Comprehensive Study Guide: The Second World War, Cold War, and Post-War Canada
Ideologies and Political Regimes of the Mid-20th Century
The mid-th century was defined by a clash of diametrically opposed political systems and ideologies. A Totalitarian State is defined as a regime in which the State exerts absolute control over the entirety of society, resulting in severely localized or non-existent individual liberties. Within this framework, Fascism emerged as an authoritarian nationalist ideology that was explicitly anti-democratic and frequently utilized violence as a political tool. Notable leaders of such regimes included Benito Mussolini, the Italian fascist dictator, and Adolf Hitler, the leader of the Nazi Party. The Nazi Party's ideology was rooted in extreme nationalism and racism, and Hitler himself is historically recognized as the figure responsible for the Second World War (SGM) and the Holocaust.
In the East, Joseph Stalin directed the URSS (Soviet Union) under a communist totalitarian regime. Communism is an ideology that advocates for the creation of a classless society and the total abolition of private property. Conversely, the West largely championed Capitalism, an economic system based on profit and the private ownership of property, and Democracy, a system where political power is vested in the people and exercised through the act of voting.
Origins and Preconditions of the Second World War
The causes of the Second World War are categorized into general historical factors and specific acts of aggression. General causes include the lasting impact of the Treaty of Versailles, the global economic crisis (Great Depression), and the subsequent rise of dictatorships across Europe. In an effort to maintain peace, international powers initially engaged in a policy of Apaisement (Appeasement), which involved making various concessions to Adolf Hitler to avoid military conflict.
Key events leading to the war included the Anschluss in , which was the annexation of Austria by Germany, and the annexation of the Sudetenland, a Czech region taken by Hitler. During this pre-war period, Antisemitism (the hatred of Jewish people) became state policy in Germany, exemplified by Kristallnacht in , a coordinated attack against Jewish citizens. The international community addressed the resulting refugee crisis during the Conf rence d’ vian (Évian Conference) in . A notable tragedy of this era was the MS St. Louis (Saint Louis), a ship carrying Jewish refugees that was turned away by multiple countries.
Canada's Entry and Early Military Programs
William Lyon Mackenzie King served as the Prime Minister of Canada during the Second World War. Canada's mobilization for this conflict was significantly faster than in the First World War (PGM) and transitioned the nation into a state of Total War. The conditions surrounding Canada's entry were complex, involving a fragile sense of national unity and a heated domestic debate regarding Conscription.
To aid the Allied effort, Canada participated in the PEACB (British Commonwealth Air Training Plan), a massive program designed to train Commonwealth pilots on Canadian soil. This period also saw major operations such as the evacuation of Allied soldiers at Dunkirk in . The Battle of Britain followed as a critical aerial struggle between the United Kingdom and Germany. German strategy during this time relied on Blitz or Blitzkrieg, which were rapid and devastating bombing campaigns.
Major Battles of the European and Atlantic Theaters
The Battle of the Atlantic was a prolonged struggle between Allied convoys and German submarines (U-boats). Canadian forces played a significant role in several key engagements, including the Dieppe raid in , which ultimately failed, and the battle of Ortona, a difficult and bloody victory for Canadian troops in Italy.
In the global context, the war was fought between the Forces de l’Axe (Axis Powers)—comprising Germany, Italy, and Japan—and the Forces alli’es (Allied Powers), which included Canada, the United Kingdom, the URSS, and the USA. Leading figures of the Allies included British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and American President Harry Truman, the latter of whom held office at the war's conclusion.
The War in the Pacific and the End of Conflict
The conflict in the Pacific theater was largely defined by the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, which prompted the United States to officially enter the war. Canadian soldiers also faced combat in this theater, most notably in Hong Kong, where they were captured by Japanese forces. The war reached its climax with the use of atomic weaponry: the Hiroshima bombing and the Nagasaki bombing, which led to the final surrender of Japan.
The Shoah and Crimes of War
The Shoah (also known as the Holocaust) was the systematic genocide of the Jewish people carried out by the Nazi regime. This genocide involved the forced relocation of Jews into Ghettoes (closed urban quarters) and their eventual deportation to camps. Auschwitz remains the most well-known Nazi concentration and extermination camp. Throughout the war, both Axis and Allied powers utilized Camps d’internement (internment camps) to hold prisoners of war or civilians deemed a threat.
