:The First Division Goes OverseasThe First Division Goes Overseas

The Seaforth The Seaforth Highlanders Highlanders (Vancouver) (Vancouver)

First Canadian Infantry DivisionFirst Canadian Infantry Division

1 C an ad ian In fan try D ivis ion

1 B rig ad eR oya l C an ad ian R eg im en t (P F )

4 8 th H ig h lan d ers o f C an ad a(Toron to )H as tin g s an d P rin ce E d ward R eg im en t

2 B rig ad eP rin cess P a tric ia 's C an ad ian L ig h t In fan try (P F )

S eafo rth H ig h lan d ers o f C an ad aTh e E d m on ton R eg im en t

3 B rig ad eTh e R oya l 2 2 n d R eg im en t (P F )

C arle ton an d Y ork R eg im en t (N ew B ru n sw ick )Th e W es t N ova S co tia R eg im en t

D ivis ion a l H QM ajor-G en era l A .G . L . M cN au g h ton

The Phoney War EndsThe Phoney War Ends King calls an election, March 1940King calls an election, March 1940

–a massive wartime mandatea massive wartime mandate April: The Blitzkrieg begins in Western April: The Blitzkrieg begins in Western

EuropeEurope

–Denmark/NorwayDenmark/Norway 10 May: The low countries and France10 May: The low countries and France 10 June: Italy joins the war10 June: Italy joins the war 14 June: Paris falls14 June: Paris falls 17 June: France sues for peace17 June: France sues for peace

An End to Limited LiabilityAn End to Limited Liability

Winston Churchill, Winston Churchill, PM “We shall never PM “We shall never surrender”surrender”

http://http://www.bbc.co.uk/www.bbc.co.uk/history/war/wwtwo/history/war/wwtwo/churchill_audio.shtmlchurchill_audio.shtml

Britain Stands Alone Britain Stands Alone (with Canada)(with Canada)

An End to Limited LiabilityAn End to Limited Liability

6 June 1940: National Resources 6 June 1940: National Resources Mobilization ActMobilization Act

– two Canadian armies created: two Canadian armies created:

–Home Defence (conscripts)Home Defence (conscripts)

–General Service (Overseas)General Service (Overseas)