World War Two Begins
Sept. 1, 1939: Germanyinvaded Poland
Britain and France declarewar on Germany
Canada declared war onGermany also on Sept. 10,1939
German troops march into Poland
Canada Not Ready to go to War
In 1938-1939, Canada’smilitary budget was only$35 million (remember inWWI the military wasspending $1 millionevery day)!
Much of the Canadianequipment was out ofdate, rusted, left overfrom the first war
Lack of Support for the War
Quebec, German and ItalianCanadians did not supportthe war
King saw Canada’s role asmainly supply, not as asource of troops
Because of the Depression,many Canadians felt that wehad our own problemswithout getting involved in aEuropean war
German Early Victories
Germany defeats Poland bythe end of September, 1939
April, 1940 - After a lull infighting over the winter, knownas the “phony war,” Germanyinvades Denmark and Norway,fighting is finished by June
May 10 Germany invadesHolland, Belgium,Luxembourg and France
June 25, 1940 France officiallysurrenders to Germany
Blitzkrieg
Blitzkrieg – lightning war
Germany used air strikes, followed by tanks, then infantryto rapidly attack and destroy defending forces
Britain Stands Alone
Following the German invasion ofWestern Europe, Chamberlainresigns and is replaced as BritishP.M. by Winston Churchill
• To prepare for an invasion ofBritain, Germany begins “theBlitz,” a bombing campaigndirected at the British air forceand cities
The Evacuation of Dunkirk
As German troops advanceinto France, the Britisharmy was trapped
Between May 26 and June 4,338 000 British and Frenchsoldiers were evacuatedfrom Dunkirk, but theBritish army lost a lot oftanks and heavy equipment
