World War Two Begins Sept. 1, 1939: Germany invaded Poland Britain and France declare war on Germany Canada declared war on Germany also on Sept. 10, 1939 German troops march into Poland

Canada Not Ready to go to War In 1938-1939, Canada’s military budget was only $35 million (remember in WWI the military was spending $1 million every day)! Much of the Canadian equipment was out of date, rusted, left over from the first war

Lack of Support for the War Quebec, German and Italian Canadians did not support the war King saw Canada’s role as mainly supply, not as a source of troops Because of the Depression, many Canadians felt that we had our own problems without getting involved in a European war

German Early Victories Germany defeats Poland by the end of September, 1939 April, 1940 - After a lull in fighting over the winter, known as the “phony war,” Germany invades Denmark and Norway, fighting is finished by June May 10 Germany invades Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg and France June 25, 1940 France officially surrenders to Germany

Blitzkrieg Blitzkrieg – lightning war Germany used air strikes, followed by tanks, then infantry to rapidly attack and destroy defending forces

Britain Stands Alone Following the German invasion of Western Europe, Chamberlain resigns and is replaced as British P.M. by Winston Churchill To prepare for an invasion of Britain, Germany begins “the Blitz,” a bombing campaign directed at the British air force and cities

The Evacuation of Dunkirk As German troops advance into France, the British army was trapped Between May 26 and June 4, 338 000 British and French soldiers were evacuated from Dunkirk, but the British army lost a lot of tanks and heavy equipment