Nazi Occupation of Europe

• Characterized by brutality, exploitation, and systematic persecution of targeted groups
  • Exploitation: Confiscation of resources from occupied territories for the German war effort
  • Forced labor of millions in factories and farms under harsh conditions (many died from starvation, disease, overwork)
  • Persecution and Genocide: Systematic extermination of targeted groups

Everyday Life Under Nazi Occupation

• Restrictions: Occupied populations faced limitations on freedom of movement, work, and expression
• Censorship and Propaganda:
  • Nazis tightly controlled the media, censoring information to promote their ideology and demonize enemies
• Collaboration and Resistance:
  • Some collaborated with Nazis out of fear, opportunism, or belief in their ideology; others actively resisted

Canada's Entry into WWII

• Declaration of War:
  • Canadian Parliament declared war on September 10, 1939; 70,000 Canadians enlisted by the end of September (1 million served by end of the war)
• German Blitzkrieg:
  • Struck Denmark and Norway in 1940; both fell to Nazis by May
  • Germans conquered the Netherlands and Belgium, pushing into France
• Dunkirk Situation:
  • British soldiers trapped in Dunkirk; Hitler ordered Luftwaffe to bomb British forces, a costly error

Miracle of Dunkirk

• Dense fog grounded Luftwaffe, allowing evacuation
• All British vessels called to rescue; 900 boats assisted rescue
• Expected 10,000 rescues; in reality, 340,000 soldiers were saved
• Historians view it as a turning point preventing Hitler's victory in 1940

Fall of France

• German Conquest:
  • June 14, 1940: Nazis marched into Paris; three days later, France surrendered
  • By June 1940, Hitler conquered most of Western Europe; only Soviet Union and British Isles remained

Operation Sea Lion

• Invasion Plan:
  • Code named Operation Sea Lion, aimed to land 25 divisions on England's south coast and quickly capture London
  • Germany needed to control the air to control the ocean, as British defenses were limited outside of the Royal Navy

The Battle of Britain

• Air Attacks:
  • July 1940: Hitler initiated air attacks on British ships; by mid-August, 2000 German aircraft were over Britain
  • Initial German successes; Luftwaffe targeted British cities and civilians (“The Blitz”)
• British Response:
  • PM Churchill ordered retaliatory bombing raids on Berlin, outraging Hitler
  • On September 15, 1940, significant air battles occurred over London
• British Victory Factors:
  • Resources: radar, insular geography, morale, and the valor of the Royal Air Force (RAF)
  • Abandoned Operation Sea Lion after recognizing the failure; Luftwaffe reallocated to other fronts

Battle of the Atlantic

• U-boats Strategy:
  • German submarines (U-boats) attacked merchant ships and disrupted supply convoys
  • 175 allied ships, 500 merchant ships, and 50,000 men lost by war’s end
• Technological Advances:
  • Development of corvettes, depth charges, sonar; Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service played a vital role in tracking U-boats
• Impact on Canada:
  • Loss of 2,210 lives and 24 warships; significant threats to shipping routes including Gulf of St. Lawrence

Germany's Invasion of the Soviet Union

• Operation Barbarossa:
  • Initiated June 22, 1941; led to Soviet Union joining the Allied powers
• Initial Success and Later Failure:
  • German blitzkrieg resulted in significant Soviet casualties; but the Soviet army managed to retreat
  • Harsh winter conditions challenged German troops, leading to their failure to capture Moscow

The Canadians at Hong Kong

• Japanese Invasion:
  • Simultaneous to Pearl Harbor; overwhelming Japanese forces led to Canadian losses
  • Dec. 8, 1941: Attack initiated, leading to Canadian surrender within 17 days
  • Heavy casualties: 286 Canadians died in battle; many more in POW camps

Japanese POW Camps

• Brutal Conditions:
  • Inhumane treatment, starvation; Red Cross supplies often stolen
  • Death rates in Japanese camps significantly higher than in German camps

The Battle of Dieppe

• Aug. 1942 Raid:
  • 5,000 Canadian soldiers participated; intended as a test against German defenses
• Outcome:
  • Poor execution, heavy losses with 1,000 dead, 500 wounded, and 2,000 captured

Italian Campaign

• Capture of Ortona:
  • Achieved on December 27, 1943; many Canadians suffered from sickness and exhaustion
  • Allies captured Rome by June 1944

D-Day and the Normandy Invasion

• Planning for D-Day:
  • Learning from Dieppe; emphasis on training, effective planning, meteorology, and espionage
  • Allied forces included 150,000 men; Canadians landed at Juno beach
• Execution:
  • On June 6, 1944, Operation Overlord launched; critical for establishing a Western front
  • Significant challenges, but beachheads established within the first week

Final Events of the War

• Battle of the Bulge:
  • Hitler's last offensive in winter 1944-1945 to halt Allied advance
  • It postponed Allies entering Germany, but did not change the outcome
• End of the War:
  • Soviet forces entered Berlin; Hitler's suicide on April 30, 1945; Germany surrendered on May 8, 1945
  • Canadian troops helped liberate the Netherlands during the final stages of the war.