WW2 Questions

 How did the German people feel about the Weimar Republic?

The Weimar Republic (1919–1933) was unpopular with many Germans because it struggled to fix the country’s severe economic and political problems after WWI. People blamed it for hyperinflation in, high unemployment during the Great Depression, and accepting the harsh Treaty of Versailles in 1919. As the government seemed weak and unstable, more Germans turned to extremist parties, including the Nazis.

How many Canadian women were in the workforce during WWII?

About 1.2 million Canadian women joined the workforce in 1944. They worked in munitions factories, shipyards, offices, farms, and military support roles like the WRENS and RCAF Women’s Division. Their work kept Canada’s industries running throughout the war.

 What was the issue of conscription in Canada?

Conscription became a major issue during WWII. In 1942, Mackenzie King held a plebiscite asking Canadians if they would release the government from its promise not to conscript soldiers for overseas service. English Canadians largely supported conscription, while many French Canadians opposed it. In 1944, the government finally sent conscripted soldiers overseas.

How were Japanese Canadians treated during WWII?

After the attack on Pearl Harbour in 1941, Japanese Canadians were forcibly removed from coastal B.C. in 1942. They were placed in internment camps, separated from their families, and had their homes, fishing boats, and property sold without permission. They were not allowed to return to the West Coast until 1949, four years after the war ended.

 What happened in the St. Louis Incident?

In 1939, the ship St. Louis arrived carrying over 900 Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi persecution. Canada refused to let them enter due to strict and discriminatory immigration policies. Forced to return to Europe, many passengers ended up in countries later invaded by Germany, and hundreds later died in the Holocaust.

How did minority groups contribute during the war?

During WWII (1939–1945), minority groups in Canada made major contributions despite facing racism and barriers. Indigenous soldiers served as snipers, scouts, and code talkers; Black Canadians joined combat and labour units; Chinese and Japanese Canadians served in intelligence, factories, and the armed forces. Their contributions helped shift attitudes and led to improved rights after the war, such as voting rights granted to Chinese and South Asian Canadians in 1947 and Japanese Canadians in 1949.

What conditions did women face working “men’s jobs” during WWII?

Between 1939 and 1945, women entered factories and shipyards in huge numbers. They worked long, exhausting shifts with dangerous machinery, loud conditions, and strict expectations. They were paid less than men and often lacked childcare support. Despite this, women proved essential to Canada’s wartime economy.

What was the effect of WWII on Canada immediately after the war?

After WWII ended in 1945, Canada experienced a strong economic boom due to wartime production. Returning soldiers triggered the baby boom, increasing demand for homes, food, and jobs. Canada became more independent internationally, joined the United Nations in 1945, and began supporting global peace efforts. Immigration grew as thousands of displaced people arrived in Canada.

How did Canada contribute greatly to the Allied war effort?

During the war, Canada made major military, industrial, and strategic contributions. Over one million Canadians served, fighting at Juno Beach on D-Day (June 6, 1944), in Italy (starting 1943), in Hong Kong (1941), and liberating the Netherlands (1944–1945). Canada protected Atlantic convoys throughout the Battle of the Atlantic (1939–1945) and built thousands of ships, planes, and weapons. The BCATP trained over 130,000 aircrew, and Camp X supported Allied intelligence.

What was the Holocaust?

The Holocaust was the government-organized murder of about six million Jewish people by Nazi Germany between 1933 and 1945. The Nazis also targeted other groups, including Roma people, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ people, political opponents, and Slavic peoples. It was the largest genocide in modern history.

Final solution 

The Final Solution was the Nazis’ plan, created around 1941, to eliminate all Jewish people in Europe. Instead of discrimination or forced labour alone, the plan turned into mass murder using: Death camps, Gas chambers, Mass shootings, Starvation and forced labour

Kristallnacht 

A violent attack on Jewish people in Germany and Austria on November 9–10, 1938. The Nazi destroyed thousands of Jewish shops, burned synagogues, smashed homes, and arrested about 30,000 Jewish men, sending them to concentration camps. At least 100 Jews were killed. Kristallnacht marked a major turning point, showing that the Nazis were moving from discrimination to open violence, leading directly toward the Holocaust.

Night of the Long Knives 

The Night of the Long Knives was a purge carried out by Adolf Hitler on June 30–July 2, 1934. During these days, Hitler ordered the arrest and execution of leaders of the SA and other political opponents he saw as threats. By eliminating these rivals, Hitler gained the full support of the German army and increased his power. This event helped him turn Germany into a total dictatorship.

Causes of the Second World War 

The Treaty of Versailles (1919) punished Germany harshly, creating anger and economic hardship. The rise of dictators like Hitler, Mussolini, and militarists in Japan increased aggression around the world. Countries such as Britain and France used appeasement in the 1930s, allowing Hitler to take land without consequences, which encouraged him to push further. The world was also weakened by the Great Depression, which created instability and made extreme leaders more popular. Finally, the war officially began when Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939, causing Britain and France to declare war.