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Japan invades Manchuria
Japan invades the Chinese province of Manchuria in 1931 to expand its territory, influence and resources and industrialize the country. As a member of the League of Nations, the Chinese government appealed to the League of Nations to act against Japan. The League of Nations condemns Japan’s action and tries to negotiate. Japan responds by withdrawing from the League of Nations and continues its invasion of Manchuria. The two countries were at war by 1937 as the invasion of China was expanded. -
Hitler Comes to Power
Adolf Hitler is appointed chancellor of Germany in 1933 as leader of the National Socialist German Workers’ Party. The Nazi Party gains support by criticizing the Weimar Republic, Treaty of Versailles and convincing citizens that he could restore the country from the Great Depression. Hitler bans other political parties and uses the secret police, the Gestapo. The Nazi party gained power by violating the Treaty of Versailles and halting reparation fees, rebuilding the German army. -
Italy invades Abyssinia
Benito Mussolini, the fascist leader of Italy tried to expand Italy’s resources and territory by extending its African colonies and invading Abyssinia in the spring of 1935. Abyssinia, an independent African nation fought against the Italian invasion and gained popular support. The League of Nations acted by voting to partially impose trade sanction against Italy as oil, an essential import for Italy, and other important resources were not included. -
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Appeasing Hitler (1936-1939)
The appeasement of Hitler was carried out from 1936 to 1939 which allowed Hitler to violate the Treaty of Versailles and invade countries and regions around Germany. Britain and France did not act when Hitler had troops invade Rhineland and when Germany annexed Austria. When Hitler planned to invade Sudetenland, he was called to meet with Britain and France in Munich, where Britain and France allowed Germany to invade Sudentenland. -
The Munich Agreement
In 1939, Hitler planned to invade Sudetenland-a territory that had been given to Czechoslovakia in the Paris Peace Conference. When Hitler was called to meet with Britain and France in Munich, the Munich Agreement was announced. Agreements of Hitler claiming Sudetenland had been made when Hitler promised not to invade the rest of Czechoslovakia. Britain and France had believed that the policy of appeasement would secure “peace for our time." -
Kristallnacht
Violence against the Jewish population was encouraged by the Nazi party which influenced the attack of Jewish homes, businesses, and synagogues by Nazi mobs on November 9, 1938 as well as the imprisonment and persecution of many Jewish people. This was called the Kristallnacht or “Crystal Night” because sidewalks were covered by shattered glass from the windows. The oppression of the Jews were heightened after this event with the introduction of the Nuremberg Laws. -
The Refusal of the SS St. Louis
The S.S. Saint Louis left Germany in May of 1939 with 907 passengers escaping persecution. Anti-Semitism, popular in many countries in the west, denied entry of the ship into Cuba, South America, and the United States. Lastly, the ship was denied in Canadian ports because of Canada’s immigration policy restricting the number of immigrants from certain countries. As a result, the ship was sent back to Europe where many of the passengers died in concentration camps. -
Nazi-Soviet Non-aggression Pact
Hitler planned to reclaim East Prussia which has been given to Poland in the Paris Peace Conference. Conscious that invading Poland might threaten the Soviet Union’s security, Hitler made an agreement with Joseph Stalin, the leader of the Soviet Union, by signing a non-aggression pact in which the two countries divided Poland between each other and pledged not to fight one another if one went to war. -
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Battle of the Atlantic
The Battle of the Atlantic was the struggle to control the Allies’ shipping route across the Atlantic Ocean as German forces tried to cut off Britain’s vital shipping routes. The first three years of the war favoured Germany as U-boats sunk hundreds of Allied convoys and supplies. By the end of the war, German naval codes were being decoded. The Royal Canadian Navy provided half the escorts across the Atlantic, as well as small Canadian warships-corvettes-with the support of Liberator bombers. -
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World War II
The Second World War starts on September 3, 1939 when Britain and France declare war on Germany after it invades Poland. The war ends after Japan and Germany surrender, formally ending the war on September 2, 1945. -
Canada Declares War
