introduction
Poster from WWII
Canada played a vital role in the early years of the Second World War. Their contribution to several significant battles led the Allies to a victory over Hitler’s Axis. Canada’s involvement is evident in the phony years of the war. Furthermore, battles such as the Battle of Dunkirk, Battle of Britain, Battle of Hong Kong, the Dieppe Raid, and the long lasting Battle of the Atlantic are prime examples of Canada being a contributing factor in the early years of World War II. These battles are discussed in more detail here.
history
Adolf Hitler, Chancellor of Germany, WWII
On January 30, 1933, Adolf Hitler was elected for chancellor (Rosenberg, n.d.). The Germans still had feelings of anger from the Treaty of Versailles and wanted a change immediately. They were not aware of the political extreme that Hitler would go to. Through propaganda, Hitler brainwashed the people of Germany into thinking that the Germanic race was the most superior. This led to the Holocaust where approximately six million Jews were killed.
Adolf Hitler wished for all people of the Germanic race to be in one country, so he started invading nearby territories with people of German descent. He used a tactic known as Blitzkrieg, which means lightning war in German. With his attacks on other countries, Hitler broke the terms of the Treaty of Versailles and with many warnings from Britain and France, Hitler continued to attack other countries. On September 1, 1939, Hitler's army invaded Poland. Britain and France, angered by this, declared war on Germany on September 3, 1939 (Colyer, Cecillon, Draper & Hoogeveen, 2010).
Although Canada was still part of the British Empire, Mackenzie King who was the Canadian Prime Minister at the time, thought that Canada should make its own decision to join the war. He called upon the Canadian Parliament and on September 10, 1939, Canada made an individual decision to declare war against Germany (Veteran Affairs Canada, October 1, 2011). Throughout the war, Canada played a vital role in the Allies’ victory.
Adolf Hitler wished for all people of the Germanic race to be in one country, so he started invading nearby territories with people of German descent. He used a tactic known as Blitzkrieg, which means lightning war in German. With his attacks on other countries, Hitler broke the terms of the Treaty of Versailles and with many warnings from Britain and France, Hitler continued to attack other countries. On September 1, 1939, Hitler's army invaded Poland. Britain and France, angered by this, declared war on Germany on September 3, 1939 (Colyer, Cecillon, Draper & Hoogeveen, 2010).
Although Canada was still part of the British Empire, Mackenzie King who was the Canadian Prime Minister at the time, thought that Canada should make its own decision to join the war. He called upon the Canadian Parliament and on September 10, 1939, Canada made an individual decision to declare war against Germany (Veteran Affairs Canada, October 1, 2011). Throughout the war, Canada played a vital role in the Allies’ victory.
Images from:
http://hooverstreetrag.blogspot.ca/2012/01/deserve-victory.html
http://www.wallpapervortex.com/wallpaper-30536_world_war_2_world_war_ii_soldiers.html
http://www.resimgezegeni.com/kanada-bayragi-resimleri-ve-fotograflari/8
http://imagesbee.com/adolf-hitler/view/adolf-hitler-8/
http://www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/qc/stlaurent/natcul/natcul1/natcul1d.aspx
http://www.historyonthenet.com/Nazi_Germany/nazigermanymain.htm
http://www.defencetalk.com/pictures/nazi/p24163-nazi-propaganda-posterworld-war-ii.html
http://hooverstreetrag.blogspot.ca/2012/01/deserve-victory.html
http://www.wallpapervortex.com/wallpaper-30536_world_war_2_world_war_ii_soldiers.html
http://www.resimgezegeni.com/kanada-bayragi-resimleri-ve-fotograflari/8
http://imagesbee.com/adolf-hitler/view/adolf-hitler-8/
http://www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/qc/stlaurent/natcul/natcul1/natcul1d.aspx
http://www.historyonthenet.com/Nazi_Germany/nazigermanymain.htm
http://www.defencetalk.com/pictures/nazi/p24163-nazi-propaganda-posterworld-war-ii.html