Download Major Battles of World War II and Canada`s Involvement

Major Battles of World War II and Canada’s Involvement
Student Handout
The Normandy Invasion/Juno Beach
Who: Allied Troops (Canadians, British and United States) vs. the Germans
What: Allies were trying to take back France from the Germans
Where: Normandy, France
When: June 6th, 1944 – August 29th, 1944
Why: The Germans had taken over France
Beaches
Americans: Utah and Omaha beaches
British: Gold and Sword beaches
Canadians: Juno beach
Canadian Numbers
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14,000 soldiers to land on beaches
450 to drop behind enemy line by parachute or gliders
Royal Canadian Navy supplied ships and about 10,000 sailors
Operations
Operation Overlord: invasion of Nazi-occupied Europe
Operation Neptune: naval and beach assault lines, involved synchronized attacks from
land, sea and air
Operation Fortitude: allies tricked Germans into thinking an attack on Calais
Germans position weaker 7th army at Normandy, strong 15th army
at Calais
Canadian Casualties
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Injured and/or dead: 18,444
Dead: 5,021
Canadians on Juno Beach
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14,000 Canadians on Juno Beach on D-Day
Heavy German force onshore, lots of machine gun fire
Fought into towns (Berieres, Courseulles and St. Aubin), then advanved more
inland
Stormed pillboxes and annihilated German strong points
First wave of soldiers had the most casualties
Key Words
D-Day: The Day of Days
Casualty: “a member of the armed forces lost to service through death, wounds,
sickness, capture, or because his or her whereabouts or condition cannot be
determined.”
Beachhead: “a secure initial position that has been gained and can be used for further
advancement”
Pillboxes: “a small, low structure of reinforced concrete, enclosing machine guns,
and employed as a minor fortress in warfare”
The Battle of the Atlantic
What was the Battle of the Atlantic?
•From 1939-1945 (during WWII)
•A war at sea, little land fighting
•Germany tried to redo what they did in WWI by cutting Britain supplies from U.S. and
overseas
•European Axis (Germans) versus the Allies (Britain, United States, and Canada)
•Wanted to keep open sea routes between the US and Britain
•War between German U-Boats and Allied antisubmarine forces
•Germans sunk the Allied shipping more than the British could rebuild it
•British Government took control of all merchant ships
•Escorted by sea and air
Allies
Owned merchant ships. Some used ASDIC technology.
•Defense tactics (military forces overseas)
•Convoy routing (secure sea movements)
•Blockade the Germans
•Dispersed ships widely
•Convoys had to be escorted across entire ocean because of large amount of U-boats (by
sea and air).
Germany
Owned U-Boats (submarines). Used wolfpack tactics.
•wanted to stop Allied shipping
•Defeat Britain by using naval blockade to prevent getting war materials
•Use naval blockade
•Destroy convoy and escort ships
How Canada specifically was involved…
• Canada’s navy started small, eventually grew by the end of 1945
•Could do little to help, patrol coastline areas
•Naval expansion in 1940
•Important to British Empire, had strong ties so felt the need to help fight and were
expected to as well
•Germans used wolfpack to attack convoys in mid Atlantic Canada
•Canada escorted convoys between Newfoundland and Britain, the convoys had
valuable supplies and men needed for the war  this was why Canada was essential;
this was the key to winning the war *
•Canadians worked in extreme conditions (unqualified crew, small boats, rough waters,
etc.)
• U-Boats were having success, Canada was not. Later this changed.
•In 1943 Britain allowed Royal Navy anti-submarine warfare to take over
•Constantly protected Canadian and Newfoundland waters, and convoys essential to the
Battle of the Atlantic
•RCAF heavily involved in flying patrols, air support to the Newfoundland Escort Force
•March 1943  Atlantic Convoy Conference
•Received better training, equipment, and air support which helped Allies start to take the
lead
•June 4, 1944  access to German information through code books
•Germany surrendered May 1945
•Overall Canada’s navy grew larger and became tightly-knit
•Hard experience gave Canada’s navy a chance to grow stronger
Important Aspects of the Battle of the Atlantic (Revised Timeline)
1939
September 16, 1939 First convoy sailed from Halifax escorted by destroyers St.
Laurent and Saguenay. They escorted them to the middle of the Atlantic where British
cruisers took over the job.