On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland, and Britain and France ordered Germany out of Poland by September 3, declaring war on Germany it was ignored. A meeting was held for the Parliament to decide on Canada’s entry into the war. As conscription had divided Canada in WWI, King promised that, “…no such measure [conscription] shall be enacted.” Canada’s participation of the war was supported by most of the Parliament when it announced war on Germany on September 10, 1939. -
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Phony War
The Allies (Britain, France, and Commonwealth countries) stations along France’s border with Germany. Nothing happened from October, 1939 to April, 1940 as the Allies waited for the Axis’ attack (Germany, Italy, Japan) and this became known as the phony war. -
Blitzkrieg
Germany uses its war tactic of surprise and attacks by tanks and fighter planes-blitskrieg-to overwhelm the enemy with surprise, speed, and power. War planes led the attack and destroyed supply lines and key enemy positions. German panzers crashed through the enemy lines and soldiers parachuted down into the enemy’s position, destroying communication and transportation links. Germany conquered Denmark and Norway, soon conquering Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Belgium in the next few weeks. -
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Evacuation at Dunkirk
Germany quickly launches an attack on France through Belgium and within a few days, German panzers surround the Allied forces in the French port of Dunkirk in the English Channel. In an attempt to escape, the British navy gathered hundreds of boats to navigate the English Channel on May 26, 1940. The German Luftwaffe bombed the Dunkirk port on May 28, and by June 4, the evacuation was completed. Nearly 340,000 Allied soldiers were evacuated to Britain. -
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North African Campaign
Axis forces begin a three year campaign for control of resources and strategic positions in North Africa, known as the Desert War in 1940. When British forces invaded Libya, an Italian colony-after Italy joined the Axis-Italy responded by invading Egypt with the Suez Canal. A second front was opened as German forces were dispatched to North Africa to prevent an Allied victory. In the three years of the North African campaign, no decisive victories rose until May 1943 with a final Allied victory. -
France surrenders
The German army continued to sweep through France and overrun the country after the Allied forces evacuated France in the Dunkirk port. The French army, completely defeated by German troops, officially surrendered on June 22, 1940. -
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Battle of Britain
Hitler launches “Operation Sea Lion” in July, 1940. German Luftwaffe bombed harbours, shipping facilities, airfields and aircraft factories. When London was bombed on August 24, the RAF bombed Berlin in Germany. The Luftwaffe began frequent bombing attacks on London-“the Blitz.” The RAF was not defeated due to advanced radar systems and British Spitfires and Hurricanes. In September, Germany retreated as more German bombers were shot down by the RAF. The battle ended with over 20, 000 deaths. -
The Tripartite Pact
The Axis alliance is formed when Germany, Italy, and Japan signs the Tripartite Pact in Belin on September 7, 1940, pledging allegiance. The Pact promised mutual support for either country if one were to go to war with another country outside of the Axis. The leadership of Germany was recognized as well as Italy and its establishment of new order in Europe. Japan was granted lordship over “Greater East Asia.” -
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Operation Barbarossa
Hitler launches “Operation Barbarossa” on June 22, 1941, breaking the Nazi-Soviet non-aggression pact, and attacking the Soviet Union for raw materials, agricultural land, and labour for the German Empire. Germany launched its first attack, reaching the outskirts of Moscow and Leningrad, but was stopped by the winter. Germany launched another attack in 1942, but was stopped again in Stalingrad by winter. With no reinforcements, the German army surrendered in 1943 with over 300,000 casualties. -
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The Siege of Leningrad
German troops approached Leningrad on September 8, 1941, isolating the city from the rest of the country. The siege lasted for 872 days where millions died from cold and starvation in one of the worst sieges in World War II. There was little to no heat, water supply, and electricity. Supply lines by air and river were constantly hit. The city’s food rations dropped to an all-time low of 425 grams per day; varying among different citizens. This siege is famous retelling its horrors of starvation. -
