Chapter 1 1896-1945: Nationalisms and the Autonomy of … · 1896-1945: Nationalisms and the Autonomy of Canada ... •Hitler used his power to create a secret police force ... Montreal

Chapter 2 1896-1945: Nationalisms and the

Autonomy of Canada Section 12: The Second World War & Canada’s Involvement – Part 1

Pages that correspond to this presentation found in your textbook

The Second World War: Pages 164-189

World War 2: background before the war

• What was happening in Europe before World War 2 (WW2) broke out?

• Economic problems Great Depression • Many countries struggled in terms of employment

rates especially Germany low value of the German Deutsmark (German dollar) & Germany had to pay reparations as a punishment for WW1

• These economic struggles led to people questioning capitalism & the governments in power (like in notes 2.10) new political parties emerged Fascist parties in Germany, Italy & Spain

• Because of time constraints we will focus on the rise of Adolf Hitler’s nazi party in Germany


• How did Hitler’s nazi party begin?

• Election of Hitler to government in 1933 he slowly takes full power away from the chancellor of Germany

• Hitler convinced the population (a large portion) of Germany that he would restore Germany’s greatness again

• He used extreme nationalism, militaristic policies and racism to push his ideologies propaganda as a ‘vehicle’ to do this


Hitler is sworn in as Germany’s chancellor – January 30th, 1933

Source: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.


Nazi book burning of books that are “un-German” May 10th, 1933

Source: The United States Holocaust Museum. <https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/media_ph.php?ModuleId=0&MediaId=3535>

World War 2: background before the war Typical propaganda billboard found in Germany during nazi rule

Source: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

World War 2: background before the war Anti-Semitic propaganda book: “Trust No Fox in the Green Meadow and No Jew on his Oath." Germany, 1936

Source: The United States holocaust Memorial Museum. <https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/media_ph.php?ModuleId=0&MediaId=3698>

World War 2: background before the war Children read from the nazi propaganda book

“The Poisonous Mushroom”

Source: The United States holocaust Memorial Museum. <https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/media_ph.php?ModuleId=0&MediaId=819>


• How did Hitler’s nazi party develop Germany once they gained power?

• Hitler broke rules established by the treaty of Versailles a document signed after Germany/Austria-Hungary lost WW1

• Hitler grew Germany’s army in size more soldiers/more military equipment

• Hitler Started to annex (take over and control) other countries/territories 1938 Annexation of parts of Czechoslovakia and all of Austria


Crowds of people greet Hitler and German soldiers during the annexation of Austria

Source: The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. <https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005447>

https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/media_fi.php?ModuleId=10005447&MediaId=1908

World War 2: background before the war German soldiers enter Prague during the annexation of Czechoslovakia

Source: PBS. <http://www.pbs.org/thewar/detail_3017.htm>


• How did Hitler’s nazi party rule Germany once they gained power?

• Hitler used his power to create a secret police force The “Gestapo” to help his arrest and eliminate political parties that opposed him essentially eliminating democracy in Germany

• Hitler targeted ‘undesirables’ Jewish population, Roma, people who were gay and individuals with disabilities

• Most notable was the Holocaust the systematic murder of millions of Jewish people across Europe (we focused on this topic in term 1 Ethics)


“The Path to Nazi Genocide”

Documentary published by:

The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

Can be found on Youtube at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRcNq4OYTyE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRcNq4OYTyE


• How did Canada and other western countries react to Adolf Hitler and the nazi party in the late 1930s?

• Many world leaders understood what the nazis were doing was horrible

• The League of Nations did nothing even after the nazis annexed Austria

• World leaders, like Canada’s PM W.L. Mackenzie King followed a policy of appeasement (don’t get involved so another world war does not start) they figured Hitler would eventually stop… until he didn’t stop


Source: The Canadian Encyclopedia Online.<https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/mackenzie-king-and-the-war-effort/>

Quebec Conference in August 1943

Left: Canadian Prime Minister, William Lyon McKenzie King Center: American President Franklin D. Roosevelt Right: British Prime Minister Winston Churchill

World War 2: background before the war • When did Canada join WW2? • On September 1st, 1939 Hitler and Germany invaded

Poland The UK, and France declared war on Germany on September 3rd, 1939

• Canada declared war on Germany on September 10th, 1939 • Canada was able to declare war on its own without official

approval of the King of England remember the Statute of Westminster in 1931

• However, Canada ‘asked’ King George III on September 9th with his approval Canada declared war on Germany the next day

• The United States and Soviet Union (Russia) declared war on Germany in 1941 2 years after Canada

• Canada, UK, France, Soviet Union, the USA ALLIES • Germany, Italy, Japan AXIS


Source: Maps of the World.<https://www.mapsofworld.com/world-maps/world-war-ii-map.html>


Prime Minister Mackenzie King's request to King George VI for approval that war be declared against Germany, 10 September 1939

Source: Wikiwand.<http://www.wikiwand.com/en/Declaration_of_war_by_Canada>


John Collins political cartoon , Montreal Gazette - depicting the passing of the torch from WW1 soldiers to soldiers fighting in WW2

Source: Canadian Primary Sources in the Classroom. <http://www.begbiecontestsociety.org/secondworldwar.htm>

WW2: Canada’s effort during wartime

• How did Canada’s wartime government react to another world war?

