Japanese Internment Camps

WW2 Begins

Sep 1, 1939

WW2 starts with Hitlers invasion of Poland, setting the stage for years to come.

Hideki Tojo Steps Up

Oct 17, 1941

Hideki Tojo comes into power during WW2, and is responsible for the various war crimes Japan commited.

Attack on Pearl Harbor

Dec 7, 1941

Japan attacks Pearl Harbor which is the start of two big things. First, Canada starts interning Japanese Canadians, secondly, America responds years later with the Fat Man and Little Boy atomic bombs.

Japanese Internment Begins

Jan 14, 1942

Fearing that the Japanese Canadians in Canada would betray Canada for their home country, Canada puts all Japanese in internment camps.

WW2 Ends

Sep 2, 1945

Formal documents of surrender are signed by Japan, although they were technically defeated on August 9, 1945, the bombing of Nagasaki. Even though the Japanese were defeated, internment still continues.

Internment Ends

Apr 1, 1949

Years after the war ended, the Japanese that were interned are released.

Apology from Brian Mulroney

Sep 22, 1988

Brian Mulroney, Prime Minister of Canada at the time, apologizes to the Japanese that were interned, and their descendents.

Terms of Agreement Signed

Aug 26, 1989

Mulroney signs a formal agreement with the National Association of Japanese Canadians.