Presentation Transcript

1. World War II notes

2. After “the war to end all wars,” most countries were not interested in fighting ever again. The Treaty of Versailles put a number of unpalatable conditions on Germany. The Great Depression hit EVERYONE hard, but especially Europe, because it’s economy had been so badly damaged by the war. Germany was MUCH harder hit because the conditions of the Treaty of Versailles made it very difficult (impossible?) for their economy to recover at all. The Great Depression had made fertile ground for alternative political ideas and xenophobic attitudes. Recall...
3. Expansionism Fascism Isolationism Appeasement Militarism Nationalism Racism Treaty of Versailles Competition for Resources League of Nations Great Depression European Civil War Unfinished? Causes of World War II
4. Expansionism (geographic or economic) Italy and the New Roman Empire Tries to expand into Ethiopia (1935), Albania (1939) and Greece. Germany Will aim to recapture lands lost in the Treaty of Versailles Austria, Poland, France Soviet Union Lost land after WWI too... Remember, they signed a treaty. Wants Poland, Japan, Finland, Estonia and Latvia Causes of World War II
5. Expansionism (cont’d) Hungary Lost lands in WWI Allied itself with Germany Romania and Greater Romania visions Allied with Germany Lost lands Bulgaria Lost territories to Greece, Romania and Yugoslavia Causes of World War II
6. Expansionism (cont’d) Finland Lost territory to the Soviet Union during the war Continued to fight with Soviets when Germans attacked Japan Expansionist desires Need colonies and resources for industrial growth and competition Thailand Lost territory to France and Britain at the end of the 19th century. Causes of World War II
7. Fascism Nationalism and militarism combined. My country is best and I’ll prove it! “Others” are the problem and we’ll solve it! racism and discrimination are common. The state should control the economy (and everyone in it) for the benefit of the state. Popular after the chaos of the Great Depression—somebody please take control of this mess!!! Strong central government (usually with a dictator) Italy, Germany, Japan, and Spain Fascist parties in almost every country (Canada too!) Causes of World War II
8. Benito Mussolini Adolf Hitler Emperor Hirohito Francisco Franco
9. Isolationism The desire to stay out of the affairs of other countries. Result of “the war to end all wars”—We’re never doing THAT again!!! USA will refuse to be drawn into conflict France, Britain (and Canada!) will engage in Appeasement Causes of World War II
10. Appeasement The desire to avoid war will cause countries to “give in” to demands—particularly Germany’s demands. Will do nothing as Germany re-arms. Will not stop the Anschluss—Germany and Austria uniting Will make the Munich Agreement—give a portion of Czechoslovakia (the Sudetenland) to Germany Causes of World War II
11. Militarism Arms race again! Who can build more and better and faster? Nationalism Peoples’ identifying themselves as greater, better, grander, etc. Empires a sign of greatness Smaller nations still trapped in larger ones created at the end of World War I—for example: Yugoslavia Causes of World War II
12. Racism Pan-Germanism The desire to unite all Germans—Austria, Germany, Netherlands, etc. (loose definition of “german”) Room for “others”??? Pan-Slavism The desire to unite all Slavic peoples (Russia, Czechoslovakia, the Baltic States, etc.) Anti-Semitism Common and widespread—Canada too! Particular sore point for those Germans who believe the “Scapegoat” theory that Jews were responsible for the loss of WWI Causes of World War II
13. Treaty of Versailles “War Guilt Clause” had humiliated Germany and there was a widespread desire to regain reputation Militarism—rebuild military Expansionism—win back lost territory Reparations had a HUGE impact on Germany’s economy Money, coal, steel, and other resources were being shipped OUT of Germany The Great Depression made this particularly distasteful A lack of willingness on the part of the Allies to enforce the treaty gave Hitler the green light. (Appeasement) Demilitarized zone, rearmament, etc. Causes of World War II
14. Competition for Resources Japan—island with few/no resources Invades Manchuria in 1931 Eyeing the oil-rich Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia) Importing 80% of their oil from the USA who had placed an embargo (1941) Causes of World War II
15. Failure of the League of Nations France and Belgium invade the Ruhr (1923) Even the big players can’t be made to follow the rules! Japan’s invasion of Manchuria (1931) Condemned but not stopped Italy’s invasion of Abyssinia (Ethiopia) (1935) Action condemned but not stopped The League of Nations had no army to enforce it’s will Also, despite being Woodrow Wilson’s idea, the USA had NOT joined the League. Causes of World War II
16. The Great Depression Poverty, unemployment, civil unrest Rise in new political parties to solve the problems Socialists—blame the imbalance of wealth and redistribute the wealth Communists—blame the rich and overthrow the capitalist system Fascists—blame the “other”(jews, immigrants, gypsies, the mentally ill, criminals, etc.—whoever can be blamed that is not “one of us”) and clean up our country Causes of world war II
