Canada Goes to WarCanada Goes to War____________________________________________________________

War on the HomefrontWar on the Homefront

• William Lyon William Lyon Mackenzie KingMackenzie King

“Thanks to the skill and devotion of our men and women, Canada is a granary, an arsenal, an airdrome, and a shipyard of freedom”

Canada’s War PlanCanada’s War Plan• 1. The defence and security of Canada• 2. The production of food supplies for Britain• 3.he production of weapons and ammunitions for

Allied forces• 4. Training for Allied pilots• 5. development of RCAF for home defence and

overseas duty• 6. Development of RCN for home defence and convoy

duty• 7. development of Canadian army for home defence

and overseas duty

How did the How did the Canadian Canadian

Government pay Government pay for war for war

weapons?weapons?

• Income taxes increased

• Victory Bonds

What Occurred at “Home”?What Occurred at “Home”?• Rationing:

– 1942 - every Canadian received a ration book, coupons used from book at time of purchase of butter, sugar etc.

– Last car produced in 1942, gas rationed

– Steel used for bombers instead of washing machines

– Nickel now made from zinc

• Recycling:– paper, metal, rags, rubber, bones

• Handmade:– Socks, scarves, etc.

Children and the War EffortChildren and the War Effort• Enlisting

– 700,000 Canadian soldiers under the age of 21

– older-looking 13 year olds enlisted

– if denied military service would join the Merchant Navy (transport troops and goods overseas)

                    

           

                    

 

Children and the War Effort 2Children and the War Effort 2• Helping with the War Effort

– work on farms– school: no attendance check,

new material taught after harvest– driver’s licence lowered to 14– cadet corps– write letters overseas– befriended British refugee

children– recycle and collect materials in

return for free movie passes– bought War Savings Stamps– Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts -

fundraising to buy items for the war effort (trucks, ambulances, bonds)

                    

           

Canadian Women at WarCanadian Women at War• As Civilians

– 600,000 permanent to 1,200,000– took jobs previously only for men– worked with men in factories, on

airfields, on farms– built parts for ships, aeroplanes,

ammunition– drove buses, taxis, streetcars– smaller physique and manual

dexterity = fine precision work in electronics etc.

– Joined war relief clubs to improve morale of troops overseas (usually with care packages)

– adhered to many forms of rationing

Canadian Women at War 2Canadian Women at War 2• In the Service

– lobbied government to form military organizations for women (achieved in 1941-1942)

– 50,000+ women served in armed forces

– 21,600 CWACS = Canadian Women’s Army Corps

– 7,100 WRENS = Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service

– 17,400 WDs = Women’s Division RCAF

– 4,480 in Nursing Service– positions included: mechanics,

parachute riggers, wireless operators, clerks and photographers

Another Conscription CrisisAnother Conscription Crisis• PM King’s fear of divided English and French Canada• King promised that he would never bring in

conscription• despite his promise, in 1940 the government passed

the National Resources Mobilization Act - a law that authorized limited conscription of Canadian men

• 1940-41 pressure put on King to increase Canada’s contribution, including soldiers (Hitler invades USSR)

• 1942 - plebiscite - asked voters whether they would permit King to break his earlier promise

• English and French Canadians were split • King says “Not necessarily conscription, but

conscription if necessary” - in order to reassure French Canadians

Canada’s Wartime EconomyCanada’s Wartime Economy• In 1939 Canada was not prepared for war (ex. 500,000

unemployed Canadians, few factories etc.)• 1940-42 Canada’s total industrial production rose 47%• 1942 $2.5mil being spent on Canada’s war industry• Victory Bonds

– sold in order to finance war efforts– in exchange for lending the government money, individuals and

corporations were given the government’s written promise to repay the money with interest at a specific time in the future

• Profiteers – under the table selling of goods to the highest bidders

• Rationing

Research and DevelopmentResearch and Development• Aircraft Ski• Anti-Fog windshield fluids, de-icers• Artificial fur (for arctic conditions)• synthetic rubber (90%)• studied motion sickness, Anti-G suit• Alouette satellite• nuclear energy research which led to CANDU power generator• Radar• Canadian Anti-Acoustic torpedo (CAT)• Magnetism: to detect mines and submerged submarines• Anti-gas fabrics and anti-mould and fungus protection for

clothing and equipment• Freeze-dried and Condensed Food (ex. Eggs, milk) =