Podcast
Questions and Answers
What was Mackenzie King's impression of Hitler when he met him in 1937?
What was Mackenzie King's impression of Hitler when he met him in 1937?
What promise did King make to Quebec ministers in his government?
What promise did King make to Quebec ministers in his government?
What was the response to war in 1939 from Canadians?
What was the response to war in 1939 from Canadians?
What was a major reason why some Canadians enlisted in the war effort?
What was a major reason why some Canadians enlisted in the war effort?
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What is the concept of total war?
What is the concept of total war?
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What did the NRMA (National Resources Military Act) allow for?
What did the NRMA (National Resources Military Act) allow for?
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What was the primary goal of the BCATP for Canada?
What was the primary goal of the BCATP for Canada?
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What was the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP)?
What was the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP)?
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Why did King hope that the BCATP could be Canada's main contribution to the war effort?
Why did King hope that the BCATP could be Canada's main contribution to the war effort?
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In what year did Franklin D. Roosevelt deliver his 'Arsenal of Democracy' speech?
In what year did Franklin D. Roosevelt deliver his 'Arsenal of Democracy' speech?
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What was the outcome of the Evacuation at Dunkirk?
What was the outcome of the Evacuation at Dunkirk?
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What was the target of the German Luftwaffe in August 1940?
What was the target of the German Luftwaffe in August 1940?
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What was the name of Hitler's plan for the invasion of Britain?
What was the name of Hitler's plan for the invasion of Britain?
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What was the primary reason Canada was an ideal location for the BCATP?
What was the primary reason Canada was an ideal location for the BCATP?
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What was the duration of the Evacuation at Dunkirk?
What was the duration of the Evacuation at Dunkirk?
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What was the significance of the Battle of Britain?
What was the significance of the Battle of Britain?
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Study Notes
Mackenzie King and Hitler
- Mackenzie King met Hitler in 1937 and initially thought Hitler was an honest man who could be trusted
Conscription Promise
- King promised Quebec ministers and Parliament that as long as his government was in power, conscription would not be enacted
Canada's Response to War in 1939
- There was a lack of enthusiasm for war compared to World War I
- The suffering and horrors of WWI were still fresh in the minds of many Canadians
- 58,330 people volunteered for service in September 1939
- First Nations peoples volunteered at a higher per capita rate than any other group in Canada
- As the war continued, African-Canadians were accepted into the regular army and the officer corps
Reasons for Enlistment
- Private's pay was $1.30 per day, with additional money for dependent spouses and children
- Some Canadians felt a sense of duty and strong ties to Britain
- Enlistment was also motivated by a sense of new-found national pride
Total War
- Total war referred to the concept of doing whatever it took to gear up the economy for wartime demands
- C.D. Howe became federal minister of the Department of Munitions and Supplies, directing industries on what to produce and how to produce it
- Total war efforts included shipbuilding, aircraft production, military vehicles, tanks, and food production
NRMA (National Resources Military Act)
- The NRMA gave the government special emergency powers to mobilize all available resources to defeat the enemy
- The act allowed for conscription for home defense only
British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP)
- King hoped that the BCATP would be Canada's main contribution to the war effort
- The BCATP would allow Canada to host and administer a training plan for pilots and personnel from the Commonwealth
- Canada's open skies, climate, and distance from enemy aircraft made it an ideal training location
- King hoped to avoid the conscription issue through the BCATP
"Arsenal of Democracy"
- On December 29, 1940, US President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered a radio speech
- Roosevelt described the United States as the "great arsenal of democracy" in the struggle against tyranny and dictatorship
- He aimed to arouse popular support for sending military aid to nations fighting against the Axis powers
Evacuation at Dunkirk
- The Germans had taken over France and Belgium, and Allied forces were surrounded in Dunkirk
- A massive evacuation effort by the British Navy rescued nearly 340,000 Allied soldiers between May 26 and June 4, 1940
The Battle of Britain
- Hitler's plan for invasion of Britain was called "Operation Sea Lion"
- The first phase involved destroying Britain's air power through a massive bombing campaign
- The German Luftwaffe targeted harbors and shipping facilities in July 1940
- In August 1940, airfields and aircraft factories were targeted
- In September 1940, the German strategy shifted to bombing civilian targets for 45 consecutive nights
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Description
Test your knowledge of Mackenzie King's views and actions during World War II, including his impressions of Hitler and his promises to Quebec.