1939  Flying patrols in Newfoundland.
1940
1940  1st maritime patrol squadron started in Gander, Newfoundland.
July 1940  Ocean shipping changed and went through the Irish Sea instead.
September 2, 1940  U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt issued order transferring 50
useless U.S. Navy Destroyers to Royal Navy in exchange for leases on various British
bases. The ships would cause valuable convoy escort duty. Canada received 6 destroyers
(increased Canadian contribution).
By the end of 1940  14 Corvettes were created to help attack U-Boats
1941
January/February 1941  Allied shipping greatly affected.
Spring 1941  Merchant ships sinking faster than could be replaced
May 31, 1941 Commodore L.W. Murray was appointed commander of the
Newfoundland Escort Force, ultimately commanding the Canadian corvettes.
June 1941  Over 500 000 tons of Allied shipping lost.
June 1941  Canadian destroyers in British waters returned to be used in Newfoundland.
Summer 1941  Allies tactics improved causing more loss in U-boats.
September 1941  Canadian naval forces came under American co-ordinating
supervision instead of British Commander-in-chief (closer to situation).
December 1941  United States enters WWII
December 8, 1941  United States declares war on Japan (after Pearl Harbour attack),
weakens Atlantic anti-submarine defences
1942
Early 1942  Battle shifted to North American Seaboard. Germans attacked ships from
the Caribbean to Halifax, and the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Devastating affects. Canadian &
U.S. Navy and RCAF used to survey and defend territory, still not enough people.
Convoys used were valuable to the Allies.
January 13, 1942  Operation Drumbeat started (campaign against Allied shipping in
American waters).
• Tankers were targets
• 35 ships sunk near U.S. coast
• U.S. Navy air patrols began hunting for submarines
• Germany persistent on working in American waters (created underwater refuelling
stations called “milk cows”)
Summer 1942  Canadian ships have 4 victories over the Germans.
Winter 1942-1943  Convoys needed, Germans still more powerful; overpowering.
1943
• Adolf Hitler disappointed in results; ordered termination of surface navy, increased UBoat production.
• Allied losses continued
• Things eventually changed in favour of the Allies
March 1943  Atlantic Convoy Conference (Britain, U.S. & Canada). Britain and
Canada became responsible of the North Atlantic (led by Rear Admiral
Murray commanding operations  increased role of the RCN, important
Canadian in the battle).
More training, equipment and air cover as a result
April 1943  U-boat losses increased.
May 1943  The RCAF received new powerful boat equipment.
Admiral Döntz halted attacks on North Atlantic convoys because of U-Boat losses.
1944
Fall of 1943-1944  The Germans became more powerful after the invention of the
acoustic torpedo and schnokel for their U-Boats.
RCAF & RCN eventually kept their lead as more seamen crossed the Atlantic to fight off
the Germans.
1944
1944-1945  Battle of the Atlantic less intense.
June 4, 1944  North African coast, U.S. Navy “hunter-killer” group (escort carrier
Guadalcanal and 5 destroyers) attacked U-505. Germans tried to scuttle boat, but U.S.
sailors boarded vessel, and saved it from sinking. Won an enemy prize and code books
were recovered to help locate U-Boats, which put the Allies at an advantage.
1945
*May 1945  Battle of the Atlantic ends when Germany surrenders*
June 1944  role of Atlantic fleets of U.S. Navy and Royal Navy became to support
Operation Overload: D-day invasion. Allied Atlantic naval units used for convoy
escorting.
Results of the Battle of the Atlantic
Number of Losses
500
400
300
Allied Losses to U-Boats
200
U-Boats Sunk
In terms of ships, here are some statistics…
Total Allied Losses
Total U-Boat Losses
100
0
1938
1940
1942
1944
1 315
1946
Year
Battle of Dieppe
-The Battle of Dieppe took place on the western coast of France.
-Canadians, Americans, British and the Germans were all involved.
-5000 out of the 6100 allies were Canadian.
-France has been taken over by Germany
-British, Canadians and Americans respond as allies.
-Allies were there mainly to test new technology and battle strategies.
-Were trying to send troops on land by boat.
-The whole battle was planned at the British Headquarters
-Gen. Bernard Law Montgomery was in command at the time.
