War-time Conferences• During the war, the Allied

leaders met often to discuss war strategy; they would also discuss what would happen once victory was achieved• Of the seven conferences that

occurred, there were three that were regarded as being the most important:

1. Tehran, Nov-Dec 1943:• Held in Iran• It was the time where the big

three (Roosevelt, Churchill, & Stalin) met• The meeting did not achieve

much, but cordial relations were established between the two democratic leaders and the dictator, Stalin

Wartime Conferences II• Yalta, Feb 1945:• Southern Soviet Union• Numerous decisions re: Germany

were madea. Germany would be divided into

“zones of occupation” once the war ended

b. War Crimes court would be est. in Nuremburg

c. Stalin promised to hold “free” elections in the countries he liberated from the Nazis• He did not do this…

• Potsdam, July 1945:• Held near Berlin• Former war Allies (war over) were

to make decisions about the future of Germany• Supposed to be a planning session

for the peace conference• Democrats and Communist no

longer trusted each other• Set the stage for the next war

instead, that being the Cold War

Canada after WWII: The Effects• Economic Effects:

• Canada’s economy grew due to all of its contributions to the war effort• Economy boomed, but so to did the

national debt = $10 billion• Industrial and manufacturing production

grew to overtake agriculture as the #1 economic sector in Canada

• Politics:• CAN gained international recognition, est.

as a “middle player”, took on a greater role world-wide• CAN played a big role in creation of United

Nations • CAN troops recognized for action in

Dieppe, Hong Kong, Normandy, and the Liberation of Holland

• PM King averted conscription crisis• CAN government became more involved in

live of Canadians, social safety net was strengthened

• Civil Rights improved, contribution of ethnic groups advanced the cause

Canada after WWII: Effects II• Social Effects:• Women gained greater recognition for their

contribution to the war effort• Canada became a more tolerant nation, as it

eventually accepted displaced persons and refugees from Europe.• Canada experienced a “baby boom”, and a significant

way of immigrants (included “war brides”)• Canada lost 42,000 to the war

WWII Casualties

Immigration to CAN post WWII• Pier 21:• Much like after WWI, Pier 21 in Halifax, NS was a portal for immigrants to

Canada after WWII• 1947, it officially reopened for processing immigrants

• Big challenge, processing all of the war brides from England, Scotland, and Wales• 48,000 war brides and 22,000 children were processed at Pier 21; 500,000 other

newcomers arrived at Pier 21 including displaced people and refugees

A quick recap: D-Day June 6/44• Normandy Landing: Operation Overlord:• Allied invasion of German-held Europe (Coast of France). Planned to use naval

and aerial bombardment to knock out German defences• One year in preparation, most complex military operation every attempted

• Largest CAN military operation of WWII: 14,000 Soldiers, 100 ships, and 36 bomber squadrons from RCAF• CAN forces were assigned the beachfront code-named Juno – 8 kms of

coastline, 1 of 5 targets at Normandy

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D-Day Recap II• Within one week, 300,000 Allied soldiers on the shores of Normandy

– after one month: 1 million soldiers & 200,000 Allied military vehicles• Allies finally had a foothold in Europe from which they could begin pushing

back the German armies

• Casualties: • 5,000 CAN, more than 200,000 Allies in total. • Germany 200,000 killed, wounded or missing; equal number captured

• Germany lost similar amount of soldiers, however they were beginning to run low on replacements; Allies seemed to have a limitless supply…

Liberation of Holland, May 1945• Following D-Day, Canadian troops distinguished themselves in a year

long battle with the Allied forces pushing the German armies out of France and Western Europe• May 5, 1945, Canadian forces drove the Nazis out of Holland, forcing their

retreat & surrender.

• Important: allowed Allies to keep on moving forward towards Germany

Berlin, 1945• Late April 1945, Soviet & American forces met in Germany, south of

Berlin. Soviets turned their attention to destroying the city…

• April 30, 1945: Hitler commits suicide… or did he?• Some say he, along with Eva Braun committed suicide, their bodies then

torched, some say he fled to Argentina and lived to 73 years dying in 1962…• Only “real” evidence is dental records from remains that the Russians said

they had found in a crater near Hitler’s bunker, these remains were “destroyed” in 1970… (Side note: Stalin really really wanted proof of Hitler’s death)

• Other “sources” say these records were tested in 2009, and came back as belonging to a female..

V-E Day• May 8, 1945 – V-E Day was declared when the last German Troops

Surrendered

End of WWII in Pacific• March 1945, Americans began the systematic fire bombing of Tokyo.

It was believed that this would urge the Japanese to surrender. • There were many losses of life and property, but no surrender…

• Prior to this, the United States had another plan up their sleeve

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Manhattan Project• March 1943, USA had funded a very secret, very expensive project to

determine if they could create Atomic Bombs• 1945, Pres. Harry S. Truman (Roosevelt died earlier that year) learned

of successful Atomic test…• He now had another option to end the war in the Pacific

• Top-secret effort cost $2 Billion and employed 120,000 personnel• “Fat Man” & “Little Boy”

Truman’s Decision• June 1, 1945: US Secretary of War recommended that the bombs

should be dropped without warning on Japanese military targets in an Urban Setting• US Scientists felt that dropping the bomb over an isolated area, giving

the Japanese an example of what could come was best idea• Truman rejected this, stating it was “impractical” and had no trouble

making a “military” decision• Felt that this would shorten the war and save American lives

Hiroshima, Aug 1945• If USA attempted a conventional attack on Japan, USA military

planners could expect 1 to 1.5 million casualties and 12-18 months of fighting• Therefore, Truman elected to drop “Little Boy” on City of Hiroshima (340,000

inhabitants)

• Ground Zero: 540,000 degree Fahrenheit; beyond “meltdown zone” there was an immense firestorm gutted the city, destroying 60,000 of 92,000 buildings• Official death count: 78,000 – 60,000 later died of bomb-related injuries or

diseases…

Nagasaki: August 9, 1945• Since Japan did not surrender immediately, Truman ordered that “Fat

Man” on Nagasaki• Of 250,000 inhabitants, 35,000 killed

• 170,000 people killed as a result of A-bombs

V-J Day, August 14, 1945• On August 14, Victory in Japan was established as the Japanese

Government sued for peace• World War II was “officially” over…