17. Recognize this?
18. National Unity Party Est. 1934 Advocated Anti-Communism Argued that Jews should be deported to Hudson Bay Had a paramilitary arm called the Blueshirts Leader: AdrienArcand Alleged that R.B. Bennett used Arcand’s fascist newspapers to help him win the elections of 1930 and 1935 (Bennett lost in 1935) Flag of the Canadian “National Unity Party”
19. European Civil War Unfinished? Lots of unresolved issues from the last 150 years! Territorial confusion Muddied alliances Hurt feelings and desire to settle the score. NONE wants the legacy of losing. Causes of World War II
20. Early 1930s Italy invades Ethiopia Japan invades Manchuria Germany begins breaking terms of Treaty of Versailles Rearmament Occupation of the Rhineland (the demilitarized zone of Germany that bordered France) Steps to War
21. Anschluss (March 1938) Germany annexes Austria Munich Agreement (September 1938) Britain and France agree to let Nazi Germany take over the Sudetenland ( a predominantly German area of Czechoslovakia) as part of their appeasement policy Invasion of Chzechoslovakia (Aug 1939) StEps to War
22. New Alliances/ Agreements Italy—Rome-Berlin Axis—Hitler and Mussolini are allied Later (1940), Japan will join this axis. Steps to war
23. Non-Aggression Pact (Aug 1939—just prior to war) Germany and Soviet Union agree not to attack one another and to split Poland between them. Steps to War
24. Poland Invaded Germany wants back “The Polish Corridor” but Poland refuses. Poland is invaded Sept. 1 1939 Britain and France demand that Germany leave Poland—it does not. Steps to war
25. War is declared by Britain and France Sept. 3 1939—Clearly, appeasement failed! Canada declares war September 10 after an unrecorded vote in Parliament. First time Canada declares war as an independent country. Steps to war
26. “Lightning War” Strategy based on speed, coordination and movement—strike hard, strike quickly, and move on Relied on reputation for quick surrender Stuka dive bombers would destroy rail lines and communications IMMEDIATELY after, in the chaos created, tanks and infantry move in—no time to recover and regroup No stopping to celebrate... Move on to the next target. Spring 1940— Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, and finally France are quickly overtaken. Blitzkrieg
27. May 1940 Thousands of British and French forces pushed back by “Blitzkrieg” lose their footing in France and are backed up against the English Channel “Miracle at Dunkirk” –troops are rescued and taken safely to Britain in EVERY kind of boat imaginable Over 300 000 soldiers saved Equipment abandoned Foothold in Europe LOST Miracle at Dunkirk
28. Late summer and fall of 1940 German Luftwaffe to try and destroy the Royal Air Force (RAF) Goal: Control the skies so that the Navy can move troops to invade Britain Targets: RAF bases and equipment Strategy and Goal Change: Bomb London, destroy morale Fatal mistake—RAF now has just one patch of sky to focus their attention on Londoners rallied—spirit could not be broken Battle of Britain
29. Heavy Losses to the Luftwaffe Hitler abandons plans to invade Britain PM Churchill: “Never was so much owed by so many to so few.” Argues that Britain (and the rest of the free world?) is saved because of the Air Force. Battle of Britain
30. Germany intent on keeping up pressure on Britain Submarine warfare Attempts to cut off supplies 20 ships per week sunk Building 8 U-boats for every one they lost Battle of the Atlantic
31. Canada’s Role Sheepdog Navy Small at the start of the war, but third largest Navy in the World by the end of it! Escort convoys—Britain (and later Russia) depending on food and supplies from North America 50-60 ships in group Most precious cargo in the middle Navy escort to protect them Convoys were “sitting ducks” in the “Black Pit” where there was no air cover. Battle of the ATlantic
32. Merchant Marine Majority of ships were not navy--regular shipping vessel Carrying important supplies—often the target of U-boats Convoy often moved on when a ship was torpedoed—unsafe to slow down and pick up survivors. 1942—rough year! 1164 ships lost by allies Things improve—esp. Radar! Last four months of 1944—just 24 ships lost and 55 U-boats sunk. Battle of the Atlantic
33. Canadian waters unsafe too! 1942—German U-Boats penetrate the Gulf of the St. Lawrence!!! Sink 19 cargo ships and 2 naval vessels Also—German U-Boat torpedoed a Newfoundland car ferry—136 dead! Some historians argue that getting supplies to Europe was Canada’s GREATEST contribution to the war. Battle of the Atlantic
