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War-time Conferences. During the war, the Allied leaders met often to discuss war strategy; they would also discuss what would happen once victory was achieved Of the seven conferences that occurred, there were three that were regarded as being the most important:. Tehran, Nov-Dec 1943:
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War-time Conferences • Duringthe war, the Allied leaders met often to discuss war strategy; they would also discuss what would happen once victory was achieved • Of the seven conferences that occurred, there were three that were regarded as being the most important: • Tehran, Nov-Dec 1943: • Held in Iran • It was the time where the big three (Roosevelt, Churchill, & Stalin) met • The meeting did not achieve much, but cordial relations were established between the two democratic leaders and the dictator, Stalin
Wartime Conferences II • Yalta, Feb 1945: • Southern Soviet Union • Numerous decisions re: Germany were made • Germany would be divided into “zones of occupation” once the war ended • War Crimes court would be est. in Nuremburg • Stalin promised to hold “free” elections in the countries he liberated from the Nazis • He did not do this… • Potsdam, July 1945: • Held near Berlin • Former war Allies (war over) were to make decisions about the future of Germany • Supposed to be a planning session for the peace conference • Democrats and Communist no longer trusted each other • Set the stage for the next war instead, that being the Cold War
Canada after WWII: The Effects • Economic Effects: • Canada’s economy grew due to all of its contributions to the war effort • Economy boomed, but so to did the national debt = $10 billion • Industrial and manufacturing production grew to overtake agriculture as the #1 economic sector in Canada • Politics: • CAN gained international recognition, est. as a “middle player”, took on a greater role world-wide • CAN played a big role in creation of United Nations • CAN troops recognized for action in Dieppe, Hong Kong, Normandy, and the Liberation of Holland • PM King averted conscription crisis • CAN government became more involved in live of Canadians, social safety net was strengthened • Civil Rights improved, contribution of ethnic groups advanced the cause
Canada after WWII: Effects II • Social Effects: • Women gained greater recognition for their contribution to the war effort • Canada became a more tolerant nation, as it eventually accepted displaced persons and refugees from Europe. • Canada experienced a “baby boom”, and a significant way of immigrants (included “war brides”) • Canada lost 42,000 to the war
Immigration to CAN post WWII • Pier 21: • Much like after WWI, Pier 21 in Halifax, NS was a portal for immigrants to Canada after WWII • 1947, it officially reopened for processing immigrants • Big challenge, processing all of the war brides from England, Scotland, and Wales • 48,000 war brides and 22,000 children were processed at Pier 21; 500,000 other newcomers arrived at Pier 21 including displaced people and refugees
P. 102 A quick recap: D-Day June 6/44 • Normandy Landing: Operation Overlord: • Allied invasion of German-held Europe (Coast of France). Planned to use naval and aerial bombardment to knock out German defences • One year in preparation, most complex military operation every attempted • Largest CAN military operation of WWII: 14,000 Soldiers, 100 ships, and 36 bomber squadrons from RCAF • CAN forces were assigned the beachfront code-named Juno – 8 kms of coastline, 1 of 5 targets at Normandy
D-Day Recap II • Within one week, 300,000 Allied soldiers on the shores of Normandy – after one month: 1 million soldiers & 200,000 Allied military vehicles • Allies finally had a foothold in Europe from which they could begin pushing back the German armies • Casualties: • 5,000 CAN, more than 200,000 Allies in total. • Germany 200,000 killed, wounded or missing; equal number captured • Germany lost similar amount of soldiers, however they were beginning to run low on replacements; Allies seemed to have a limitless supply…
Liberation of Holland, May 1945 • Following D-Day, Canadian troops distinguished themselves in a year long battle with the Allied forces pushing the German armies out of France and Western Europe • May 5, 1945, Canadian forces drove the Nazis out of Holland, forcing their retreat & surrender. • Important: allowed Allies to keep on moving forward towards Germany
Berlin, 1945 • Late April 1945, Soviet & American forces met in Germany, south of Berlin. Soviets turned their attention to destroying the city… • April 30, 1945: Hitler commits suicide… or did he? • Some say he, along with Eva Braun committed suicide, their bodies then torched, some say he fled to Argentina and lived to 73 years dying in 1962… • Only “real” evidence is dental records from remains that the Russians said they had found in a crater near Hitler’s bunker, these remains were “destroyed” in 1970… (Side note: Stalin really reallywanted proof of Hitler’s death) • Other “sources” say these records were tested in 2009, and came back as belonging to a female..
V-E Day • May 8, 1945 – V-E Day was declared when the last German Troops Surrendered
P. 105 End of WWII in Pacific • March 1945, Americans began the systematic fire bombing of Tokyo. It was believed that this would urge the Japanese to surrender. • There were many losses of life and property, but no surrender… • Prior to this, the United States had another plan up their sleeve
Manhattan Project • March 1943, USA had funded a very secret, very expensive project to determine if they could create Atomic Bombs • 1945, Pres. Harry S. Truman (Roosevelt died earlier that year) learned of successful Atomic test… • He now had another option to end the war in the Pacific • Top-secret effort cost $2 Billion and employed 120,000 personnel • “Fat Man” & “Little Boy”
Truman’s Decision • June 1, 1945: US Secretary of War recommended that the bombs should be dropped without warning on Japanese military targets in an Urban Setting • US Scientists felt that dropping the bomb over an isolated area, giving the Japanese an example of what could come was best idea • Truman rejected this, stating it was “impractical” and had no trouble making a “military” decision • Felt that this would shorten the war and save American lives
Hiroshima, Aug 1945 • If USA attempted a conventional attack on Japan, USA military planners could expect 1 to 1.5 million casualties and 12-18 months of fighting • Therefore, Truman elected to drop “Little Boy” on City of Hiroshima (340,000 inhabitants) • Ground Zero: 540,000 degree Fahrenheit; beyond “meltdown zone” there was an immense firestorm gutted the city, destroying 60,000 of 92,000 buildings • Official death count: 78,000 – 60,000 later died of bomb-related injuries or diseases…
Nagasaki: August 9, 1945 • Since Japan did not surrender immediately, Truman ordered that “Fat Man” on Nagasaki • Of 250,000 inhabitants, 35,000 killed • 170,000 people killed as a result of A-bombs
V-J Day, August 14, 1945 • On August 14, Victory in Japan was established as the Japanese Government sued for peace • World War II was “officially” over…