8.1 Canada's Entry into the War and Military Mobilization

Canada's entry into World War II in 1939 marked a pivotal moment in the nation's history. Initially relying on voluntary enlistment, the government soon passed the National Resources Mobilization Act to mobilize resources and manpower for the war effort.

The conscription debate divided the country, with English Canada supporting it and French Canada opposing. This led to a plebiscite in 1942, revealing deep divisions between regions and sparking protests in Quebec.

Canada Enters the War

Declaration of War and Voluntary Enlistment

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• Canada officially entered World War II on September 10, 1939, one week after Britain and France declared war on Germany following the invasion of Poland
• Initially, Canada's participation in the war was voluntary and the government relied on citizens to enlist in the armed forces of their own accord
• Many Canadians were motivated to join the war effort out of a sense of duty, patriotism, and a desire to support the Allied cause against the threat of fascism (Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy)
• Recruitment offices were set up across the country to process volunteers and assign them to various branches of the military (Army, Navy, Air Force)

National Resources Mobilization Act

• In June 1940, the Canadian government passed the National Resources Mobilization Act (NRMA) which gave it the authority to mobilize all necessary resources, including human resources, for the war effort
• The NRMA allowed the government to register all men aged 16 to 45 for potential military service, though it initially promised that conscription would not be imposed for overseas service
• The act also granted the government wide-ranging powers to control and allocate natural resources, industrial production, and transportation to support the war effort
• While the NRMA laid the groundwork for potential conscription, the government initially relied on voluntary enlistment to fill the ranks of the military

Conscription Crisis

Debate over Conscription

• As the war progressed and casualties mounted, the issue of conscription became increasingly controversial and divisive in Canada
• Many English Canadians, particularly those in Ontario and the western provinces, supported conscription as a necessary measure to sustain the war effort and fulfill Canada's obligations to the Allied cause
• French Canadians, centered in Quebec, were strongly opposed to conscription, viewing it as a violation of their rights and an imposition by the English-speaking majority
• The conscription debate rekindled long-standing tensions between English and French Canada, with Quebec threatening to withdraw its support for the war effort if conscription was imposed

Plebiscite and Conscription Crisis

• In 1942, facing mounting pressure to address the conscription issue, Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King held a national plebiscite asking Canadians to release the government from its previous promise not to impose conscription for overseas service
• The plebiscite results revealed a stark divide, with English Canada voting heavily in favor of releasing the government from its promise, while Quebec voted overwhelmingly against
• Despite Quebec's opposition, the government passed Bill 80 in 1942, amending the NRMA to allow for overseas conscription if necessary
• The decision to impose conscription led to protests and riots in Quebec, marking a low point in relations between French and English Canada during the war (Montreal anti-conscription rally)

Military Training and Mobilization

British Commonwealth Air Training Plan

• Canada played a vital role in training Allied aircrews through the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP), a massive program that operated from 1939 to 1945
• Under the BCATP, Canada provided facilities, aircraft, and instructors to train pilots, navigators, bombers, gunners, and other aircrew from Britain, Australia, New Zealand, and other Allied nations
• The BCATP operated 231 training sites across Canada, including airbases, schools, and specialized facilities (bombing and gunnery schools)
• By the end of the war, the BCATP had trained over 131,000 aircrew, making a significant contribution to the Allied air campaign against Germany

Mobilization of Canadian Forces

• As the war progressed, Canada mobilized a substantial military force through a combination of voluntary enlistment and conscription under the National Resources Mobilization Act
• By the end of the war, over 1.1 million Canadians had served in the armed forces, with approximately half serving overseas in Europe, North Africa, and the Pacific
• The Canadian Army played a significant role in key battles and campaigns, including the Dieppe Raid, the Italian Campaign, the Normandy landings, and the liberation of the Netherlands
• The Royal Canadian Navy and Royal Canadian Air Force also made important contributions to the Allied war effort, participating in the Battle of the Atlantic, coastal defense, and strategic bombing campaigns over Europe

Women's Contributions

Women's Royal Canadian Naval Service

• The Women's Royal Canadian Naval Service (WRCNS), also known as the "Wrens," was established in 1942 to free up male personnel for combat duties
• Women in the WRCNS served in various roles, including as cooks, clerks, drivers, and dispatchers, as well as in more specialized positions such as coders and signallers
• By the end of the war, over 6,700 women had served in the WRCNS, making a significant contribution to Canada's naval war effort

Canadian Women's Army Corps

• The Canadian Women's Army Corps (CWAC) was formed in 1941 to allow women to serve in non-combat roles and support the Canadian Army
• Women in the CWAC worked in a variety of roles, including as clerks, drivers, cooks, and medical assistants, as well as in more specialized positions such as mechanics and radar operators
• Over 21,000 women served in the CWAC during the war, both in Canada and overseas, helping to maintain the efficiency and effectiveness of the Canadian Army
• The CWAC and WRCNS, along with the Royal Canadian Air Force Women's Division, marked a significant milestone in the integration of women into the Canadian military and laid the foundation for their ongoing service in the post-war era