World War I+II in Canada by Lea Seik

General information:

The aim of Canada in World War I and II was to became an independent country in the world. In the years before, Great Britian colonized Canada and till the begining of World War I, the Canadians were under the political influence and command of Great Britian.
In these wars, they used the opportunity of proving their national power. But at first, they joined into the war by support Great Britian with weapons and other military stuff, because they were a partner of the Commenwealth.



World War I:

Under the command of the prime mininster Robert L. Borden (1911-1920), Canada helped the allied forces in World War I.
Nearly 8 million people participated in the war and ca. 60,000 humans died of them. All these military humans became soldiers by their own choice. In July 1917, the Canadian regime intrduced the compulsory military service (Wehrpflicht).
The former aim was the independent of Great-Britian, so they supported Great-Britian with weapons.
Some very terrible battles were for example the fight in Ypern, a coast in Belgium, the fight at the 'Somme', a river in France, which was the most terrible battle in World War I and the combat in 'Passchendaele',it's near Ypern. The battle of 'Vimy' was the most glorious fight for the Canadians in World War I, because the Canadian troops conquered a fortress in Germany.
In the meantime, the women established the women's suffrage.

(Nellie McClung, a women's libber and a freedom fighter)
















In 1918, 40 % of the industrial production in Canada were weapons and munitions, which were exported to Great-Britian and the other Western powers.
When the war finished, Canada was noticed in the Versailler treaty as an independent country.















(Canadian soldiers during the retreat)



World War II:

In 1921, William L. MackKenzie became the new prime mininster and made a good and sovereign politic. That convinced Great-Britian and Canada became an independent country, although Great-Britian controled some of their politic.
At first, MackKenzie didn't believe, that Germany start a new fight, but after the western powers came in conflict with the 'Third Reich', he declared war on Germany on the 10th September 1939. That was the beginning of many battles in Italy, Hong Kong and North France, which was occupied by the german soldiers at that time. Many Canadians did an apprenticeship by the Canadian Air Force and the Royal Canadian Navy.
But after Canada became nearly a free, liberal country, a lot of problems were born, which didn't exist, when Great-Britian influenced the country. The bad Export, the strained relations and crises between the people, the tribes and the sections of the population were very distinctive in this time.
Nevertheless, Canada became more and more important when it joined into the UNO and helped with the foundation of the NATO.
A lot of new reforms came into force, for example the new insurances for the population.
After the end of the war, Canada became very strong in the economy and modernized their country by using their raw materials and their mineral ressources like the oil and the wind power. Because of the high birth- and the good immigrate rate.
Nearly 1,160,000 humans enagaged in the war and ca. 44,000 person died.
Toward the end of World War II, almost every soldier got war-weary. That was a signal for the Canadian regime of introduce compulsory military service again, which was repeled in the years before.


















(propaganda poster)



Time after World War I+II:

At the end of the battle, the tropps liberated a lot of areas in Norway and the Dutch territory around the Rhine and the Lek. After everything finished, the Canadian soldiers withdrawed from Norway and rebuilt their own country.