Canadian Controversies of WWII Conscription, Interment Camps, War Measures Act , and The Holocaust

Conscription of WWII At the start of WWII, the Prime Minister promised that there would be no conscription for overseas service. In the 1940s Prime Minister King introduced the National Resources Mobilization Act (NRMA) All single men over 18 to register for compulsory military service. The drafted soldiers were not sent into combat overseas, but were to remain in Canada for home defense. These men were referred to as zombies

Conscription Crisis of 1944 Feeling pressured to introduce conscription In 1942, they held a public referendum regarding conscription The Prime Minister asked for the nation to release him from his promise from 1939. French Canadians voted 73% “NO” (against conscription) English Canadians voted 80% “YES” (for conscription)

Why were French Canadians against Conscription? Some key factors: Language barrier in the forces No loyalty to Britain or France Prime Minister should keep his promise Few French speaking officers Training in English Many French Canadians viewed Canada’s role as simply supporting the British in a European war rather than fighting a war that would directly affect French Canadians.

Conscription Crisis of 1944 The referendum Further appeals for voluntary enlistment Increased casualties meant that more troops were needed. King decided to make the “Zombies” go overseas. forced to fight in the war 13000 were sent, 2500 reached the battle fields Protests in the streets of Montreal

Japanese Canadian Internment Camps What Rights are Important to Me?

What does Internment Camp mean? An internment camps are facilities where enemies or certain groups of people are usually kept during war. People are confined usually for political reasons not for a punishment of a crime.

Japanese Canadian Internment Camps 1942, 22 000 Japanese Canadians To internment camps in B.C Labour camps on the prairies Japanese living in B.C. were native born citizens. One suitcase of their personal belongings Government confiscated everything else. All confiscated possessions were sold at public auctions for profit, to pay for the internment camps

Reasons Started after the attack on Pearl Harbour For security precaution. Feared that the Japanese working in the fishing industry were charting the coast for the Japanese navy. Military and RCMP didn’t want to act against the Japanese Federal cabinet minister pushed the Canadian government to take action

Results 10 Japanese Internment Camps in Canada. 1942 the War Measures Act gave the government power to intern all people of Japanese race. Resisting caused risk of deportation back to Japan. Results of the government were that: Canadian companies fired all their Japanese employees Japanese fish boats were not permitted to leave port. 10 Japanese Internment Camps in Canada. They consisted of: 3 road camps, 2 prisoner of war camps (POW) and 5 self-supporting camps.

Living conditions. Conditions were poor Homes were shacks: Not insulated. Made out of thin wood boards Condensation caused walls to freeze in the winter Lack of running water and electricity. There were roofs but no ceilings in the shacks. Usually men and teenage boys were separated from their families.

Aftermath Freedom on 1 April 1949 43years after WWII in 1988 Prime Minister Brian Mulroney acknowledged the hardship of the Japanese Provided compensation packages for each individual directly wronged.

The War Measures Act Statue passed in 1914 that gave Federal Cabinet that power to govern by decree and to suspend civil liberties during times of war or national security. 1940 the government revoked the Canadian citizenship of Italian and German immigrants Sent to internment camps

The Holocaust Anti-Jewish Policy

The Holocaust Holocaust has a Greek origin sacrifice by completely burning. Nazi Regime systematically rounded up millions of Jews across Europe and shipped them off to concentration camps. Over six million Jews were killed. Majority of the victims were Jews others included: Roma, homosexuals, disabled persons, communists, Poles, Jehovah Witnesses, political prisoners, and resistance fighters

Concentration Camps Concentration camps were used to detained the people that the Nazis persecuted. Victims were subjected to inhumane conditions: gassed, worked and starved to death, executed and completely burned alive. When the Nazis gained control of the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway and France, hundreds of thousands Jews were forced to leave their homes and were crowded into ghettos. Warsaw Canada allow 5 000 Jews to immigrate into the country

S.S. St. Louis During the Holocaust St. Louis was a ship that carried more than 900 German Jews. The ship travelled from port to port along the coasts of North and South America seeking refuge. No country allowed the ship to enter its harbours and the St. Louis was forced to return to Europe Passengers were confined and sent to concentration camps.

Jewish immigrants during WWII The United States accepted 200 000 Jews Britain accepted 195 000 Jews 600 000 Jews were accepted into other countries such as Argentina, China, Australia and Mexico

Welcome to Canada Between 1947 and 1949, 1,123 Jewish orphans came to Canada as part of the War Orphans Project. 783 came from concentration camps and 229 from hiding Most of the orphans that survived were adolescent boys and only 37 were children younger than ten years old. The majority of the orphans, settled in Montreal, Toronto, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia.

Time Line 1940- government revoked the Canadian citizenship of Italian and German immigrants. 1942- Japanese Canadians had to start packing and moving out. 1942- William Lyon Mackenzie held a public referendum 1942- 22 000 Japanese Canadians were brought to internment camps in B.C. 1942- Order-In-Council passed under the war measures act giving the federal government the power of intern all people of Japanese race. 1944- Conscription Crisis 1944- a high number of causalities– more troops 1949- Japanese Canadians regained freedom 1947-1949- 1,123 Jewish orphans came to Canada 1988- Prime Minister Brian Mulroney apologized and awarded each individual that was directly wronged with $ 21, 000