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The Holocaust: The Final Solution
In 1941, the Nazi government initiated the “Final Solution,” the systematic way in which millions of non-Aryans were shipped to concentration/labour camps in Germany and Poland. Victims were stripped, shaved, stolen from, and separated from their families. The weak were sent to be killed in gas chambers; the healthy were overworked in labour camps. Anti-Semitic countries did not help stop these mass killings, while others were not aware of the full-extent of the Holocaust. -
The War in the Pacific: Pearl Harbour
Japan, with sights of expanding its territory and gaining control of valuable resources, was prepared to invade American and European colonies. On December 7, 1941, Japanese planes bombed the U.S. naval base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Japan followed this by bombing Philipines, a territory of the U.S. With more than 2000 people killed and much of the American fleet destroyed, the U.S. declares war on Japan, joining the Allies’ side on December 8. -
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Battle of Hong Kong
Japan attacks Hong Kong, a British colony hours after the Pearl Harbour bombing. Canada has 2 battalions sent to Hong Kong, reinforcing the Commonwealth and British forces. British Primes Minister Winston Churchill asks Canada to send troops (Inexperienced Canadians to fight skilled Japanese) to Hong Kong, reassuring the safety of its soldiers. Hong Kong falls to the Japanese on December 25, 1941, also known as “Black Christmas.” (1700 Canadian POWs held for over 3 years, 260 POW deaths) -
The Fall of Singapore
Singapore’s fall to Japan on February 15, 1942 highlights a tragic defeat of the British Army in World War II. Also known as the Battle of Singapore, it was fought in the South-East Asian theatre when Japan invaded Singapore, the major British military base in South-East Asia. The fighting in Singapore from February 8-15 resulted in the fall of Singapore to the Japanese as one of the worst disasters in British military history. The fall of Singapore resulted in approximately 80,000 POWs. -
Canada Says Yes to Conscription
With the pressure from the Conservative opposition to enact conscription, Canadian Prime Minister King holds a plesbicite to ask voters if they would release the government from their promise of no conscription. Canada voted on April 27, 1942 with a yes or no vote poll, and all provinces but Québec agree to conscription. The issue of conscription divides Québec from the rest of Canada once again with riots held in Montréal and other parts of the country. -
Battle of Midway
It was one of the most decisive battles of World War II between the US and Japanese navies fought in the Pacific in June 1942, destroying Japan’s naval strength with the Americans destroying four of Japan’s aircraft carriers. Japan’s navy was not recovered and was put on defense after the Battle of Midway. -
The Dieppe Raid
The Allies raid a French port in Dieppe when asked by the Soviet Union to open up a second front against Germany in the west. The Allies believed that a smaller raid would allow them to test their equipment and techniques. The Second Canadian Division was chosen to lead the main attack. On August 19, 1942, the plan fails when ships are delayed due to German interference, immobility of tanks, poor communication between ships and troops. (Over 1000 casualties with 1946 Canadian prisoners) -
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Battle of Sicily
Allied forces first invade Sicily on July 10, 1943 with the support of Canadian forces. The Allied forces fight Italian and German soldiers through 240 kilometres of mountainous terrain, capturing the island after 38 days. The victory of the Battle of Sicily led to the downfall of Mussolini and his government. With the loss of 562 Allied soldiers, the German forces continued to defend the Italian territory in the Battle of Ortona. -
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The Italian Campaign
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill begins the Italian campaign when he announces that the Allies should recapture Europe through Italy and Sicily, as what he called the “soft underbelly” of Europe. With an allied victory in North Africa, the Allied forces were able to launch their attack from the south. The Italian campaign lasted for a total of two year from 1943-1945. -
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Battle of Ortona
After the Battle of Sicily, the Allies follow the Germans as they retreat to mainland Italy. Canadian troops are ordered to capture the heavily fortified medieval town of Ortona, requiring troops to first capture smaller German-occupied villages, and cross the river Moro. In Ortona, soldiers fought from house to house on rubble-filled streets. On December 28, 1943, the Canadians captured the town, losing about 7000 Canadian. Canadian troops from Ortona were later sent to join the France campaign -
