1. World War 2 Canadian History 11

2. Describe Canada’s contribution to the War in the Air. How did these contributions help the economy? RCAF was 40 combat planes and 5000 personnel By 1945, it was 4th largest in the world More than 164000 people (including 64000 women) had seen active service in war British Commonwealth Air Training Plan- 200 sites in Canada; trained more than 131500 personnel during the war Battle of Britain-1940- Canadian pilots in RAF helped in fight against blitz warfare on British cities Economy blossomed with factories building aircraft i.e. De Havilland

3. Describe Canada’s contribution to the War in the Atlantic. How did these help the economy? 1939- Canada’s navy consisted of 6 destroyers, 5 minesweepers, 2 training ships, 3500 personnel purpose originally- defend Canada’s coastal waters after 1940- RCN used its corvettes to protect convoys (50 0r 60 supply ships travelling together) bringing supplies to Allies after 1941- US joined Canada in Battle of Atlantic 1943- bombers supported convoys merchant marines economy blossomed with factories building ships

4. Explain how the involvement of African Canadian people changed as the war continued. Did this group of Canadians realize lasting change in their status as Canadians? Barriers removed Initially still difficulties enlisting Integrated throughout forces Allan Bundy –university student from N.S. –first N.S. person of African descent to be accepted for air-crew training

5. Explain how the involvement of Native Canadian people changed as the war continued. Did this group of Canadians realize lasting change in their status as Canadians? Barriers removed As “wards of the state” by terms of Indian Act of 1876, not allowed to enlist without permission of Dept. of Indian Affairs, and if they were allowed, had to give up their status as registered Indians Still, over 3000 fought in war

6. Explain how the involvement of females changed as the war continued. Did this group of Canadians realize lasting change in their status as Canadians? Barriers removed Women were actively recruited-over 45000 were recruited during war Still not allowed to serve in direct combat Allowed to become parachute riggers, mechanics, photographers, and wireless operators Always paid less than men Ontario and Quebec started day care centres (disbanded after war) Attitudes changed, but still they went back to traditional roles after WW2

7. Discuss how and why conscription became an important issue during the years of the war. Do you think conscription should have been enforced? (Give reasons for your response.) PM King implemented National Resources Mobilization Act in 1940 (all single men 18 or older had to register for compulsory military service) They were not supposed to see active duty (so were called ZOMBIES) By 1942- pressure for more men to fight- so King had a plebiscite/referendum to ask if people would release him from his promise to not have conscription 73% of French Canadians voted NO, 80% of English Canadians voted YES By 1944, more men needed, so King mobilized ZOMBIES for overseas 13000 were sent over, but only 2500 saw the battlefield Some riots in Quebec City and streets of Montreal, but not the terrible split of WW1

8. During both wars, certain groups of people faced “the indignity of racism”. Who was one of these groups? What happened? Why? What have been the long-term effects of these events? 1942- 22000 Japanese were taken to internment camps in B.C. or labour camps on the Prairies All possessions were confiscated (except one suitcase full of belongings) and sold to pay for the camps Explanation-“enemy aliens” were security threat (Japanese bombed Pearl Harbour) Terrible conditions at camps- also no schooling After war, still 4000 were shipped to Japan or to East Coast Tried till 1988 to get apology and compensation from government

9. Another one of these groups was the Jewish people. What happened? Why? What have been the long- term effects of these events? Jews- 6,000, 000 died in “holocaust”- genocide in Europe Anti-Semitism- most countries refused to allow fleeing Jews into them Jewish rights slowly and systematically taken away Canada- from 1939-1945, only 5000 Jews allowed into Canada, while USA accepted 200 000 and Britain, 195 000 1939- ship St. Louis- turned away from every country –had to turn back to Belgium- many killed in Concentration camps