20. Why did most Canadians support the war? 21. Was Canada well prepared for war in 1939? Explain 22. Why did men join the armed forces? 23. What is the National Resources Mobilization Act? 24. What happened in the Battle of Britain? Why is this important? 25. Who did Germany sign a non-aggression pact with? Why did he sign this pact?Did he honour this pact? 26. What happened at the Dieppe raid?Why was it unsuccessful? 27. What caused the U.S to join the war? What side did they join on?

20. Most Canadians supported the war in 1939 largely out of loyalty to Britain and the shared values and heritage of the British Empire. Many Canadians felt a strong sense of duty to support Britain in its fight against Nazi Germany, which was seen as a threat to democracy and freedom. There was also a belief that Canada's own security was tied to Britain's, and that if Britain fell, Canada would be vulnerable. While there were some dissenting voices, particularly in Quebec, the majority of Canadians supported the war effort.<br /><br />21. Canada was not well prepared for war in 1939. The Great Depression had severely limited military spending, leaving the Canadian armed forces small, poorly equipped, and undertrained. There was a shortage of modern weapons, equipment, and trained personnel. While there was a surge of volunteers in the early days of the war, the country's industrial base was not immediately ready to produce the necessary war materials on a large scale. It took time for Canada to mobilize its resources and build up its military capacity.<br /><br />22. Men joined the armed forces for a variety of reasons. Patriotism and a sense of duty to defend their country and the British Empire were strong motivators. Many also saw military service as an adventure and an opportunity to escape the hardships of the Great Depression. For some, it was a chance to learn new skills and gain valuable experience. Peer pressure and a sense of social obligation also played a role, as did the promise of regular pay and benefits.<br /><br />23. The National Resources Mobilization Act (NRMA), passed in 1940, gave the Canadian government the authority to conscript men for home defence. This meant that they could be called up for military service within Canada but would not be sent overseas. The act was controversial, particularly in Quebec, where there was strong opposition to conscription. While the NRMA initially focused on home defence, it was later amended to allow for conscripts to be sent overseas, leading to further debate and division.<br /><br />24. The Battle of Britain, fought in the summer and fall of 1940, was a crucial air battle between the German Luftwaffe and the British Royal Air Force. Germany's objective was to gain air superiority over Britain as a prelude to a potential invasion. However, the RAF, despite being outnumbered, successfully defended British airspace, inflicting heavy losses on the Luftwaffe. This victory was crucial because it prevented a German invasion of Britain and marked a turning point in the early stages of the war.<br /><br />25. Germany signed a non-aggression pact with the Soviet Union in August 1939. Hitler signed this pact, known as the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, to secure his eastern flank and avoid a two-front war while he focused on conquering Western Europe. Stalin signed the pact to buy time for the Soviet Union to rebuild its military after purges had weakened it. The pact also included a secret protocol dividing Eastern Europe into spheres of influence. Hitler did not honour the pact and invaded the Soviet Union in June 1941.<br /><br />26. The Dieppe Raid, which took place in August 1942, was a large-scale amphibious assault by Canadian and Allied forces on the German-occupied port of Dieppe, France. The raid was largely unsuccessful, resulting in heavy casualties for the Allied forces. Several factors contributed to its failure, including poor planning, inadequate intelligence, strong German defences, and a lack of effective air and naval support. The raid provided valuable lessons for future amphibious operations, particularly the D-Day landings in Normandy.<br /><br />27. The attack on Pearl Harbor by Japan on December 7, 1941, caused the United States to join the war. The U.S. declared war on Japan the following day, and Germany and Italy, Japan's allies, declared war on the U.S. shortly thereafter. The U.S. joined the Allied side, fighting alongside Britain, Canada, the Soviet Union, and other nations against the Axis powers.<br />