Post-War International and National Governance
In the aftermath of the war, the ONU (United Nations) was established as an international organization dedicated to maintaining world peace. The **Conseil de s curit ** (Security Council) within the UN consists of permanent members: the USA, Russia, China, France, and the UK, each of whom possesses the right of veto.
On the domestic front in Canada, the government passed the Loi sur la mobilisation des ressources nationales (National Resources Mobilization Act) to facilitate conscription. For continental defense, Canada and the USA formed NORAD, a joint air defense organization. Additionally, Newfoundland (Terre-Neuve) officially joined the Canadian confederation in .
The Cold War: Ideology and Espionage
The Guerre froide (Cold War) was marked by the metaphor of the Rideau de fer (Iron Curtain), which represented the division between communist Eastern Europe and the democratic West. In Canada, the Cold War was catalyzed by Igor Gouzenko, a Soviet spy who defected and revealed the extent of Soviet espionage. This led to a pervasive Menace rouge (Red Scare), a fear of communist subversion. In the United States, Joseph McCarthy became the face of anti-communist political crusades.
To counter the spread of communism, the USA introduced the Plan Marshall, providing economic aid to rebuild Europe. This was motivated by the Th orie des dominos (Domino Theory), the belief that if one nation fell to communism, its neighbors would inevitably follow. This era also saw the formation of major military alliances: OTAN (NATO) for Western powers and the Pact de Varsovie (Warsaw Pact) for communist states.
Global Cold War Conflicts and Crises
The Cold War manifested through several regional conflicts and intense stand-offs. Germany and its capital were divided into Berlin-Est (East Berlin, under the URSS) and Berlin-Ouest (West Berlin, under the Allies). The Pont a rien de Berlin (Berlin Airlift) was a major operation to provide supplies to the Western sector. From to , the Mur de Berlin (Berlin Wall) served as the physical symbol of this divide.
Other significant conflicts included:
- The Guerre de Cor e (Korean War): A conflict between the communist North and the Western-aligned South.
- Indochine: A war between France and Vietnamese independence seekers.
- Accords de Gen ve: The agreements that resulted in the division of Vietnam.
- Crise de Suez: A conflict involving Egypt against the United Kingdom, France, and Israel.
- Crise des missiles de Cuba: A direct and dangerous confrontation between the USA and the URSS regarding nuclear missiles.
- Guerre du Vietnam: A prolonged war between the USA and Vietnamese communists.
Revolution in Latin America
The influence of the Cold War extended to Latin America, notably through the R volution cubaine led by Fidel Castro and the revolutionary Che Guevara. The region was also heavily influenced by the United Fruit Co., an American corporation with significant political power. A key victim of this influence was Jacobo Arbenz, the President of Guatemala who was overthrown.
Canadian Politics and the Quiet Revolution
Following the Second World War, Canada was led by several prominent Prime Ministers, including Louis St-Laurent, John Diefenbaker, and Lester B. Pearson, the latter of whom was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Pierre Trudeau served as Prime Minister and was instrumental in the repatriation of the Constitution of , which included a specific Formule d’amendement (Amendment Formula) for making future changes.
In Quebec, the R volution tranquille (Quiet Revolution) characterized a period of rapid social and political modernization. However, this era also saw the rise of the FLQ, a radical independence group. Tensions peaked during the Crise d’Octobre (October Crisis) in , during which the FLQ kidnapped diplomat James Cross and assassinated provincial minister Pierre Laporte.
Post-War Culture and Society
The period from to saw significant demographic and cultural shifts. The individuals born immediately after the war in are known as Baby-boomers. This generation birthed the Culture hippie, a counter-culture movement defined by pacifism. This social evolution was closely tied to the Mouvement de paix (Peace Movement), which organized strong opposition to military conflicts, most notably the Vietnam War. Other influential figures of this era included Edward Bernays, a pioneer in the field of modern propaganda, and the French President Charles de Gaulle.