Canada’s participation in foreign conflicts, pt. 1

1. Canada’s participation in foreign conflicts, pt. 1 MUNDY 2010

2. World War I • Britain and allies went to war with Germany on August 4, 1914 • Canada did not have authority in international defence, so it was automatically participating • Germany & Austria-Hungary vs. Britain, France and Russia for control over Europe • Often seen as struggle of nationalism vs. imperialism

3. World War I • Canada initially asked for volunteers (no draft) • April 1915 – Battle of Ypres – first gas attack • 1916 – Battle of Somme – 20000 Canadian casualties of German bombing and machine gun fire • April 1917 – Battle of Vimy Ridge: Completely organized by Canadian forces, took over major hill from Germans (months to plan and coordinate) • 1917 – Passchendaele – Canadians captured ridge

4. World War I • Billy Bishop – flying ace from Canada, used as poster boy for recruitment and patriotism for Canada’s war effort • Canada sent much food and supplies by ship to England; workers in factories mainly women • Canada contributed to war effort, but were only a part of Britain’s army, not their own • On Treaty of Versailles, Canada demanded to have own signature shown

5. World War II • Germany invaded Poland; Britain and France declare war on Sept 1, 1939 • Canada asserts independence by choosing to vote in parliament on Sept 10 • Allies were England, Canada, France (initially), Russia, U.S., China

6. World War II • 1941 – Hong Kong – 2000 Canadian soldiers were captured of surrendered by Dec. 25 • 1942 – Dieppe – Allied forces use French port town as practice run for beach invasion. Fails and 3000 of 5000 Canadians are casualties • 1943 – Italy – Canada fights for two long years to take parts of country; ultimately successful • 1944 June 6 – Battle of Normandy (coast of France), also known as D-Day. Along with Allied forces, Canada captures Juno Beach

7. World War II • From Normandy, Canadian forces head east along the coast and finally liberate the country of Holland (spring 1945) • Canada developed huge Home Front industries to supply forces in Europe – mostly run and staffed by women • Merchant marine shipped supplies in convoys to Europe under watchful eye of Canadian ‘Corvettes’ – fast-moving battleships • Trained many pilots and assisted in bombing runs through Royal Canadian Air Force

8. Cold War • Started when Igor Gouzenko, spy working in Canada under Russian embassy, decides to inform public of his activities • Allied powers cut off diplomatic ties to Russia, create “iron curtain” – an imaginary dividing line between western and eastern Europe • North Atlantic Treaty Organization created as military alliance between allies to act as defence and deterrent against Stalin’s ideas to push more countries into communist control

9. Cold War • As United States and Russia (U.S.S.R.) emerge as full superpowers with nuclear capabilities, a `cold war` exists wherein no side dared openly fight, but both took every precaution for possibility through measures of high alertness • Canada and U.S. create NORAD (North American Aerospace Defence) with a series of DEW (Distant Early Warning) lines across Canadian Arctic in order to check for Russian planes or warheads

10. Cold War • Canada refuses to house nuclear warheads on Canadian soil • Avro Arrow company in Canada creates supersonic jet, but project is scrapped by Canadian government without much explanation. From here on U.S. becomes major weapons manufacturer

11. Korean War • June 1950 – North Korea invades South Korea along 38th parallel • United Nations Security Council votes to send army to intervene • 25 countries participate, including Canada (27000 troops) • Fighting continued to 1953, when armistice signed. • As of today, war technically still exists

12. Vietnam War • Although mostly from 1945 – 1975, most fighting in 1960`s • North Vietnamese (Communist) attempting to take over country from South Vietnamese (Capitalist) • Neither United Nations nor NATO involved. Canada did not fight in this war • U.S. citizens, attempting to avoid draft, flees to Canada