The World Descends Into Another War

The third gallery at the War Museum concerns itself with the Second World War.

The Great Depression hit Canada hard, as it did elsewhere in the world. It would also give rise to the dictators who took power in Germany, Italy, and Japan.

The first artifact in this area is this Mercedes. This belonged to Hitler himself, and was captured by the Americans at the end of the war. It later ended up in Canadian hands.

When Hitler launched his attack on Poland, Canada swiftly became part of the war effort, declaring war on Nazi Germany.

An army of volunteers would have to be raised to send across the ocean to Europe. Here we have the typical uniform of a Canadian soldier.

The Nazi blitzkrieg swept western Europe, occupying neighbours and spreading tyranny. The fall of France left Britain, along with Commonwealth counterparts like Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, seeming to be alone.

Canadians went to war as pilots in the Royal Canadian Air Force, fighting in the Battle of Britain and afterwards throughout the war.

Canada became a training ground for commonwealth pilots. Its vast spaces were ideal, and the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan was initiated. Franklin Roosevelt, who foresaw the dangers of the world long before his countrymen could accept it, called Canada the aerodrome of democracy. 

Every city and town on this map of the country housed a training base under that plan. It was a big operation.

The Canadian navy was in it from the beginning as part of the Battle of the Atlantic, facing the threat of German u-boats. They protected convoys of merchant ships bringing much needed supplies to Britain and elsewhere. 

This is the uniform of Joan Voller. She went to war as part of the Women's Royal Canadian Naval Service, nicknamed the Wrens. I still remember she would be here for many a Remembrance Day alongside her uniform, still bright and chipper, telling stories of her war service, and meeting her navy husband. We'll return to the series after the theme day.