Chapter 7 Notes
Canada at War
Three Factors leading to WWII:
- Treaty of Versailles
- Poor economy
- Hitler wanted to gain power in Germany by tearing up the Treaty of Versailles and to restore Germany to it’s rightful place in the world.
Many people believe one of the major causes of World War 2 was the Treaty of Versailles - a treaty that enabled the first world war to end
- the terms of Versailles punished Germany for starting the war by taking away land and forcing it to pay reparations
The Treaty of Versailles
•Required Germany toaccept the blame for starting WWI.
•Germany had to pay 33 billion dollars to pay for the war (reparations)
•Reduce their army
•It wasn’t created to promote peace, but to punish Germany.
•The reparation payments, combined with the Great Depression, created terrible conditions for the German people.
•These conditions created political instability which allowed Hitler and the Nazi party to gain support throughout the 1930s
Hitler
1. Hitler and the Nazis were elected to power in 1933
2. Won favour of people by using the anger of the treaty of Versailles to get the votes.
3. He promised to tear up the treaty.
4. He gained power and outlawed any other political parties. He became a
dictator - only ruler
Hitler gains power, and starts breaking the treaty
1. He built up Germany’s army
2. Started to annex - occupy territory that was taken from them
3. Britain, France, US allowed these things to happen to avoid war - it was know as appeasement
After the Appeasement
1. Germany demanding more land it had lost
2. He went after land in Poland,
3. Britain & France declare war on Germany
Canada at War
By 1939, Canada was now in control of it’s own foreign policy, so it had a choice whether or not to join Britain in the war.
Canada does end up declaring war on Germany on September 10th, 1939 after a two day debate in parliament. Canada decided to provide war materials (bombs, food, ammunition, guns, electronics, airplanes and more) and a small volunteer army. However, the stunning German victories over Holland, Belgium and France left Britain alone to face Hitler with only the Commonwealth countries as allies. This changed Canada’s position, they went from a limited role in the war to a total commitment to the war effort.
The Allies and Axis become a little more complicated as the war goes on but for now this is what you need to know:
Allies
France, Poland, Britain (The first Allies to join together against Hitler)
The following countries joined in:
Commonwealth(Australia,Canada,India,New Zealand,NigeriaandSouth Africa) joined in shortly after Hitler invaded Poland (You do not need to memorize all the countries in the Commonwealth)
Soviet Union - June 1941 after beinginvaded by Germany.
United States - Officially joined the war after Japan bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941.
Axis
Germany, Italy, Japan
Two events that changed the course of the war
- Hitler invaded the Soviet Union
- Japan bombed Pearl Harbour.
The war in Europe ended on May 8th, 1945
Phase 1: September 1939 to June 1949
1. What is the Juno Beach Center? Pg 103
It is both a museum and a cultural centre that showcases the contributions of Canada and Canadians made during the Second World War.
2. What is one possible cause of WWII? Pg 104
One interpretation that is widely accepted suggests that the WW2 in Europe was caused in large part by the Treaty of Versailles. This Treaty was the peace settlement that ended WW1. The Treaty of Versailles punished Germany for starting WW1 by taking away land and by forcing it to pay sums of money called reparations.
3. How did Hitler Gain Support? Pg 104
Hitler promised to tear up the treaty. This was not the only reason that the Germans supported Hitler but it played a significant role. Shortly after the election, all political parties except the National Socialists were outlawed, and Hitler became the dictator or only ruler.
4. How did Britain, France, and the USA react to Hitler’s violation of the Treaty of Versailles? Pg 104
They did not take a stand against Hitler. They wanted to avoid another war at all costs. They argued that relaxing the terms of the Treaty would satisfy German demands and allow peace to prevail. This policy later became know as appeasement.
5. What started WWII? Pg 104
When Hitler wanted territory in Poland too, Britain and France had had enough. On September 1, 1939 Germany invaded Poland and Brittan and France declared war against Germany two days later.
6. How did Britain and France react to Germany’s invasion of Poland? Pg 104
They declared war against Germany.
7. What did Canada decide to do regarding the war? Pg 105
Canada declared war on Germany on September 10th, 1939 after a two day debate in parliament. Canada decided to provide war materials (bombs, food, ammunition, guns, electronics, airplanes and more) and a small volunteer army.
8. What was the Phony war? Pg 105
The early stage of the war has been called the “phony war” because little happened in Western Europe immediately after Germany invaded Poland.
11. Describe the term Blitzkrieg. Pg 105-06
lightning war – A German War tactic.
A sudden violent attack combining airplanes, armor, and mobile infantry designed to quickly overcome the enemy. Using this tactic the Germans were able to easily break through Allied defenses in several places.
12. As a result of German Blitzkrieg, what happened to France? Pg 106
The French government surrendered to Germany.
13. What was the Miracle of Dunkirk?(May June 1940)
Dunkirk, and the evacuation associated with the troops trapped on Dunkirk, was called a “miracle” by Winston Churchill. As the German’s swept through western Europe in the spring of 1940, using Blitzkrieg, both the French and British armies could not stop the onslaught. For the people in Western Europe, World War Two was about to start for real. The “Phoney War” was now over.
The advancing German Army trapped the British and French armies on the beaches around Dunkirk. 330,000 men were trapped here and they were a sitting target for the Germans.