Juno Beach
14,000 Canadians were deployed on Juno Beach as the first wave of attack, passing through concrete barriers, barbed wire, and land mines. The Canadian troops fought nine kilometres inland in a day, and are also known for pushing back German defences the farthest out of the 5 beaches in the D-Day invasions. Casualties from the day were high with 359 Canadians killed and 715 wounded. -
D-Day: The Normandy Invasion
On June 6, 1944, the Allies began the largest Allied invasion of the Second World War in France, called “Operation Overlord.” The attack was scattered onto five beaches along the Normandy coast: Sword, Juno, Gold, Omaha, and Utah. Over a million Allied troops attacked with massive air and naval support, and paratroopers destroyed communication and transportation lines. The invasion was successful because plans were kept secret from Germany, and bad weather caused the Germans to doubt a landing. -
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Battle of the Scheldt
After weeks of fighting and expanding their territory, the Allies advanced to Germany through France and Belgium. In September 1944, Canadians crossed through Dieppe where they had once suffered a defeat. In October, Canadians began clearing enemy troops from the Scheldt River in Belgium connecting Antwerp to the North Sea. German forces still controlled access to the sea, but after a month of fighting, the Allies managed to clear German troops as they began advancing into Germany. -
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Battle of Rhineland
On February 8, 1945, Allied forces began driving German troops over the Rhine River and out of the Netherlands as they fought through mud and flooded fields. On March 10, the German army withdrew to the east bank of the Rhine River, as Canadians advanced north to liberate Holland. The Battle of Rhineland resulted in 23,000 Allied deaths, and the loss of 90,000 German soldier, 52,000 of which were taken prisoner. -
Liberating the Netherlands
Canadians were assigned to liberate the Netherlands when German forces destroyed port cities and flooded the countryside. By the end of 1944, many were starving in the harsh winter as food and fuel supplies to the Dutch were cut off. After a month of fighting in Rhine, the Allies made a truce negotiation with Germany on April 28, 1945, allowing the Allies to bring in tonnes of supplies to the Netherlands. Victory parades were held for the Canadian soldiers as they liberated the country. -
The Defeat of Germany
Germany was quickly weakened from invading Allies in the north and west, and the attacks from the Soviet Union from the east of Germany. On May 7, 1945, Germany officially surrendered to the Allies and Hitler was later found to have committed suicide before he could be captured. -
Victory in Europe Day
After Germany surrendered to the Allies on May 7, 1945, the war in Europe was declared over as May 8 became Victory in Europe day celebrating the end of war in Europe. -
The First Atomic Bombs (August 6 & 9, 1945)
The war in the Pacific was intensified in March of 1945, when American allied forces fire-bombed Japanese cities. Japan declared that they would “fight to the last person.” American and British scientists developed the first atomic bomb code-named the “Manhattan Project.” Canada contributed by delivering uranium. On August 6, 1945, an American plane dropped the first atomic bombs on Hiroshima, and Nagasaki three days after. (100,000 people killed, 100,000 wounded, long-term effects: cancer) -
Russia declares war on Japan
Russia declares war on Japan and invades Manchuria. -
Japan surrenders
Japan finally surrenders on August 14, 1945 after experiencing the massive destruction in and around two of their cities and the tragic loss of approximately 100,000 killed including more citizens than combaters. Japan surrendering marked the end of the Second World War with millions of lives lost in the six years of war. -
WWII "fornally" ends: US accepts Japan's surrender
U.S. General, Douglas MacArthur accepts the surrender of Japan, and formally ends the Second Word War. -
The Nuremberg Trials
The Allies establish an International Military Tribunal in 1945 where leaders of a country were charged and prosecuted as war criminals. In Germany, twelve defendants were sentenced to death while others were imprisoned. -
International Courts of Justice-Atrocities in Asia
Japan’s wartime acts violated international law and were put to trial in international courts of justice. The Tokyo trials heard the cases of mass killings, human experimentation, famine, torture, and forced labour. Military personnel were found guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