34. Recall: Japan had invaded Manchuria and Mainland China in the 1930s—war was continuing there. 1939—US abandons it’s trade treaty with Japan Bans sale of gasoline to Japan 1940—Japan blockades trade to China from French Indochina (Today, Vietnam) US responds by banning sale of iron, steel and mechanical parts from Japan More sanctions (economic punishments) follow Steps to War in the Pacific
35. Germany’s success in Europe encouraged Japan to put pressure on European colonies in southeast Asia Summer 1941—Japan acts aggressively on Dutch East Indies (Indonesia) France, Britain and the USA react by freezing Japanese assets and a total embargo on oil The US and Japan had been trying to improve their relations but no one was optimistic Roosevelt reinforced the Philippines—sign of war??? An impatient Japan began to prepare for war Steps to War in the Pacific
36. Japan’s plan: rapidly take over European possessions in the region Use their resources Expand their defensive perimeter prevent American forces from interfering with this plan Dec. 7 1941 Attack British Possessions: eg. Hong Kong and British Malaya Attack the US Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor USA, Britain, Canada, Australia and others declare war on Japan War in thE Pacific
37. Canada’s first combat role in the war To protect British Hong Kong from the Japanese 2000 Canadians – ill trained and ill equipped 2 ½ weeks of heavy fighting No significant naval or air support 300 killed, 500 wounded, the remainder POWs for 3 ½ years An additional 250 would die as prisoners in the brutal conditions of the camps Battle of Hong Kong
38. Concept of Bushido—Way of the Warrior—meant that anyone who surrenders is contemptible and should be treated shamefully First two days—no food Overcrowded huts in disrepair Inadequate toilet facilities Too few beds, blankets, clothes, etc Hard work, torture, beatings Little medical care for wounds and sickness Flies from garbage piles, lice, fleas and bed bugs POWs
39. Pearl Harbor attack increased fear of Japanese in Canada When Canada declared war on Japan, Japanese became enemy aliens and as such their rights were severely restricted. Jan. 1942—all Japanese males between 18 and 45 must move more than 100 miles from the coast. Government authorized navy to seize Japanese fishing boats Shut down Japanese newspapers Forced curfews and restrictions on mobility Forced relocation to internment camps Businesses, fishing boats, homes, vehicles, personal belongings sold to pay for the internment program 1944—those Japanese not interned were REQUIRED to move east of the Rockies (they had been encouraged to do so before)—penalty: be relocated to Japan at war’s end. Note: many high level officials in the RCMP, Navy, Fisheries Ministry and others felt that Japanese Canadians posed no threat to Canadian security. So… why? Japanese in CAnada
40. Response to fear that Japanese Canadians were spying for Japan, mapping our coasts, etc. 22000 were interned in camps 14000 of these had been born in Canada Lived in stables and barnyards, crowded conditions, no privacy, often unsanitary and cold Conditions were bad enough, that the red cross diverted food donations to the camps Those who complained were sometimes separated from their families. Japanese Internment
41. 1942—Pressure from the Soviets to open another front—they’ve been taking a beating on the eastern front for a while! Raid the port town of Dieppe—Operation Jubilee 5000 men Element of surprise lost when the convoy is spotted and skirmishes with German ships Go ashore in daylight A massacre Raid on Dieppe
42. In western Europe, the only way to fight the Nazis is from the air Night raids dropping hundreds and thousands of bombs on Nazi targets more than four years Bomber Command
43. 1943 Invasion of Sicily Surrender of coastal forces is quick and relatively easy Italian Front Italians surrender Germany retreats destroying all means of pursuit so they can regroup to fight Major Canadian campaign to reach the supply port city of Ortona House to house streetfighting The Italian Front
44. 1944—Operation Overlord HUGE scale invasion of France 50 000 soldier per day! 14 000 Canadians on Day 1 alone D-Day—huge casualties storming the beach More successful than Dieppe—some element of surprise... Fooled Nazis into believe that the attack would come on Calais First foothold on Europe—beginning of the end for Nazi Germany Would still take another year to win the war. Normandy invasion and juno beach
