Repercussions for Canada
World War II changed Canada forever. We changed from being primarily an agricultural country to an industrialized one in the span of just 5 short years. The population shifted from rural areas like farms to the more urban setting of towns and cities. New skills in a variety of trades were learned through the military. These skills carried over after the war to civilian life. There were huge expansions in several areas. Our transportation system saw the construction of over 300 new air fields to be used in the British Air Training program. This program trained over 135 000 men from 35 different countries to be pilots and air crew. We also built up our armed forces from a very small number to a huge force. These troops were supplied with all the food, clothing, equipment and weapons they needed to use. We also fed and armed a number of other nations, including Britain. By the end of the war, we were the third largest navy in the world, as well as the third largest air force. We built over ONE MILLION military trucks, for our own army and that of Britain and the Soviets.
Canada was forever changed by that war, but not only in a positive way. The financial cost was a staggering $21 786 077,519.12. Most importantly we lost a whole generation of young Canadian men who died, 42 042 in total, with 53 145 more wounded. Their lives were cut short by the war. They never got to realize their potential. Who knows what greatness any of these valient soldiers possessed. They might have been future leaders, inventors or scientists who might have changed the history of the world. Instead many of them lay buried in a far off land, never to return home. That was the real COST of the war.
Activity
Complete the True/False Quiz based on information from the Participants and Reprecussions pages.
Participants and Reprecussions True/False Quiz | |
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