14. How many troops did Admiral Ramsaythink could be rescued? How many were actually rescued?
Admiral Ramsey, based in Dover, formulated Operation Dynamo to get as many men as possible off the beach. Admiral Ramsay had hoped to rescue 45,000 men. A total of 338,226 soldiers were rescued.
15. What was the Merchant Marine? Pg 106
Merchant Marine - An ocean going ship used for trade.
They were needed to transport military personnel and war goods. The first ships sailed in mid-September 1939 and the first ones were suck by German submarines or U-Boats almost immediately.
15. What was a U-boat? Pg 106
German submarines
16. Describe the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan? Pg 106
Canada’s air force would train Allied pilots and air crews in Canada. This was a very successful program, training over 131,000 aircrew.
Phase 2: June 1940 to July 1943
1. Which 2 events of 1941 had changed the course of the war? Pg 108
In June 1941, German armies invaded the Soviet Union, turning it into Britain’s ally.
Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. Neutral in the war against Hitler until then, the United States declared war on both Germany and Japan.
2. What does Germany’s invasion of the Soviet Union mean to the Allies? Pg 108
The Soviets no longer support Hitler. The German army suffered a massive defeat at the hands of the Soviet army in February 1943 near the city of Stalingrad in the Soviet Union. Attacking the Soviet union is know as one of Hitler’s fatal errors.
3. How does the USA react to the Japanese invasion of Pearl Harbor? Pg 108
The United States declared war on both Germany and Japan.
4. Describe the Battle of the Atlantic. Pg 108
At sea, the navy and merchant marine fought the Battle of the Atlantic. Convoys of merchant ships caring war materials to Britain and the Soviet Union were essential to the Allies war efforts. German submarines tried to sink these convoys. They were quite successfully for a long time. By mid 1943 more effective anti submarine tactics and weapons become available and dramatically decreased the number of ships lost to the U-boats.
5. Describe Canada’s first tragic defeat in Hong Kong during December 1941. Pg 108- 109
Canadian forces were sent to reinforce the British garrison located in Hon Kong. Japan attacked Hong Kong on December 7th, 1941. By Christmas Day, the Japanese had defeated the British and Canadians, despite the best efforts of the defended. Of the 1,975 Canadian soldiers defending the colony, 290 were killed and 1685 became prisoners of war.
6. Describe Canada’s tragic defeat in the Raid on Dieppe during August 1942. Pg 109
More than 6000 Allied soldiers took part, including 4963 Canadians. The raid was a disaster – over 900 Canadians were killed and more than 1900 became POW’s (prisoners of war).
7. Research the Soviet Union’s victory over Germany in the city of Stalingrad during February 1943.
The Battle of Stalingrad (July 17, 1942-Feb. 2, 1943), was a major battle on the Eastern Front of WW2 in which Nazi Germany and its allies fought the Soviet Union for control the city of Stalingrad.
It stopped the German advance into the Soviet Union and marked the turning of the tide of war in favor of the Allies.
The Battle of Stalingrad was one of the bloodiest battles in history, with combined military and civilian casualties of nearly 2 million.
Phase 3: July 1943 to June 1944
1. Define the term “front”.Pg 110
The term used to describe the line of contact between two enemy forces.
3. Describe the Canadian contribution during the Italian Campaign of 1943. Pg 110 -111
They invaded the island of Sicily. Sicily fell to the Allies, who then invaded mainland Italy, Germany’s ally. The loss of Sicily led to the eventual overthrow of the Italian government.
Phase 4: June 1944 to September 1945
1. What was operation Overlord and where did it take place? Pg 113
The plan to invade Europe was named Operation Overload, but the landings in Normandy, France, are often called the D-Day landings.
2. Which beaches did the Canadians, USA, and the British land on? Pg 113
Canada – Juno
USA – Utah and Omaha
The British – Gold and Sword
4. When did the war in Europe end? Pg 115
May 8, 1945
5 Apply and Extend#1 Pg 115
______
______
6. What was President Truman’s dilemma regarding the use of the atomic bomb? Pg 116
Truman had to decide whether to use this weapon. It was obvious that many civilians would be killed if it were used. He stated that the purpose of dropping the atomic bomb was to destroy the ability of the Japanese to continue to wage war. The use of the bomb would therefore save the lives of the thousands of U.S and Allied soldiers and sailors who would die in battle if Japan had to be invaded.
7. Why does Japan surrender to the Allies and in turn end World War II? Pg 116
An atomic bomb was dropped on the city of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. Japan failed to surrender, a second atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki three days later. The cities were devastated, and about 100,000 to 140,000 people died immediately in the initial explosion and firestorm. Approximately the same number died later from exposure to radiation Japan surrounded on September 2, 1945.
8. Describe the Nazi Final Solution. Pg 117
The Final Solution was Hitler’s plan to murder all of Europe’s Jews and any others the German leaders wanted to eliminate.
9. What took place at Nazi death camps? Pg 118
Millions of European Jews, along with other were murdered on Hitler’s orders. Jews were starved, worked to death, shot or gassed.
10. What is the Holocaust? Pg 118
The Holocaust was the murder of an estimated six million Jews during the Second World War at the hands of the Nazis.
Long Answer Questions that WILL be on the Test
One hypothesis is that the Treaty of Versailles, which ended WW1, was actually the cause of WW2. Explain. Included as many facts about the Treaty of Versailles as you can.
Describe one battle that took place during WW2.