World War IIWorld War IICanada’s RoleCanada’s Role

The War Begins…The War Begins…• The Second World War began The Second World War began

at dawn on September 1, at dawn on September 1, 1939, as the German Armies 1939, as the German Armies swept into Poland. With the swept into Poland. With the full fury of the full fury of the blitzkriegblitzkrieg - the - the lightning war - the German lightning war - the German armoured (Panzer) divisions armoured (Panzer) divisions destroyed Polish defenses in destroyed Polish defenses in the west. The Soviet troops, the west. The Soviet troops, as previously agreed with as previously agreed with Germany, crossed the eastern Germany, crossed the eastern frontier. Trapped between frontier. Trapped between two advancing armies Polish two advancing armies Polish resistance ended. Poland resistance ended. Poland surrendered. surrendered.

German troops parade through Warsaw after the surrender of Poland. September 28-30, 1939.

Enter Canada…Enter Canada… • Britain and France, Britain and France,

honouring their pledge honouring their pledge to Poland, declared war to Poland, declared war on Germany on on Germany on September 3rd. Although September 3rd. Although not automatically not automatically committed by Britain's committed by Britain's declaration of war declaration of war (Statute of Westminster (Statute of Westminster 1931), there was little 1931), there was little doubt that Canada would doubt that Canada would quickly follow. On quickly follow. On September 7 Parliament September 7 Parliament met in special session; met in special session; on September 9 it on September 9 it approved support to approved support to Britain and France; and Britain and France; and on September 10on September 10thth 1939, 1939, Canada declared war. Canada declared war.

The House of Commons on September 7, 1939, the first day of the special session in which Canada's Parliament decided to declare war on Germany.

Canadian PreparationsCanadian Preparations• When Canada declared war in 1939, there were only When Canada declared war in 1939, there were only

about 10 000 soldiers in its armed forces. During the about 10 000 soldiers in its armed forces. During the Depression years, the government had reduced military Depression years, the government had reduced military spending. In 1938-1939, the budget for defence was spending. In 1938-1939, the budget for defence was only $35 million. In 1939, the Canadian army possessed only $35 million. In 1939, the Canadian army possessed only 14 tanks; 29 Bren guns, 23 anti-tank rifles and 5 only 14 tanks; 29 Bren guns, 23 anti-tank rifles and 5 small mortar guns. The Canadian navy had exactly 10 small mortar guns. The Canadian navy had exactly 10 operational vessels, and the Royal Canadian Air Force operational vessels, and the Royal Canadian Air Force had only 50 modern aircraft.had only 50 modern aircraft.

• Though largely unprepared for war, Canada was quick Though largely unprepared for war, Canada was quick to respond. At this point, the government hoped that to respond. At this point, the government hoped that Canada’s role would be limited. Prime Minister Canada’s role would be limited. Prime Minister Mackenzie King was prepared to send roughly 40 000 Mackenzie King was prepared to send roughly 40 000 troops and anticipated a role as the main supplier of troops and anticipated a role as the main supplier of food and war materials for Britain. However, he did not food and war materials for Britain. However, he did not want the war to involve a costly expenditure of want the war to involve a costly expenditure of Canadian lives, and above all, he wanted to avoid Canadian lives, and above all, he wanted to avoid another conscription crisis at all costs. another conscription crisis at all costs.

Canada Steps UpCanada Steps Up By the end of September, over 58 By the end of September, over 58

000 Canadian men and women 000 Canadian men and women had enlisted in the armed forces. had enlisted in the armed forces. Many recruits were unemployed Many recruits were unemployed men who were grateful for a new men who were grateful for a new pair of boots, a warm uniform and pair of boots, a warm uniform and coat, three square meals a day coat, three square meals a day and a soldier’s basic pay of $1.30 and a soldier’s basic pay of $1.30 per day. As in 1914, these recruits per day. As in 1914, these recruits were all volunteers, however they were all volunteers, however they went off to war in a much more went off to war in a much more sombre mood than the young sombre mood than the young recruits in 1914. recruits in 1914.