• After the declaration of war on Germany implementation of the War Measures Act just like WW1:

– Government control of the economy wartime production force factories to produce material/equipment needed for the war effort

– Control of prices of goods and wages for workers

– Rationing/ Salvage control/limit how much the general public could consume (certain goods/materials)

– Interment camps/ work camps for ‘enemy aliens’ people the federal government thought may be spies for the


• Wartime production

• 1940 creation of the Department of Munitions and Supply government branch that controlled/managed the production of ammunitions/equipment for the war effort in Europe AND the Pacific

• Canada made sure to use as many resources to help the war effort natural resources, manufactured materials, food, money…

• WW2 caused the Canadian economy to ‘BOOM’ Canada supplied military equipment, ammunition and food to Canadian soldiers and other Allies

• Factories in Canada were ‘retrofitted’ to adjust so they could produce equipment for the soldiers


Workers assembling military trucks at the plant of Ford Motor Company of Canada, Windsor, Ont., November 1940.

Source: Canadian War Museum. <http://www.warmuseum.ca/cwm/exhibitions/newspapers/canadawar/munitions_e.shtml>


Assembly of Consolidated 'Canso' A flying boat at Canadian Vickers Ltd., Montreal, P.Q., April 1944

Source: Canadian War Museum. <http://www.warmuseum.ca/cwm/exhibitions/newspapers/canadawar/aircraft_e.shtml>


The Globe and Mail newspaper article discussing Canada’s ship building during WW2 April 29th, 1941

Source: The Canadian War Museum. <http://www.warmuseum.ca/cwm/exhibitions/newspapers/canadawar/shipping_e.shtml>

WW2: Canada’s effort during wartime Valentine tanks produced in Montreal at the “Angus Shops” - 1942 (remember notes from chapter 2 – Angus shops were originally built to make trains)

Source: Canada at War. <http://www.canadaatwar.ca/content-17/world-war-ii/canadian-war-industry/>


Cartoon depicting Canadian wartime production for the war effort in Europe -WW2 Drawn by John Collins for the Montreal Gazette around 1939

Source: McCord Museum Online. <http://collections.musee-mccord.qc.ca/scripts/imagedownload.php?accessNumber=M965.199.4061&Lang=1&imageID=216319&format=large>


• Wartime production how did Canada pay for it all?

• From 1938 1943 Canada’s military budget went from $35 million to $4.24 billion

• Canada had to borrow from banks which created debt Canada used “Victory Bonds” to help pay for the debt (like in WW1)

• Canada also issues “War Savings Certificates” and “War Savings Stamps” people who could only give small amounts even children were asked to give money by ‘collecting’ War Savings Stamps

• The War Savings Certificates and Stamps were able to give back 25% over 7 ½ years if someone invested $40 they would get $50 back


Victory Bonds poster, "They Menace Canada on Both Coasts," 1942

Source: Archives Canada. <https://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/posters-broadsides/026023-7200-e.html>


Victory Bonds poster, "Donnez nous les outils et nous finirons la tâche -- Il faut en finir!« - 1941



War Savings stamps: • Buy stamps for $0.25 • Fill up the booklet • After $5.00 you get a savings

certificate to keep and build interest

Source: Wyatt Heritage Center.<http://www.wyattheritage.com/homefront/main.asp%3Flevel1=government&level2=money&level3=warsavings.html>


• Controlling prices and wages

• The Canadian government made sure the cost of living for Canadians didn’t increase too much during WW2

• The cost of goods increased between 1939 and 1941

• However the federal government put a ‘freeze’ on prices of goods AND the amount workers were paid

• Doing this allowed Canadians to live decent lifestyles during the war AND to make sure the Canadian dollar did not lose it’s value

• Canadians were concerned that companies producing military equipment cared more about profit


Canadian Propaganda revealing Canadian cost of living during war time compared to other countries

Source: Canadian War Museum.<http://www.warmuseum.ca/cwm/exhibitions/newspapers/canadawar/wageprice_e.shtml>


Political cartoon depicting the potential for greed during wartime Canada



• Rationing during WW2 • In order to produce the equipment needed for the war effort Canadians needed to cut back on goods rationing

• A good example stockings for women made from nylon parachutes made from nylon women could not buy stockings because nylon was needed for parachutes

• Also: Canada needed to feed its soldiers but also wanted to make sure Canadians in Canada had enough food

• The Canadian government controlled how much of certain types of food could be bought

• 1942 sugar was the first rationed item • Eventually tea, coffee, meat, butter and maple syrup • Meat when meat was bought at the butcher, a blue token

was given in order to get the rationed 3 pounds of meat per week


Store clerk setting up rationing sign in Montreal - 1943

Source: Canadian Legion Magazine. <https://legionmagazine.com/en/2015/02/historic-wwii-photo-rationing-in-montreal/>


Left: Propaganda poster asking Canadians to save food Right: Warning to Residents of Summerside, Prince Edward Island regarding meat rationing


