Canada Goes to War

1. Canada Goes to War

2. Declaring War German troops parade through Warsaw after the surrender of Poland. September 28-30, 1939. • The Second World War began at dawn on September 1, 1939, as the German Armies swept into Poland. • With the full fury of the blitzkrieg - the lightning war - the German armoured (Panzer) divisions destroyed Polish defenses in the west. • The Soviet troops, as previously agreed with Germany, crossed the eastern frontier. Trapped between two advancing armies Polish resistance ended. Poland surrendered.

3. Declaring War • The Athenia, a passenger ship carrying more than 500 Canadians was sunk by German U-boats (submarines), hours after Britain declared war on Germany (112 civilians were killed) • Canada declared war on Germany on Sept 10,1939. • Anti-German sentiments and pro-British sentiments ran high. • Quebecers supported our entry into war based on King’s promise that conscription would not be necessary.

7. Technology • WWII employed new technologies that made this war radically different than WWI. • Planes were mainly for reconnaissance during WWI, but used heavily for bombing in WWII. • No man’s land, a grim reality in WWI, virtually disappeared with better tanks and faster, more improved weapons. • Radar, bazookas, long range bombers, submarines and tanks changed warfare.

11. Divisions of Effort • In WWI, those who enlisted joined the army, in WWII three services existed; the army, the Royal Canadian Air Force, and the Royal Canadian Navy. • All three divisions enlisted men and women for duty at home and overseas.

12. The Army

13. Royal Canadian Air Force

14. Royal Canadian Navy