Canadian involvement in Asia during the Second World War consisted primarily of participation by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF).

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• Canadian involvement in Asia during the Second
  World War consisted primarily of participation by
  the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF).
• Although a few Canadians did serve in Royal Navy
  ships, no units of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN)
  served in this area.

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War with Japan

• December 7th, 1941 Japan attacks the US at
  Pearl Harbor.
• December 25th, 1941 Japan captures Hong Kong
• 1942 - Battle of Midway US inflicts a huge
  naval defeat on Japan, and the U.S. begins Island
  Hopping (Leap-Frogging) towards Japan
• Manhattan Project Top Secret plan to build an
  atomic bomb by the United States, Britain and
  Canada (Canada became aware in 1942)
• July 16th, 1945 U.S. scientists succeed in
  testing the 1st atomic bomb (Canadian uranium is
  used to build atomic bombs)

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Battle of Midway
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The End of the Pacific War

• As millions of people celebrated
  Victory-in-Europe (V-E) Day, the Allied leaders
  grimly prepared for the final struggle in the
  Pacific, where the full weight of the Allied
  Forces would now be applied against Japan.
  Canada, too, prepared for the assault.
• Nearly 80,000 Canadians volunteered to join the
  Pacific forces and began concentrating at nine
  stations across Canada in July 1945.
• Canadian naval participation was also to have
  been impressive 60 ships, manned by 13,500 men.
• However, the war was over before this help was
  needed. President Truman of the United States had
  made the fateful decision to use the atomic bomb.

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Operation Downfall

• The Canadian 6th Division had been formed and was
  training to take part in the proposed invasion of
  Japan.
• Canadian ships in the British Pacific Fleet and
  bomber squadrons transferred from Europe would
  also have been involved.
• The invasion was rendered unnecessary by the use
  of nuclear weapons against Japan.

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• August 6th, 1945 U.S. B-29 bomber Enola Gay
  drops an atomic bomb (Little Boy) on Hiroshima
• Between 90,000 to 166,000 people were killed
  instantly (vaporized) or died by long-term
  (radiation poisoning)
• August 9th, 1945 U.S. drops an atomic bomb (Fat
  Man) on Nagasaki
• Between 60,000 to 80,000 people killed instantly
  and long-term
• August 15th, 1945 V-J Day Victory against
  Japan
• Ends WWII (Germany surrendered in Europe on May
  7th, 1945)
• C.D. Howe, the Canadian Minister of Munitions and
  Supply was quoted saying
• It is a distinct pleasure for me to announce
  that Canadian scientists have played an
  intimate part, and have been associated in an
  effective way with this great scientific
  development.

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Hiroshima Nagasaki Atomic Bombs

• More people actually died in the fire bombing
• of Japanese cities before the atomic bombs.

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Before After Hiroshima bombing
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Hiroshima
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Hiroshima August 6th, 1945
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Nagasaki August 9th, 1945
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Hiroshima Peace Park today
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Questions to think about

• Was the decision to test an
• atomic bomb without knowing what the outcome
  could be, a wise decision?

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• 2. Was the dropping of the
• atomic bomb on Hiroshima
• a wise decision?

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• 3. After the destruction of
• Hiroshima, was the dropping
• of a second atomic bomb on
• Nagasaki necessary?

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• 4. Was the creation of the
• atomic bomb beneficial on a
• global standpoint?
• (Think past World War Two)