World War Two: The Home Front
Wartime production was good for the economy.
Government introduced wage and price controls to avoid runaway inflation.
Also introduced rationing and increased taxation.
We did not have to borrow like we did for WWI.
During WWII, Canadian society changed.
We submitted to rules and restrictions with one goal in mind: to defeat Germany.
Every aspect of our lives was under government control.
You were always reminded about how you could help the war effort:
- Join the Armed Forces
- Take a job in the war industry
- Buy Victory Bonds
- Grow a Victory Garden
- Give blood
- Watch what you say in case spies hear you.
Insulated by Two Oceans
The Atlantic and Pacific Oceans insulated us from the conflict in Europe. We weren’t bombed; we weren’t starved. We did, however, ration our food. In TOTAL WAR, most of our resources were being sent to our armed forces in Europe. Eventually, we had shortages. Rationing was invented to ensure everyone had his/her fair share (Gasoline, Meat, Sugar, Butter, Coffee/Tea).
Diversity in the Armed Forces
Women were recruited, but could not serve in direct combat (secretaries, cooks, drivers). They were paid less. 45,000 + enlisted. French Canadians enlisted in greater numbers this time. Many African Canadians enlisted (thousands) and they were not segregated this time. Aboriginals were not yet Canadian citizens (Indian Act) but wards of the state. They had to have permission, and give up Indian status. In the end, over 3000 enlisted.
Women at War
In the Labor Force: Farm work; war production; guns; ammunition; tanks; ships; aircraft welders; drillers; electricians; and crane drivers. They still made only 2/3 of what men made.
Volunteers: Homemakers had to deal with shortages and rationing; donated time to the Red Cross; worked in Armed Forces Canteens; grew Victory Gardens.
Women in Uniform: For the first time, women were recruited into the Armed Forces (50,000 enlisted). Their main function was to free men from desk jobs so they could fight (stenographers, clerks, cooks). They were not considered suitable for combat.
Women’s Liberation?
The attitudes towards women didn’t radically change during World War Two. When men returned from the war, most women were fired. All women’s branches of the armed forces were disbanded after the war.
Women on the Home Front
Women worked (over 1 million in manufacturing). Shipyards, airplane factories, driving trucks/buses. They were still paid less than male counterparts. Minority women also were given a chance at equal employment, so some conventional attitudes were challenged. After the war, most lost jobs to returning soldiers and tax breaks and child-care facilities disappeared.
Baby Boomers
Many marriages sparked by the war. Why? The government said it would only conscript single men into home defence reserves, which led to A LOT of marriages. Soldiers married war brides from Europe, which helped to contribute to the largest birth rate in Canadian history.
The Controversy of War
1940 was a bad year for the Allies. Just like in World War One, Canada sent a VOLUNTEER army to Europe. After France surrendered to Nazi Germany in 1940, how long would it be until the Nazis took Britain? How long until they took Canada?
Because of this, Canada passed the National Resources Mobilization Act (NRMA), which made every 18-year old male sign up for military training. It did not give the government the power to send these men overseas.
“Conscription if Necessary, but not Necessarily Conscription”
King didn’t want to force conscription, so in 1940, King enacts the National Resources Mobilization Act (NRMA). All men over 18 had to do military service by way of home defence (nicknamed ‘Zombies’). By 1942, we were losing the war and we needed to send more soldiers. King held a REFERENDUM in order to be released from his ‘no conscription’ promise
The Question:
Are you in favour of releasing the Government from any obligations arising out of any past commitments restricting the methods of raising men for military service?
King is Released from His Promise
In the end, every province except Quebec voted in favor of Conscription. But why were the French so opposed? They had several historical reasons:
- The conscription crisis of 1917 hadn’t been forgotten
- French Canadians weren’t happy with their place in the Canadian military (they were not given their own units and were dispersed (except the Van Doos).