-The plan was to capture the port for a short period of time and interrogate Germans for
information.
-August 19, 1942
-Early morning, 4 flanks were intended to attack the port within half an hour.
-The key factor in this attack was the element of surprise.
-The Landing ships were seen by a small German convoy out on the water.
-The element of surprise was ruined
-When the Allies landed (late) on the beaches of Dieppe the Germans were ready.
-Over 500 men killed when they first landed.
-Initially the south Saskatchewan regiment located at the west met light resistance.
-As they moved toward the city the fighting increased.
-The Royal Hamilton Infantry and the Essex Scottish Regiment landed on the main beach
in Dieppe and were met by German machine-gun fire.
-Even though the Germans were wildly out numbered they overtook the allies on the
beaches of Dieppe.
-At 11am the General gave orders to withdraw.
-There were an estimated 3350 casualties including 1974 prisoners taken and 900
Canadians killed.
-RCAF lost 13 planes and 10 pilots.
-RAF lost 106 planes and 81 pilots
-In all of WW2 it was the highest total of losses for the RCAF and RAF.
Battle of Hong Kong
-The Battle of Hong Kong started December 8th, 1941.
-The day after Pearl Harbor.
-British Canadian and the Hong Kong Volunteer Defense Forces fought against the
Japanese.
-The Royal Rifles of Canada (from Quebec) and the Winnipeg Grenadiers were the first
Canadian ground units to see action in WW2.
-They were also declared unfit for action due to lack of training.
-The Japanese launched an attack on Hong Kong.
-Japanese had 52000 troops while the allies had 14000.
-On the first day, Japanese had advantage in the air.
-A Japanese aircraft attacked the Kai Tak airport and destroyed the few RAF
planes.
-The Winnipeg Grenadiers were stationed on the Chinese mainland to hold off Japanese
back.
-The allies had underestimated the Japanese, within a couple of hours the Japanese had
taken control of the mainland.
-General Maltby was in charge of the mainland troops.
-Was captured by the Japanese in 1945 and held as a prisoner of war.
-On December 11th, the mainland troops retreated to the island.
-The evacuation was successful and they were able to remove most of their equipment
out.
-December 13th the allies rejected the Japanese demand for surrender.
-On the island the allies were divided up into two brigades, East and West.
-The west brigade was under the command of Brigadier Lawson and the Winnipeg
Grenadiers were part of the brigade.
-The East brigade was under the command of Brigadier Wallis and the Royal Rifles of
Canada were part of this brigade.
-General Maltby was stationed at the headquarters.
-The Japanese attacked heavily by air with artillery showers and air raids.
-They made another demand for surrender on December 17th, this was also rejected.
-The circumstances of the allies were severe.
-Two British relief ships had been sunk; the United States fleet had been almost
destroyed at Pearl Harbor. There was no hope of relief.
-On December 18th the Japanese initiated 4 attacks on the allies.
-They were spread out along a three kilometer front of the northern beaches.
-The allies couldn’t hold them back and suffered severe casualties.
-During this attack the islands water reservoir was taken.
-The east brigade had many casualties and their numbers were greatly reduced.
-Japanese were taking over.
-East brigade tried to retreat to the west brigade because they could no longer hold their
ground.
-In the west brigade one company had become separated.
-The company led by Sergeant-Major J.R. Osborn was surrounded by Japanese who were
throwing grenades at them.
-Osborn had been throwing them back at the enemy.
-One he could not get fast enough so he threw himself on the grenade to protect
his soldiers
-Sergeant-Major J.R. Osborn was rewarded with a Victoria Cross for his bravery and
sacrifice.
-Due to approach of the Japanese Brigadier Lawson decided to move the west brigade
headquarters.
-Before they could act on this they were surrounded.
-The final stage of this battle was fought on the western part of the island.
-On December 24th the Japanese gained further ground and had control of most of the
island.
-The Grenadiers held their ground till Christmas morning, where they finally had to
surrender.
-The entire battle lasted for eighteen days.
-In total there were 290 Canadians killed and 493 injured.
-The death toll grew after the surrender in POW camps.
-In these camps the prisoners were beaten, starved and forced to work 12 hour days in
mines or on the docks.
-¼ of all Canadians that left Vancouver in 1941 did not come back.