Canada at the Start of WWII

After WWI Canada adopted a policy of Isolationism - this

means that Canada did not want to be involved in world
affairs so that they would not be drawn into another war.
On Sept. 3, 1939 the merchant ship Athenia is torpedoed
by a German U-boat. 500 Canadians are killed.
On Sept. 10, 1939 Prime Minister William Lyon
Mackenzie King declares war on Germany with almost
unanimous support from parliament.
French Canada supports war as long as there is no
Conscription

Merchant Ship Athenia

SS Athenia

An Athenia survivor
SS Athenia sinking
after being struck by
a German Torpedo

Canada Contd
Canada is not as eager to fight this war as it was at the start
of WWI
Canadian forces are ill-equipped:
Army has 4000 regular troops and 60 000 part-time soldiers
Navy has about 3000 sailors
Air Force has about 4000 members

First Canadian troops reach Britain in December, 1939

From Oct. 1939-Apr. 1940 troops saw no action - soldiers
called this the Phony War.
Invasion of France began in May 1940. Very few
Canadians are involved.

Canada Contd
Majority of Canadian troops remain in Britain training and
preparing for battle.
Canadas first major action is in August, 1942 - the Dieppe
Raid.

Canadian soldiers after

the Dieppe Raid