World War II

World War II

C.R.A.M.P. C.U.P. (Causes of WWII)

A mnemonic for key causes of WWII:

• C: Communism vs Fascism – ideological clash.

• R: Reparations – Treaty of Versailles punished Germany.

• A: Appeasement – Giving in to Hitler to avoid conflict. 

• M: Militarism – Build-up of military strength.

• P: Political Instability – Weak governments, economic crisis.

• C: Colonial Ambitions – Japan, Italy, Germany wanted empires.

• U: Unresolved Issues from WWI

• P: Propaganda – Used to rally support and dehumanize enemies.

Appeasement

• Policy of conceding to aggressive demands to maintain peace.

• Example: Britain and France allowing Hitler to annex Austria and Sudetenland (Munich Agreement, 1938). 

• Effect: Emboldened Hitler, led to further aggression and WWII.
  
  

Canada’s Involvement

• Declared war on Germany on Sept 10, 1939, independently of Britain.

• Over 1 million Canadians served.

• Fought in Europe (e.g., France, Netherlands, Italy), at sea (Battle of the Atlantic), and in the air (RCAF).

• Contributed to D-Day, liberation of the Netherlands, and the Italian Campaign.

 Internment Camps (Japanese Canadians)

• After Pearl Harbor, over 22,000 Japanese Canadians were interned.

• Especially in British Columbia (e.g., Pacific National Exhibition grounds in Vancouver used as temporary holding).

• Property seized, rights suspended—seen now as a violation of civil liberties.
  
  

Pearl Harbor (Dec 7, 1941)

• Surprise Japanese attack on the U.S. naval base in Hawaii.

• Brought the US into WWII.

• Marked a turning point; led to the Pacific War.
  
  

Key WWII Battles and Operations

1. Operation Sea Lion – Planned German invasion of Britain (never happened).

2. Operation Barbarossa – German invasion of the Soviet Union (June 1941).

3. Operation Overlord – Allied invasion of Normandy, France (D-Day).

4. D-Day (June 6, 1944) – Invasion of 5 beaches:

   • Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno (Canada), Sword

5. Operation Oblivion – Planned Allied sabotage mission by Chinese-Canadian soldiers (not executed).

The Holocaust

• Genocide of 6 million Jews, plus millions of Roma, disabled, Slavs, and others.

• Carried out by Nazi Germany.

• Methods: ghettos, mass shootings, concentration/extermination camps (e.g., Auschwitz).

• Nuremberg Trials held Nazi leaders accountable.
  
  

Hiroshima & Nagasaki (August 1945)

• Why the bombs were dropped:

  • To force Japan to surrender.

  • To save lives (estimated millions in a land invasion).

  • To demonstrate power to the USSR.

• Hiroshima (Aug 6): “Little Boy” dropped by Enola Gay.

• Nagasaki (Aug 9): “Fat Man” bomb.

• Result: Japan surrendered Aug 15, 1945 (VJ Day).
  
  

Oppenheimer & The Manhattan Project

• J. Robert Oppenheimer: Scientific director of the Manhattan Project.

• Secret U.S. project to build the atomic bomb.

• Trinity Test (July 16, 1945) – first successful atomic detonation near Alamogordo, New Mexico.

• Developed Little Boy and Fat Man.
  
  

WWII Alliances

Axis Powers:

• Nazi Germany, Italy, Japan

Allied Powers:

• Britain, France, Soviet Union, USA, Canada, China, and others.
  
  

Canada's Campaigns in Europe

1. France

   • D-Day (Juno Beach): Canadian troops stormed beaches on June 6, 1944.

   • Battle of Normandy: Pushed into France after D-Day.

2. Netherlands

   • Canadians liberated Dutch towns in 1944–45.

   • Remembered with gratitude in Dutch-Canadian relations.

3. Italy

   • Fought in the Italian Campaign (Sicily, Ortona).

   • Harsh conditions, strong resistance from German troops.

End of War

• The atomic bombs