Off to War

1. Off to War

2. Write a Speech • Your are the Prime Minister of Canada • Hitler has just invaded Poland in September of 1939 • You have declared war • You must explain to the Canadian people why you have declared war and what their country is asking of them http://www.cbc.ca/archives/categories/politics/federal-politics/addressing-the-nation-prime-ministers-of-canada/canada-declares-war-on-germany.html

3. Inevitable War • Hitler has made it clear that he had no intention of avoiding war and demanded territory in Poland • Germany invades on September 1, 1939 • Britain and France had promised to protect Poland if any military action were taken against them • The world can no longer stand aside

4. Inevitable War • Britain and France declare war on Germany on September 3, 1939 • Unlike in WWI Canada was not automatically at war • The Statute of Westminster gave Canada control over its own foreign policy, it could make its own decision to support the war • Canada declares war on September 10, 1939

5. Canada Goes to War • A majority of Canadians still felt a strong allegiance to Britain and were becoming concerned with the rise of Nazi Germany • Quebec had a greater anti-war, anti-imperialist sentiment • The Conscription Crisis of the First World War was not easily forgotten • King promises in March 1939 to avoid conscription • With King’s promise the country becomes united in the war effort

6. Enlistment • Canadians are cautious at the outbreak of war • But most now believe and see that Hitler need to be stopped and only war will accomplish this • In September alone over 58,000 men and women enlist • Over 1 million men and women would serve in the Canadian military, virtually all of them volunteers • In December the 1st Canadian Infantry Division sails for Europe

8. Blitzkrieg • Lightning War • A war conducted with great speed and force • To overwhelm an enemy and break through its lines • Surprise element • Designed to hit hard and move on instantly

9. Nazi-Soviet Pact • Before Hitler could invade Poland he had to make sure that the Soviet Union would not react badly and start a war • The Soviet Union feared a German attack, they had attempted to negotiate a collective security alliance with the western powers and Poland but were unsuccessful • The Nazi-Soviet Pact was signed on August 23, 1939

10. Nazi-Soviet Pact • Publically this was a non-aggression pact • Germany and the Soviet Union would not attack each other • It also said that if Germany attacked Poland, the Soviet Union would not come to its aid • The Pact had a secret protocol • The Soviet Union would get the Baltic states; Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania • They would also get half of Poland

11. Invasion of Poland Germany attacked on September 1, 1939 On September 17, 1939 the Soviets invaded to occupy their new territory On September 27, 1939 Poland surrendered

12. The Phony War • After the blitzkrieg attacked crushed Poland in 18 days a strange calm fell over Europe • The Germans call it sitzkrieg – sitting war • Very little military action took place in Europe • Gave the Allies time to build up forces and supplies • The Phony War would end in April 1940

13. The Phony War Activities that did take place • Truth Raids • Britain “bombed” Germany with millions of propaganda leaflets • Sinking of passenger ships • Germany showed that they were not afraid to sink passenger ships in the Atlantic • Athenia sunk on September 3, 1939 • Royal Oak sunk on October 14, 1939