45. Heavy Fighting during the summer and fall of 1944 Will force the issue of Conscription again French and American troops liberate Paris on August 25, 1944 Canadians push eastward toward Belgium—By September they almost reach Dunkirk Battle of the Scheldt—to gain access to the Scheldt river and allow supplies to move to the British Army in Antwerp Belgium Heavily defended on both banks by German troops Completed by early November 6300 killed and wounded The Liberation of Europe
46. Liberation of the Netherlands Fall 1944-Spring 1945 April 1945—Canadians found the Dutch to be starving April 22—a truce with Germans to allow food to be brought in—thousands of tons were delivered in May The liberation of europe
47. Liberation of europe--Videos Canadians Liberate Holland Newsreel Liberation Day Ceremony at Canadian Cemetery in the Netherlands Christmas Eve Candlelight Vigil for Canadians Lost in Holland
48. “Throughout the Dutch countryside, a cheering population greeted its Canadian liberators with shouts and kisses; the noise of machine guns was a fading memory.” The Liberation of Europe
49. “On the evening of May 4th, Canadian soldiers heard on BBC airwaves a long-awaited announcement: Germany had surrendered. A few hours later, orders arrived from HQ that all hostilities were to stop on May 5th at 0800. War was over in Europe.”
50. Total War All industries, materials and people are put to work for the war effort. The War At Home
51. Rationing Wartime Prices and Trade Board (WPTB) Control prices and supervise distribution of food and scarce goods (i.e. Rubber tires)—NO HOARDING! Ration Cards A book of stamps that allowed you to buy a certain amount per month (butter, sugar, meat, tea, etc.) Limit of 545 litres of gasoline per year—many families put their cars on blocks Limited production of “non-essential” items such as liquor and silk stockings—these will become LUXURIES The War at home
52. “doing their bit” Bacon fat and bones are saved to provide glycerine for bombs People stop buying metal items such as pots, pans and appliances so that metals are available for production of airplanes Children and teens become scrap gatherers—rubber, rags, metals, paper—anything that can be recycled and used Teens leave school early to work on farms and victory gardens Buying Victory Bonds—individuals, communities, ethnic societies Chinese Canadians raised $4 million for Canada and another $5 million to help China fight off Japan. The War At Home
53. Recall: When the war started, Canada was still in the Great Depression... MANY were unemployed Six months into the war, there is a LABOUR SHORTAGE—not enough people available to do the work! C.D. Howe—Minister of Munitions and supply Organized the war economy Created 28 Crown corporations (government owned companies) to produce things like rubber, aircraft, explosives, etc. Convinced many high ranking business people to work for his ministry for $1 per year (essentially, volunteer!) Gets the nickname: Minister of Everything because he has so much control over so many areas Government and the Economy
54. Canada moves from a supplier of raw materials, to an industrial producer—Major shift! Factories producing everything from bullets to battleships! By 1942, Canada will produce no more cars—only military vehicles. Interesting... In the war in North Africa, Nazi General Rommel ordered the capture of Canadian jeeps because they were better than the German ones!!! Government and the Economy
55. The war will solidify the closer ties between Canada and the United States. 1938—Roosevelt promises action if Canada is attacked 1940—Ogdensburg Agreement Mutual defence 1941—Lend-Lease Act Makes it easier for Britain to buy war materials from the US and pay later. Ship goods to Canada “for mutual defence” and then Canada can, in turn, sell them to Britain—US stays neutral. Canadian and American Relations
56. 1941—Hyde Park Agreement Ensures that US will buy more war supplies from Canada (Since Britain is buying from US now) 1942-1943—Alaska Highway To protect against Japanese attack—greater mobility Paid for by US even though 2500km is in Canada Also built a pipeline Canadian and American Relations
57. CAMP X
58. Mackenzie King During election campaign he promised NO CONSCRIPTION for overseas service Around 1940 it becomes apparent that conscription may become necessary National registration for Home Service Many Quebecker’s boycott registration 1942 Plebiscite (direct vote on a question) Asks for permission to be excused from his promise “Conscription if necessary, but not necessarily conscription” 9 of 10 provinces vote overwhelmingly yes, Quebec votes overwhelmingly no. Conscription (Again!)
