Canada and the Second World War

Transcription

1 Canada and the Second World War The Little Country that Could The Little Engine that Could

2 The Little Engine That Could Once upon a *me there was a li3le steam engine had a long train of cars to pull. She went along very well *ll she came to a steep hill. But then, no ma3er how hard she tried, she could not move the long train of cars. She pulled and she pulled. She puffed and she puffed. She backed and started off again. Choo! Choo! But no! The cars would not go up the hill. At last she led the train and started up the track alone. Do you think she had stopped working? No, indeed! She was going for help. "Surely I can find someone to help me," she thought

3 Once upon a *me in the 1930s there was a large country that had a large debt to address. She went along very well *ll she hit the great depression. But then, no ma3er how hard she tried, she could not get out of the economic depression. She over produced and she overproduced. She bought stocks and she bought on margin. She backed and started off again. eh! eh! But no! The economy would not go up the hill. At last she led the laissez faire economic strategy and started up the track with government interven*on. Do you think she had stopped working? No, indeed! She was going for help. "Surely I can find someone to help me," she thought

4 Over the hill and up the track went the li3le steam engine. Choo, choo, choo! Pre3y soon she saw a big steam engine standing on a side track. He looked very big and strong. Running alongside, she looked up and said: "Will you help me over the hill with my train of cars? It is so long and heavy I can't get it over." The big steam engine looked down at the li3le steam engine. Then he said: "Don't you see that I am through my day's work? I have been rubbed and scoured ready for my next run. No, I cannot help you." The li3le steam engine was sorry, but she went on. Choo, choo, choo!

5 Like the steam engine, Canada turned to the other big and strong countries for help. Running alongside, she looked up to the United States and said will you help me with my trade. The big United States looked down at the li3le steam engine and said don t you see, I am also in economic depression. Stock Market Crash WW I Debt Supply Greater than Demand Protectionism and Tariffs Reliance on USA

6 ADer a while she came to a li3le steam engine just like herself. She ran alongside and said: "Will you help me over the hill with my train of cars? It is so long and so heavy that I can't get it over." "Yes, indeed!" said this li3le steam engine. "I'll be glad to help you, if I can." So the li3le steam engines started back to where the train of cars had been standing. Both li3le steam engines went to the head of the train, one behind the other. Puff, puff! Chug, choo!

7 ADer a while, in 1939, she was approached by a li3le steam engine, with great global power who asked an important ques*on: "Will you help me we are at war?. The war needs your support. Although the li3le steam engine was not obligated to help out the other steam engine, it made an independent decision and ader a vote in parliament on September 10 th, 1939 the li3le steam engine said.."yes, indeed!. I'll be glad to help you, if I can." So the li3le steam engines started back to where the train of cars had been standing. Both li3le steam engines went to the head of the train, one behind the other. Puff, puff! Chug, choo!

8 Off they started! Slowly the cars began to move. Slowly they climbed the steep hill At the start of the war the regular force of the Canadian Army numbered just The Non- Permanent Ac*ve Mili*a had just over 60,000 men. By the end of September 1939 the army had increased its ac*ve strength to 55,000 poorly equipped soldiers. By ,000 Canadians were serving in the land forces and over 730,000 had joined.

9 The li<le country that could Ba3le of Hong Kong 1941 Ba3le of Sicily Dieppe 1942 Normandy Invasion 1944 Ba3le of the Atlan*c Libera*on of Holland 1945

10 The Ba3le of Hong Kong Japan a3acked the Bri*sh Colony of Hong Kong hours ader their a3ack on Pearl Harbor ADer only seventeen days of figh*ng the colony fell into Japanese hands on Christmas day The Winnipeg Grenadiers and the Royal Rifles of Canada fought bravely but were no match for the experienced Japanese troops. Every Canadian either died or were taken as a prisoner of war.

11 As they climbed, each li<le steam engine began to sing: "I- think- I- can! I- think- I- can! I- think- I- can! I- think- I- can!... Dieppe 1942 It was decided that a raid in force against the coast of France would be an important prelude to a cross- channel invasion. The Russians who had been carrying the brunt of the land war against Germany demanded that a second front be opened in the west. The raid was launched in the early hours of August 19, 1942 but the element of surprise was lost by an encounter with German naval forces while crossing the channel Canadians were selected to join 1000 Bri*sh and American troops in an a3ack on the French port of Dieppe. German troops were fully alert by the *me allied troops struck the beaches where they came under withering fire. Very few of the assaul*ng force escaped from the beach into the town.

12 Dieppe 1942 Dieppe: A bitter Memory 900 Canadians died in the first hours of the battle with an additional 500 wounded 1,946 Canadians were captured and became prisoners of war. By all reports Canadian troops fought bravely but the raid was badly planned and a complete tactical failure

13 The Battle of the Atlantic: The Royal Canadian Navy It was the task of the RCN to help keep open the vital Atlantic supply line to Britain. The prewar naval establishment consisted of 13 ships and 20,000 men. By the end of the war Canada s navy was the third largest in the world with over 100,000 men and women and 400 ships.

14 The Battle of the Atlantic Germany had come very close to winning World War I in the Atlan*c. There was fear that German submarines could again cut the vital supply line and starve Britain into submission. Canada was unprepared for this important ba3le. She began the conflict with a contribu*on of aging destroyers from the United States.

15 The Corve3e and the Convoy System The requirement for a cheap, small but deadly opponent to the U- boat was met by the corve3e. Canada was to build and sail over 100 of these 190 D. vessels. It was the job of the corve3es and the few destroyers sailed by Canada to escort the merchant ships safely across the Atlan*c.

16 The Italian Campaign Canadian troops joined the assault on Sicily in July of Canadians con*nued to serve in Italy following the comple*on of the Sicilian campaign and the Italian surrender. The ba3le for Ortona is par*cularly associated with the Canadian Corps. Canadians also joined the forces which captured Rome in 1944.

17 D- Day: June 6, 1944 The much delayed assault on the beaches of Normandy opened the second front in western Europe. American, Bri*sh and Canadian troops struck the beaches with over 300,000 troops and overwhelmed the German defenses. Juno beach was the successful target of the 3rd Canadian Division.

18 And they did! Very soon they were over the hill and going down the other side Holland 1945 Canadians are remembered for their part in the libera*on of Holland. In January of 1945 Canadian forces were deployed to clear the allied flank southwest of the Rhine River. General Crerar commanded the First Canadian Army in this sector. The war in Europe ended for Canada on May 5, 1945.

19 Total War: Clarence Howe Resources Women BCATP Everybody and every sector was mobilized

20 Effects of the War... Economic Effects By 1945 the Canadian Economy was booming Industrial and manufacturing production overtook agriculture Canada known as a middle power Political Effects Canadian Government intervened in the lives of the citizens more Minority groups gained more rights Women recognized Social Effects Canada became more tolerant Boom in population

21 The Li3le Country that Could As they climbed, each li3le steam engine began to sing: "I- think- I- can! I- think- I- can! I- think- I- can! I- think- I- can!..." Now they were on the plain again; and the li3le steam engine could pull her train herself. So she thanked the li3le engine who had come to help her, and said goodbye. And she went merrily on her way, singing: "I- thought- I- could! I- thought- I- could! I- thought- I- could!