Source: Wyatt Heritage. <http://www.wyattheritage.com/homefront/images.asp%3FImageID=294.html>


Picture of Canadian woman drawing on ‘nylon lines’ to make it look as thought she is wearing nylon stockings

Source: Fortin, S., Lapointe, D., Lavoie, R. & Parent, A. Reflections.qc.ca.: 1840 to Our Times. Cheneliere Education. 2017. Page 179


Canadian propaganda poster asking Canadians to save materials that could be used/recycled for military equipment

Source: Canadian War Museum.<http://www.warmuseum.ca/cwm/exhibitions/newspapers/canadawar/salvage_e.shtml>


• Salvaging during WW2

• Materials were needed to produce equipment for the war effort

• The Department of National War Services

• Canadians were encouraged to recycle/salvage/donate goods that were made out of metal, rubber and nylon

• People were also encouraged to save cooking oils/fats to help make explosives

• Asking Canadians to help by rationing and salvaging made everyone feel as though they were part of the war effort


Metal pots and pans being collected to be recycled for military equipment – Ottawa, 1941

Source: Fortin, S., Lapointe, D., Lavoie, R. & Parent, A. Reflections.qc.ca.: 1840 to Our Times. Cheneliere Education. 2017. Page 179


Canadian government propaganda asking Canadians to save rubber that could be used/recycled for military equipment

Source: Canadian War Museum.<http://www.warmuseum.ca/cwm/exhibitions/newspapers/canadawar/salvage_e.shtml>


Canadian government propaganda asking Canadians to save fat and bones from kitchen scraps that could be used/recycled for ammunition/explosives

Source: Wyatt Heritage.<http://www.wyattheritage.com/homefront/images.asp%3FImageID=198.html>


• National Resources and Mobilization act of 1940

• At the start of WW2 Canadian government promised NOT to have conscription

• In 1940 “National Resources and Mobilization Act”

• This act allowed the Canadian government to register men eligible for home defence military service (military work in Canada)

• Young single men were registered first, then married men

• The Act also helped created Canada’s Department of Munitions and Supply a part of the Canadian government that took care of resources for the war effort


“Wait for me daddy!”: A famous photograph of a Canadian soldier leaving for deployment in WW2. His son chases him down


Source: Library and Archives Canada Flickr account. <https://www.flickr.com/photos/lac-bac/10175697425/in/album-72157636365651084/>

Personnel of the Saskatoon Light Infantry firing a 3-inch mortar, near Ortona, Italy, January 5, 1944



Personnel of The Royal Edmonton Regiment digging out Lance-Corporal Roy Boyd, a comrade who was buried alive for 3 1/2 days in the wreckage of a demolished building, Ortona, Italy, December 30, 1943


Infantrymen of the North Nova Scotia Highlanders advancing towards Zutphen, Dorterhoek, Netherlands, April 8, 1945




Major Roy C. H. Durnford, Chaplain of the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada, conducting a burial service, San Leonardo di Ortona, Italy, December 10, 1943


Source: Library and Archives Canada Flickr account. <https://www.flickr.com/photos/lac-bac/10175697495/in/album-72157636365651084//>

Graves of personnel of the Edmonton Regiment killed in the Battle of Ortona

WW2: Canada’s effort during wartime • Canadian military forces and the Plebiscite of 1942

• Mackenzie King Canada’s Prime Minister promised no conscription at the start of the war

• Just like WW1 there was no conscription at the start of WW2

• Soldiers were taken on a voluntary basis

• By 1942 decline of volunteers and a high number of deaths/injured in combat

• Canada (federal government) had to organize a plebiscite

• Plebiscite = the government asking the population to vote on a political decision the government DOES NOT have to respect what the populations says


• Canadian military forces and the Plebiscite of 1942

• The plebiscite asked the Canadian population to release the government from its promise of no conscription (if needed later on in the war)

• The federal government was hoping that the war would be over before conscription was needed

• What were the results of the plebiscite? – All of Canada: 63.7% YES / 36.3% NO

– Quebec only: 28.8% YES / 71.2% NO

• It was clear that French Canadians in Quebec DID NOT want conscription

• By 1944 conscription was implemented but only 2500 conscripted soldiers fought in the war before it ended


2 Editorial-opinion cartoons regarding the issue of conscription during WW2 Canada



The plebiscite question in April, 1942



Anti Conscription demonstrations in Montreal – March, 1939


• Many FC were opposed to conscription during WW2

• This is evident even before the plebiscite of 1942

• This demonstration took place in 1939


Anti Conscription flyer in Montreal – 1942

Source: The Montreal Gazette. <http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/50objects/index.html#prettyPhoto>

• Flyer published by the Henri Bourassa council




Source: The Evening Citizen. April 30th, 1942

Editorial/ Opinion cartoon from the Evening Citizen Newspaper – April 30th, 1942

Connections to the Precisions of Learning

Chapter 1 1896-1945: Nationalisms and the Autonomy of … · 1896-1945: Nationalisms and the Autonomy of Canada ... •Hitler used his power to create a secret police force ... Montreal

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