59. The first conscripts are used for HOME SERVICE Freeing up volunteers to go overseas First group of conscripts for “Home Defence” go to serve in the Aleutian Islands (string of islands off of Alaska) in 1943 Conscription (Again!)
60. In 1944, Mackenzie-King would RELUCTANTLY (some Quebec Cabinet ministers threatened to resign) agree that 17 000 conscripts were needed for Europe In 1945, 13 000 “home defence” conscripts were sent 3000 made it to the front lines, and 79 were killed. The conscription crisis of 1944 was much less damaging than the conscription crisis of 1916. Conscription (Again!)
61. Little by little, Canada and its allies force German troops back Intense resistance Hitler threatens that any soldier who gives up so much as a centimeter is a traitor Canada and it’s allies enter Germany from the West, Russia from the east April 1945 Soviets reach Berlin Mussolini has been captured and killed, strung up by his heels in a public square April 30—Hitler killed himself in a bunker rather than be captured. His body was then burned to prevent it’s use as a trophy.—Goebbels would announce that Hitler had died a hero at the head of his army May 7, 1945— VE Day, the war in Europe is over The War Ends
62. Fighting against Japan in the Pacific continues Chinese, Japanese, and other languages were needed as spies Government tried to deter them from enlisting Feared they would now have solid grounds for demanding the vote British and Australians press Canada to recruit Chinese Form elite commando unit called Force 136 The War in the pacific
63. Dropped behind enemy lines Dangers: Japanese army, mosquitos, monsoons, and malaria. Role: gather intelligence, sabotage, train guerilla resistance fighters Their contribution recognized, Chinese Canadian gain the right to vote in 1947 Force 136
64. About 35 had joined the war at the outset and were allowed to stay in service Feared, distrusted and treated with hostility after Pearl Harbour Needed as translators during the Pacific war: To help interrogate captured Japanese military To write and broadcast propaganda to isolated Japanese units To monitor Japanese radio broadcasts British military leaders were shocked that we had not made use of them this way before Japanese
65. Intelligence training school 100 Japanese would attend Later would be part of the occupying force when Japan surrendered Would later gather evidence for War Crimes Investigation Force 1948—Japanese Canadians get the vote S-20
66. July 1945: President Truman (Roosevelt died in April 1945) warns the Japanese that they should surrender unconditionally or risk being totally destroyed Aug 6 1945: An American plane drops an atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima (a major port and army headquarters) 60% of the city’s area was completely destroyed 71,000 people died and a further 68,000 were injured by this single bomb Japan did not surrender Aug 9 1945: a further 35000 killed and 65000 wounded by a second atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki Sept 2 1945: Japan surrenders Pacific War Ends
67. Major Contributions: People, food, munitions, raw materials, supplies By 1945, over 1 000 000 Canadians in uniform 50 000 women (total pop: 11 000 000) Approximately 42 000 lost Production: 800 000 vehicles 16 000 aircraft 900 000 rifles 200 000 machine guns 6500 tanks 400 cargo ships 500 escort vessels and mine sweepers Effects of the War
68. Economic Growth Recall: pre-war Depression 1945—full employment Booming industrial economy Gross National Production had tripled! Raw materials (aluminum, asbestos, coal, manganese) production boomed Agricultural boom Effects of the War
69. No more isolationism One of the founding members of the United Nations (to replace the League of Nations) Canada would play many lead roles in its early days “Middle Power” status Not a superpower, but some influence nonetheless Often the moderator role Would (eventually) take a greater role in righting the wrongs of the holocaust Taking in more Jewish refugees than our “proportion” Lead efforts to retrieve Jewish wealth stolen by Nazis International STatus
70. Increased roles for women Not yet equal… but moving that direction Gradual movement toward a more multicultural view of Canadian society French-English relations strained, but not broken Greater government control during the war leads to wider government intervention after the war i.e. Medicare Social Changes