WWII Flashcards
Why wasn’t Canada ready for WWII?
- wwi still fresh in mind
- military funding cut
- pacifism. Canadians worked tirelessly to promote peace
- Great Depression going for 10 years
- Canada followed policy of Isolationism during 1930s. Wanted to be neutral, sell to both sides
- Mackenzie King visited Hitler in 1937 and underestimated the threat
What are the steps to WWII
- 1931 Japan conquers Manchuria (North of Korea)
- 1933 Germany rearms
- 1935 Italy invades Ethiopia
- 1936 Germany invades Rhine Land March (France)
- March 1938 Germany invades Austria
- Sept 1938 Munich agreement signed. France and Britain give Sudetenland as appeasement (Czech)
- October 1938 Rome Berlin Axis signed. Hitler allows Mussolini to take Austria. Promises him to let him take over Europe (1940 Japan joins Axis powers)
- March 1939 Hitler occupies Czechoslovakia
- Aug. 1939 Germany and Russia sign non-aggression pact. Agree to split Poland
- Sept. 1 1939 Hitler invades Poland
- Sept. 3 1939 GB and France declare war
- Sept. 10 1939 Canada joins
What military resources did Canada have at the beginning of WWII?
10 soldiers
10 sea vessels
50 aircraft
How did the Canadian government manage to get Canada prepared when war was declared?
- War Measures Act
- Orders placed for equipment
- New War taxes
- By end of Sept. over 58 000 volunteers
Draw the Dieppe Raid
See text
What were the problems with the Dieppe Raid?
- Go without full support of air or sea
- They were seen but didnt turn around
- Got there in broad daylight
- Arrived at low tide
- Smoke to hide soldiers prevented communication
- Short range ships
- Tanks useless against chert beach
- Crossfire
- Only 5000 soldiers to 10 000
- No exit plan
How many Canadians are at the Dieppe Raid and when was it?
5000
What is the traditional and atypical view of Dieppe?
Crucial to learn lessons that allowed win at D-Day
Prove to Russia that could not enter France and open up a two front war there
What is the difference between tactics and strategy?
T: Stuff we do on the battle field
S: Overall plan for the war
What is the Allies strategy in WWII?
Come from Africa to Italy to draw Nazis down from France. Italy has weak military. Weaken France then open up a third front
Give a timeline of Allies invading Italy
- 1942 Hitler starts dividing efforts to kill Jews. Commander runs out of gas for tanks
- 1943 Allies take Africa
- Germany send best soldiers to Italy
- Germans have reinforced lines as they move back, always at a disadvantage
- Russians are able to take back some land
- 1944 prepare for D-Day
What happens at the battle of Ortona?
- ancient city. Stone houses, narrow streets
- fighting through Hitler line
- Nazis hiding in strategic buildings
- Fill streets with rubble, only one way in
- Allies blew up buildings to make own roads
- travelled rooftop to rooftop
- A victory at great cost
When was the Battle of Britain?
Sept. 1940-May 1941
What was the Battle of Britain?
- massive nightly air raids in key locations
- purpose to soften up, then go in with landing to invade
- Canadian fighter pilots sent to shoot down bombers
- 10% survival rate
- Canadian ground crews did clean up and relief work
When was the battle of Hong Kong?
December 1941-Dec. 25 1941 17 days
What was the battle of Hong Kong?
- battle between Japan and China
- loss. No reinforcement or retreat plan. Surrendered. Not enough men. Only about 2000
- Britain sent their soldiers out, sent in Canadians
- POW faced concentration camps
When was the Dieppe raid?
Aug. 19 1942
How many Canadians were killed in the Dieppe Raid?
900+
1000 wounded
2600 POW
What was the battle of the Atlantic?
- entire war
- need to feed people in Britain
- Canadian navy escorting cargo ships
- Germans sinking cargo ships
When was the Dambuster thing?
May 17 1973
What was the Dambuster thing?
Arial assault on German locations
When was the Italian Campaign?
By Sept. 3 in Italy. July 10 1943.