On September 16 the first convoy On September 16 the first convoy left for England. By January 1940, left for England. By January 1940, 23 000 mostly untrained Canadian 23 000 mostly untrained Canadian troops were in Britain. Their troops were in Britain. Their rallying cry declared, “We’ve rallying cry declared, “We’ve come here to do a job and then go come here to do a job and then go home”.home”. The hope was that the The hope was that the war would be over quickly. Events war would be over quickly. Events would soon erase this hope. would soon erase this hope.

At War! At War!

• In 1940, within the In 1940, within the first four weeks of first four weeks of action, Hitler’s modern action, Hitler’s modern army crushed Polish army crushed Polish defences. Next defences. Next Germany overran Germany overran Denmark, Norway, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Luxembourg Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. and the Netherlands. Soon, Hitler turned his Soon, Hitler turned his attention to France.attention to France.

Britain to the Rescue???Britain to the Rescue???• Thousands of British troops raced across the English Thousands of British troops raced across the English

Channel to defend France. A contingent of Canadian Channel to defend France. A contingent of Canadian soldiers remained in Britain to defend against the soldiers remained in Britain to defend against the expected German invasion.expected German invasion.

• Despite Britain's valiant effort, the Germans Despite Britain's valiant effort, the Germans advanced rapidly into France leaving both British advanced rapidly into France leaving both British and French troops trapped.and French troops trapped.

The Miracle of DunkirkThe Miracle of Dunkirk

• In May, 1940, British troops had to be evacuated from In May, 1940, British troops had to be evacuated from the seaport town of Dunkirk on the French coast.the seaport town of Dunkirk on the French coast.

• Three hundred thousand soldiers were rescued by Three hundred thousand soldiers were rescued by boats of all sizes- in addition to the British boats of all sizes- in addition to the British destroyers, a makeshift fleet of sightseeing boats, destroyers, a makeshift fleet of sightseeing boats, river ferries, fishing boats and privately owned crafts river ferries, fishing boats and privately owned crafts sailed across the British Channel to return the sailed across the British Channel to return the stranded troops safely back to Britain.stranded troops safely back to Britain.

• Despite the “miracle” it was a terrible defeat, much Despite the “miracle” it was a terrible defeat, much of the heavy British war equipment had to be of the heavy British war equipment had to be abandoned and France fell in six weeks.abandoned and France fell in six weeks.

Elsewhere in the world…Elsewhere in the world…

• On June 10th of 1940, On June 10th of 1940, Italian dictator Italian dictator Mussolini decided to Mussolini decided to enter the war on enter the war on Germany’s side. Germany’s side.

• Soon almost all of Soon almost all of Europe was under the Europe was under the control of the Axis control of the Axis powers; with only powers; with only Britain and its Britain and its Commonwealth allies Commonwealth allies outside their grasp of outside their grasp of power.power.

The Move to Centre The Move to Centre Stage…Stage… • Although Prime Minister King had Although Prime Minister King had

hoped Canada would be a supplier hoped Canada would be a supplier of war materials in a short, limited of war materials in a short, limited war, the reverse was soon true. war, the reverse was soon true. Hitler’s dramatic success meant Hitler’s dramatic success meant that Britain stood alone in Europe that Britain stood alone in Europe and depended more than ever on and depended more than ever on Canada’s support.Canada’s support.

• The Canadian troops in Britain The Canadian troops in Britain were fresh and well equipped and were fresh and well equipped and more could be sent. As in WWI more could be sent. As in WWI Canadian convoys were a vital Canadian convoys were a vital lifeline to the survival of Britain.lifeline to the survival of Britain.

• Canadian food, guns, supplies and Canadian food, guns, supplies and armed forces were desperately armed forces were desperately needed. Thus Canada, despite needed. Thus Canada, despite reluctance to take on such a large reluctance to take on such a large role within the war, quickly moved role within the war, quickly moved to center stage.to center stage.