- Few officers were French
- Training was in English
- Many viewed Canada’s role as simply supporting the British, not fighting a war directly affecting French Canadians. In keeping with his earlier promise (kind of), King decided not to immediately impose Conscription. He did something else…
By 1944, more soldiers were needed for the liberation of Europe. We needed more men, even ones that didn’t really want to go. King asked for more voluntary enlistment. King mobilized the Zombies for overseas duty amid huge protests in Montreal.
16,000 Zombies were sent, while only 2500 saw battle. Some deserted, but most accepted their fates. Only 69 were killed in combat; 232 wounded; and 13 taken prisoner. When Germany surrendered, it saved many Zombies the same fate.
Canadian-US Cooperation
Before entering the war, the US helped Canada and the allies. They agreed to a lend-Lease program: US could loan war materials to Great Britain/Canada without becoming involved in the war. How did this help Canada become more independent from Great Britain?
'Day of Infamy' (December 7, 1941)
Japan attacks Pearl Harbour. On this day, the Japanese fleet neutralized the US Pacific fleet for more than a year. They failed to destroy fuel supplies. This brought the USA into the war. Hitler mistakenly also declared war on the USA.
Canada in the Pacific Theatre: Hong Kong
Hong Kong garrison was a mixed force of Allied soldiers (for Canada, it was the Winnipeg Grenadiers and the Royal Rifles of Quebec). On December 7, 1941 (same day as Pearl Harbor), Japan attacked Hong Kong and forced the Allied surrender.
Soldiers were kept as POWs for 44 months (many died).
Evacuation of Japanese Canadians
After Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, and captured Hong Kong from British and Canadian soldiers, this led many Canadians to fear Japanese-Canadians, also known as NISEI (were they spies? Sabotage? Using fishing boats to send messages? This led to widespread paranoia.
Japanese Evacuation
Government denied Japanese from fishing (West Coast); boats were impounded/sold; Japanese weren’t allowed to operate short-wave radios or cameras, nor could they buy much gasoline. All males between 18 – 45 were evacuated to camps.
In 1942, 22,000 Japanese were interred in work camps in BC’s interior or in prairie labor camps. People could take one suitcase, while their homes, businesses, land, possessions were confiscated by the government (without compensation) and auctioned. Profits paid for the camps.
‘Security Precaution’
People feared a North American invasion, and Japan’s role in the war made this discrimination an easy excuse for prejudice
Conditions were harsh: families separated, no water/electricity, protesters were sent to a concentration camp in Ontario and forced to wear a badge (sound familiar?). After the war, this mistreatment continued and many sought compensation. Not until 1988 did the Canadian government apologizeand compensate each evacuee. No Japanese Canadian was ever charged with sabotage or disloyalty during the war. After the war PM Mackenzie King gave Japanese a choice:
- Return to Japan
- Settle EAST of the Rockies (in Alberta)
Any Japanese staying in BC were considered ‘disloyal’. In the end, 4000 returned to Japan. The Canadian people eventually convinced the government to stop deporting Japanese.
The War Measures Act
Enacted again in WWII. People with roots linked to enemy nations had to register with the RCMP. They also had a dawn-to-dusk curfew. Suspected Nazi sympathizers and communist supporters were interned. 1940: Italian and German Canadians had to register as ‘enemy aliens’ and some were interned.
Spies and Prisoners of War (POWs)
Camp X (Oshawa): a training ground for spies, secret agents, and guerrilla fighters. They had to learn to parachute jump at night, use high explosives, communicate in code, organize civilian resistance groups, and resist torture if captured.
Gustave Bieler: a Canadian spy who was captured and tortured by the Germans. He was shot by firing squad.
Henry Fung: a Chinese-Canadian who blew up bridges and stopped road convoys in Burma.s and POWs
Enigma: a German coding machine. The Germans thought the code was unbreakable. The Allies got the secrets from Polish agents. This allowed Allied agents to steal secrets and messages from the Nazis.
1945: United Nations formed (mandate: keep world peace)
Canada became an independent nation in 1947, which meant that we were Canadians first and British subjects second. We also enjoyed a post-war economic boom that lasted until the 1970’s.
