September 3, 1939:

Introduction to Question:

On September 3, 1939, Britain and France declares war on Germany following the invasion of Poland by German troops. Unlike in the First World War, Canada does not automatically go to war once Britain has made its war declaration. This is because in 1931 the British Empire approved the Statute of Westminster. The Statute of Westminster was an agreement making all British Dominions independent from the Crown with their own responsibility for foreign affairs.

Question:

On what date does Canada declare war on Germany?

Answer and background information:

Source

Infantrymen of The Toronto Scottish Regiment embarking in H.M. Troopship EMPRESS OF AUSTRALIA en route to Britain. Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, 7 December 1939.

Canada declared war on Germany on September 10, 1939. William Lyon Mackenzie King held a special sitting of Parliament with a vote to immediately follow a debate in the House of Commons. The majority of the Members of Parliament voted to have Canada join Britain and France in the war against Germany, seven days after their declarations of war. According to Mackenzie King, Canada's contribution should be sending soldiers to fight, along with munitions and food to help the allied effort.

Diary reference:
September 3, 1939, p. 3

"I had just been reading my Bible when this word of the King's approval came. I knelt and prayed for my country and for the cause of freedom, for strength and guidance in these times of need. I confess I have felt in the whole week no particular change of feeling at any moment, save one of immense relief this morning when I knew that the King's approval had come. I kept fearing that the jingo elements in the country would again be finding fault with me for not getting into the war as soon as we could. There will, I fear, be plenty of war before the end comes...."

June 5, 1940:

Introduction to Question:

Mackenzie King intends to mobilize Canadian military and economic forces in support of the war effort. From the very beginning of the war, William Lyon Mackenzie King stated that he would not necessarily impose conscription. Although conscription was enacted during the First World War, Mackenzie King hesitates to rush into any decision on the topic.

Question:

What is the main reason Mackenzie King did not want to impose conscription?

Answer and background information:

Source

[Canadian troops embarking in landing craft during training exercise before raid on Dieppe, France, ca. August 1942.].

To safeguard Canada's unity, Mackenzie King and the federal liberals were sensitive to strong French- Canadian feelings on conscription. During the First World War, almost all French-speaking MPs opposed conscription and most English-speaking MPs were in favour of it. The Unionist government (a coalition of Conservatives and some Liberals) was formed in 1917 and soon passed the law to enact conscription. Canada was truly divided on this topic with Quebec and the agricultural West opposed to conscription and the rest of Canada supporting it. From a political standpoint, this topic got the Unionists elected, but it divided the country in two camps. In the Second World War, Mackenzie King understood how divisive the issue of conscription could be to Canadians and to Canadian unity.

Diary reference:
5 June 1940, p. 3

"I asked for constructive suggestions, outlined need for co-operative effort in co-ordinating voluntary work in all parts of Canada. Pointed out that if this were not done, conscription, I believe would follow by some other government. I spoke of the necessity of keeping Canada united and our war effort being based on that, of balancing all matters going just as far as we could, and not so far as to create a worse situation than the one we were trying to remedy...."

June 22, 1940:

Introduction to Question:

Germany's powerful army invades France and on June 12, 1940. France tries to hold off the German assault, but later surrenders on the June 22. Britain and its Dominions now stand alone against the German and Italian aggressors. The unthinkable now seems possible. The British empire could be defeated. Within the first year of the war, Mackenzie King assesses Canada's role, its contribution, and what measures need to be enacted by Parliament.

Question:

What measure was enacted by Parliament on June 21, 1940 to support and intensify Canada's war effort?

Answer and background information:

Source

Eleanor Chartrand tightening nose plugs of 500-pound bombs, Defence Industries Ltd.

The National Resources Mobilization Act was enacted giving government special emergency powers to mobilize all human and material resources for the defence of Canada. Registration took place almost without incident as Canadians were united by the position of defending their country. Men and women could be enlisted into military service, government service, or as part of companies supplying the war effort. In all industries, war materials had priority over civilian goods. On the eve of war, more than half a million Canadians were jobless. Once this law was passed, it didn't take long before almost everyone was employed.

Diary reference:
23 June 1940, p. 2

"There also came communications from the British High Commissioner's office telling of the French armistice terms as far as received, mostly relating to the fleet, which practically signifies that the entire fleet is to be turned over to Germany, and up to the British fleet now to try and capture a few large French capital ships. The French Government to have only a small centre of France to on in, and German armies to occupy the north and coast. It practically is an entire surrender to the German government...."

Spring 1942:

Introduction to Question:

Although the National Resources Mobilization Act was passed in 1940, military conscription is not imposed. By 1941, members of the Conservative Party lobbied for military conscription and soon, much of English Canada supported the idea. Mackenzie King's Liberal government had made anti-conscription promises, but the Prime Minister knew that he also had to appease the growing number of conscription supporters.

Question:

How did Mackenzie King get out of his anti-conscription promise?

