World War II Timeline

Culturally Significant Event

Wage & Price Control

September 1939

The government additionally implemented wage limits to help prevent workers from taking advantage of the workforce shortage and requesting raises. This was an attempt to prevent companies from experiencing an increase in costs, which would have led to an increase in market pricing. To ensure that numerous necessities for Canadians were relatively inexpensive for them to buy, the government also imposed price limits on several needs. This was an attempt to prevent firms from experiencing an increase in costs, which would have led to an increase in market pricing.

Rise in cost of living

Political/Military Event

Canada Declares War On Germany

September 10, 1939

Newspaper letting people know Canada is going into war

Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939. France and Britain waged war on Germany two days later. Canada declared war on September 10th. The Canadian military began incredibly small and expanded rapidly. Tens of thousands of Canadians enlisted to serve abroad in 1939. Hundreds of thousands of individuals had signed up by the time the war ended. Tens of thousands were forced to enlist in the military starting in 1940. They had been drafted. Conscripted soldiers were once only required to serve at home.

Soldiers In War

Culturally Significant Event

Unemployment Insurance Act

August 7, 1940

The Unemployment Insurance Act is a government programme that offers one-time payment benefits to unemployed people. In addition, the Employment Insurance plan offers benefits for illness, parental leave, and caregiving to individuals who are unable to work for family- or health-related reasons—employer and employee premiums fund employee health insurance. The Second World War's recruitment effort and the Great Depression expedited the implementation of unemployment insurance. Following a constitutional reform that granted the federal government legislative authority over unemployment insurance, the first mandatory national unemployment insurance programme was implemented.

Family Allowance Poster

Culturally Significant Event

Bringing Back Victory Loans

June 15, 1941

To help cover some of the costs of the war, the Canadian government did raise taxes during World War II. The Canadian government used an outdated concept: Victory Bond campaigns. After the slow 1940 Second War loan, the Victory Loan reappeared with its vibrant posters, patriotic appeals, and massive sales force that had gotten accustomed to World War I. Between June 1941 and November 1945, there were nine Victory Loans, with a total cash sales value of almost $12 billion, of which around 52% came from corporations and the remainder from individuals.

Posters of Women Telling people to buy victory bonds

Culturally Significant Event

Camp X

December 6,1941

A training camp known as Camp X was in charge of preparing recruits for the Special Operations Executive of the British Security Coordination during World War II. It was located in Oshawa, Ontario, from 1941 until 1946. It was divided into two parts: Hydra, a network that sent signals between the United States, Great Britain, and Canada, and Special Training School No. 103, which instructed allied operatives in the art of secret operations. The facility was jointly run by the Canadian military and had strong ties to the intelligence agency MI6, as well as assistance from Foreign Affairs and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Picture of Camp X someone took in the air

Culturally Significant Event

Womens Involvement

1941

Female Soldier in Uniform

During the Great Depression, women were discouraged from working; but, as the Second World War began, many of them entered the workforce. Increasing the number of women in the workforce was one of the Canadian government's primary goals. Initially, the government exclusively hired single women, but after there was a serious labour shortage, married women and mothers were additionally searched for. The government even provided funding for daycare services so that working women might find other employment. About 225,000 Canadian women were employed in weaponry manufacturers alone in 1943. Women established volunteer organizations to aid in the war effort. It was difficult for women to balance voluntary activity connected to the war with household duties.

Posters wanting Women To Join War

Political/Military Event

Japanese Canadians Interned

February 26, 1942

Following the events of Pearl Harbour in 1941, the federal government compelled roughly 20,000 Japanese Canadians. Most of whom were citizens of Canada by birth, to leave their residences and farms, mainly situated along the coast of British Columbia, and internment camps in the interior. Following the war, thousands of internees were sent to Japan, which had been destroyed by the conflict; others were made to transfer permanently to other provinces of Canada. Only gradually were the restrictions on Japanese Canadians' ability to own property and their right to reside lifted.

Japanese going to the internment camps

Political/Military Event

Dieppe Raid

August 19, 1942

The Soviet Union, recovering from strong German attacks, requested assistance in the summer of 1942. The Canadian Army enthusiastically accepted a British plan to attack Dieppe and divert German attention. On August 19, 1942, at dawn, around 5,000 Canadian forces and 1500 British troops attacked the French seaside town of Dieppe, a disastrous operation. The German defenses were stronger than anticipated and fully warned and the Canadians missed sufficient air and navy assistance, making the raid a complete failure. In the war's most significant single-day defeat for Canada, 900 people died and 2000 were taken prisoner.

At the Dieppe Land with boats and tanks

Political/Military Event

The Invasion of Sicily

July 10, 1943

Operation HUSKY was started on July 10, 1943, by the Americans, British, and Canadians, who landed in southern Sicily. After landing at Pachino as part of the British Eighth Army, the Canadians encountered minimal opposition from the disheartened and unprepared Italians. In a series of deadly hilltop fights for control of central Sicily, Canadian infantry and tanks soon pushed more than 150 km in the intense heat against the forces of Germany. During the Battle of Sicily, the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) sent four squadrons in total. After campaigning for 27 straight days, the Canadian infantry troops were removed from active duty on August 6. During the Italian Campaign, almost 26,000 Canadians suffered injuries, with about 6,000 of them dying.

Soldiers entering Sicily

Aftermath of a building after the battle

Political/Military Event

D-Day

June 6, 1944

Entering Normandy

Canadian forces participated in the largest amphibious operation in military history on June 6, 1944. On D-Day, there were 14,000 infantry, 15 RCAF squadrons, and over 10,000 Canadian sailors in 110 warships. Years have passed since the invasion was planned. The Canadian tragedy at Dieppe demonstrated the tremendous difficulty that awaited. At last, a target date was decided upon, and the organizers made their way to the Normandy coast. Canadian soldiers played a significant role in the triumph, but they came at a heavy cost: 359 of them were killed, 584 were injured, and 131 were taken prisoner.

Soldiers in Normandy Watching the boats hit the shore

Soldiers in a crowded area waiting