Download Section 1: Causes of the War

Grade 9 Social Studies
Study Notes
Chapter 6
Section 1: Causes of the War
Many people believed that World War I was “the war to end all wars”. However sadly, people were
mistaken. After World War I, Germany was forced to sign a Treaty of Versailles. This Treaty placed
difficult demands upon the German citizenry and left many people poor and starving. Britain, France,
and United States were responsible for composing the terms of this treaty and felt that Germany should
be accountable for its actions during WWI.
The TWO Main Causes of WWII
1. The Treaty of Versailles:
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This Treaty was a peace settlement that ended World War I.
The treaty inflicted consequences upon Germany for starting the war. Germany lost
some of its land and was forced to pay sums of money, called reparations to the victors
(the country/countries that won a war)
Adolf Hitler and the National Socialist Party (known as the Nazis) were elected to power
in 1933. They were able to gain popularity by appealing to people’s frustrations
stemming from the Treaty of Versailles.
Hitler promised to “tear” up the Treaty.
Shortly after the election, all other parties in Government were outlawed (except for the
Nazis) and Hitler became the Dictator (only ruler).
Hitler began to break the terms of the Treaty. At the same time Hitler began to build an
army, and began to annex (reoccupy) the land that was taken away from Germany after
the First World War.
The Britain, France and the United States did not stand against Hitler and his army
because they wanted to avoid another war.
2.) Appeasement:
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Appeasement was a policy that Britain, France and United States agreed upon. This
policy relaxed the terms of the Treaty of Versailles in hopes to satisfy the Germans and
allow peace to prevail.
However, giving Germany just want they wanted did not work.
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Hitler continued to demand more and more of the land. When Germany forced their
way into Poland on September 1, 1939, Britain and France declared war against
Germany two days later.
Canada Enters WWII:
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Back in the early 1900’s, Canada was a part of the British Empire. Consequently, when Britain
declared War on Germany Canada automatically went to war.
It was the Statue of Westminster in 1931 that made Canada an independent colony of Britain
during the Second World War. This is why Canada had a choice to join the war.
The government had caused a crisis during the First World War when it wanted to Conscript
(require), Canadians to join the Armed Forces.
Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King developed a compromise – send war materials, and
only a small volunteer army.
Canada formally declared War on Germany on September 10, 1939, after two days of debate in
Parliament.
Section 2: Phases of the War
It was the Statue of Westminster in 1931 that made Canada independent of Britain during
World War II. In fact, this gave Canada a choice as to whether or not it wanted to enter the
war.
Canada’s contribution to World War II:
Phase 1: September 1939, to June 1940:
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A small volunteer army that Prime Minister King had promised was raised,
organized and sent to Britain in December 1939.
Canada only had 38 ocean-going merchant ships in 1939. These ships known as
the Merchant Marine, were needed to transport military personal and war
goods. The first ships that began to sail across the ocean were sunk by German
submarines, or u-boats.
In December of 1939, the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) was
put into place resulting in Canada’s Air Force training Allied pilots. This was hard
at times because Canada had no training airfields or training aircrafts. However,
this plan was a great success. Canada’s Air Force trained over 131 000 aircrew
and built dozens of new airfields across the country. Some of these airfields still
remain in use today.
By 1940, the Germans won victories over Holland, Belgium, and France, which
left Britain alone to face Hitler. This changed Canada’s position of providing a
small voluntary army, to a full scale commitment to the war under the National
Resources Mobilization Act (NRMA).
Phase 2: June 1940 to July 1943:
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Canada faced both successes and failures.
At sea, the Navy and Merchant Marine fought the Battle of the Atlantic.
Convoys of merchant ships carrying war materials to Britain and the Soviet
Union were very essential to the Allies. German submarines tried to sink these
convoys. However, by mid-1943, more effective anti-submarine tactics and
weapons became available and it decreased the number of ships sunk.
Canadian troops were fighting alongside the Britain troops. The Canadian army
feared two defeats.
o The first defeat was in Hong Kong. Canadian forces were sent there to
support the British. On December 7, 1941, Japan attacked Hong Kong.
By Christmas day, the Japanese defeated the British and Canadians. 1975
Canadian soldiers were sent to Hong Kong, where 290 were killed, 1685
became prisoners of the war (POW) and another 260 died in captivity.
o The second defeat was at Dieppe, a port in France. This was a very tragic
disaster; more than 6000 Allied soldiers took part, including 4963
Canadian soldiers. Over 900 Canadian soldiers were killed and more than
1900 became POWs.
Many believed that Canadian soldiers were not properly equipped to fight these
battles during the war.
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Phase 3: July 1943 to June 1944:
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Canada’s air forces expanded greatly in size. By 1943 there was an all-Canadian
bomber group.
The bombing of the industrials sections of German cities was carried out around
the clock.
The Canadian fighting force had expanded from a single division to a full army.
The Canadian force and members of the EI Alamein (Allies) invaded the island of
Sicily. Sicily eventually fell to the Allies, who then invaded mainland Italy
(Germany’s ally). After a period of time, a new government was formed and
order was restored.
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Phase 4: June 1943 to September 1945:
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In June 1944, Canadian, British, and U. S. forces landed at a series of beaches
on the coast of Normandy. The Canadian beach was Juno.
Canadian troops moved toward Germany in hopes to “push” the German
soldiers back to Germany. Canadian troops had to invade the coastlines,
including Dieppe, the place in which many Canadians had already died.
Canadian and British forces eventually capture a city known as Caen. This was
a road and rail centre. The operation took most of the summer, because, it was
held by some of Germany’s best soldiers.
While Canada and Britain held down much of Germany’s forces, the U.S broke
through German lines. Once Caen had been secured, Canadian troops helped
the U.S army capture another city, Falaise.
After the capture of Falaise, German forces retreated to Belgium, and the
German border. Paris was liberated and most of France was free. However,
supplies were very low. The first Canadian Army was assigned the task of
clearing the coastal areas and opening the ports. The key port was in Belgium.
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This fight was took a lot of Casualties. Germans opened up the dikes and
flooded roads and fields. Canadians were nicknamed “water rats”.
After Canada had finally captured the port, they were next assigned to help
liberate the Netherlands. To this day, many people of the Netherlands
remember and honor the Canadian soldiers who freed them.
When the war in Europe ended on May 8, 1945, Canadian soldiers remained on
duty in northern Germany to participate in the return to peace. The air forces,
helped control the skies over Germany, where as the Canadian Navy patrolled
the North Atlantic.
Important Dates:
The following dates/events have been discussed at various points in time through our discussion of the
ideas in chapter 6 of your textbook. You should be familiar with each of the following.
Date
Event
1931
Canada becomes independent from Great Britain
(Statue of Westminster)
1933
Nazi party (Hitler) take control of Germany
September 1st, 1939
Germany invaded Poland
Septermber 3, 1939
Britain and France declared war on Germany
September 10th, 1939
Canada declared war on Germany
December 7th, 1941
Battle of Hong Kong
August 19th, 1942
Battle of Dieppe
June 6th, 1944
D-Day, (Operation Overlord – Normandy)
May 8, 1945
End of the war in Europe
August 6th, 1945
The US bombed Hiroshima
August 9th, 1945
The US bombed Nagasaki
September 2, 1945
The Japanese surrender to the Allies (End of
WWII)
1946
Nuremberg Trials
The Battle of the Atlantic
This was the longest military campaign of World War II spanning 1939-1945. The battle
resulted in one of Canada’s greatest contributions to the war effort through the Merchant
Marines.