Answer and background information:

Source

Rt. Hon. W.L. Mackenzie King voting in the plebiscite on the introduction of conscription for overseas military service.

Mackenzie King holds a plebiscite on the issue of conscription. He believes that by asking the entire voting population of Canada to decide what to do on the conscription issue, he can renege on earlier promises if the majority supports a different position even though his original promises were made to two significant Canadian minorities: French Canadians and western Canadian farmers.

Diary reference:
9 June 1942, p. 1

"While working, I kept in touch with the office to see the progress being made on the Mobilization Bill. Up to a few minutes before 10, they were still in committee on the matter... This time there remained still a few of the most important parts to be inserted. Concrete statement regarding policy — not necessarily conscription but conscription if necessary. Much of what I had to say on national unity, what had to be said on the glory of Canada's overseas war effort being all voluntary...These were all very important bits."

April 27, 1942:

Introduction to Question:

The Liberal government asks Canadians to release them from their anti-conscription promises. On April 27, 1942, Canadians were asked the following question on the plebiscite ballot: "Are you in favour of releasing the government from any obligation rising out of the past restricting the methods of raising men for military service?"

Question:

What is the result of the plebiscite in the province of Quebec?

Answer and background information:

Source

Anti-conscription demonstration staged by Université de Montréal students, Champ de Mars.

In Quebec, 72.9% of the population vote "no," whereas across the other provinces, 80% of the residents vote "yes." The government then passes a law authorizing conscription for overseas service, if it is deemed necessary. Given the overwhelming support of English Canada, the federal government felt that it no longer could keep its anti-conscription promise.

Diary reference:
27 April, 1942, p.3

"My own guess as to the result of the plebiscite is that the affirmative vote should be about 70 percent over the Dominion as a whole. If it is that, it will be good indeed. That will mean it would run up to 80 percent in all the provinces outside of Quebec. Quebec, I feel, might give 30 percent in the affirmative. It might even reach 35. That the vote will amply justify the taking of the plebiscite, in that it will make quite clear the wish of the people as a whole to have a free hand and no longer bound by past pledges or promises in the nature of restrictions, I feel quite sure."

November 22, 1944:

Introduction to Question:

The fall of 1944 marks the fifth year of the War and the Minister of National Defence, Colonel J.L. Ralston, is convinced that military conscription is needed immediately. In an effort not to invoke conscription, the Prime Minister replaces Ralston with General A.G.L. McNaughton who is a strong supporter of voluntary service. Due to extreme pressures from his English-Canadian ministers, Mackenzie King reverses his decision and invokes conscription in order to save his government on 22 November, 1944.

Question:

How many conscripted soldiers were sent overseas to fight in the war?

Answer and background information:

Source

Canadian soldiers displaying a large German flag removed from a fortified house.

Over 16,000 soldiers were recruited and 12,908 were sent overseas as a result of this second conscription. However, since conscription was imposed at the end of the Second World War, most of the conscripted soldiers sent overseas returned home safely.

Diary reference:
22 November 1944, p. 1

"Was just beginning to prepare for today's proceedings when the phone rang and Gen. McNaughton spoke to me. He said he had quite serious news. That the Headquarters Staff here had all advised him that the voluntary system would not get the men... He expressed the opinion that it was like a blow in the stomach. He also said that he had the resignation of the Commander in Winnipeg. That if the Commanders, one after the other, began to resign, the whole military machine would run down, begin to disintegrate and there would be no controlling the situation... we are faced with a real situation which has to be met... it will be my clear duty to agree to the passing of the Order in Council and go to Parliament and ask for a vote of confidence...."

May 7, 1945:

Introduction to Question:

On April 1, 1945, American military forces invade Okinawa, Japan. Then on May 2, 1945, the Soviet army capture Berlin, Germany.

Question:

On what date did the Second World War finally end?

Answer and background information:

Source

Japanese surrender ceremony. Lt. Gen. Tanaka signs surrender document while Vice Admiral Fujita waits his turn, Government House.

After two atomic bomb attacks on Japan, foreign minister Shigemitsu signs the formal instrument of surrender on the battleship U.S.S. Missouri in Tokyo Bay, Japan on September 2, 1945. This signifies the official end of the Second World War. Germany had surrendered on May 7, 1945. Fighting in the First World War ended on November 11, 1918. The Treaty of Versailles, being signed on June 28, 1919 officially ended the war.

Diary reference:
7 May 1945, p. 8

"This has been a good day — a happy day, in some respects of work, but one in which the burden has been greatly lightened from a knowledge that Nazi militarism has, at last, been destroyed. What a tragic and catastrophic close! — especially for those who have brought the war on. How just the retribution which has overtaken the followers of Hitler and Mussolini, it is sad beyond words that the innocent have had to suffer so terribly. What the multitudes of innocent people have had to suffer so terribly for the guilt and folly, vainglorious ambition of a handful of gangsters. Nothing like it has been known in the whole of history...."