The Canadian Herald - World War II Newspaper

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THE CANADIAN HERALD

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JULY 16th 1947

In today's issue, we take a chance to look back on the war that has just ended; to read about some of the Allied victories and losses, and to remember those that lost their lives to save, not just our nation, but the world from Hitler's tyranny.

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TODAY'S TOP STORIES

International News:

340 000 Saved in Dunkirk

U.S Surprised by Pearl Harbour Attack

Canadian News:

Women Gaining Responsibilities on the Home Front

Local News:

Chrysler Canada Booming!

INDEX

International News - page 1-2

National News - pg. 3

Local News - pg. 3

Editorials - page 4

Sports/Entertainment - pg. 5

Bibliography - pg. 7

This was one of the many ads that convinced young Canadian men to go and fight the war in Europe. It's thanks to ads like this that we destroyed the Axis Powers.

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International News�

British troops retreating to Dunkirk (May 27th 1940).

340 000 Saved in Dunkirk.

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By: Matthew Clarke

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This amazing event that some are calling "The Miracle of Dunkirk" will probably go down as a major battle in World War II.

It all began in April 1940, when Adolf Hitler decided to set his blitzkrieg across Western Europe. The blitzkrieg struck Denmark, and immediately the order was sent out to Canadian troops to board a ship to Norway. However, shortly afterwards, the order was changed and British troops were sent instead. This was a blessing for the Canadians who would have faced a quick and overwhelming defeat. By May, Hitler and his Nazis had already taken over both Norway and Denmark, and the German Wehrmacht had control of the Netherlands, Belgium, and had pushed into France, about as far as Amiens. The British troops had retreated into the French coastal town of Dunkirk. They were pinned between Hitler and the English Channel.

Hitler was a man that was proud of his accomplishments. One of these accomplishments was the advanced Luftwaffe, the German air force. Instead of finishing off the British troops with panzers (tanks) and ground troops, Hitler decided to wait for his prized Luftwaffe to finish him off. This would be one of Hitler's major mistakes. Before the Luftwaffe were able to get up into the air, a fog rolled in off the English Channel and prevented them from attacking. It was now that Prime Minister Winston Chamberlain called for all ships, even just a fishing ship, to sail across the English Channel and rescue the troops. The operation succeeded beyond what was expected. Only 10 000 troops had been expected to be rescued, but 340 000 was the final tally. It was a miracle, and it shall be remembered by many for a very long time.

U.S. Surprised by Pearl Harbour Attack

By: Matt M. Clarke

In a single devious move, the Japanese destroyed a large U.S naval fleet. The United States had moved their ships to the Hawaiian island in order to combat the aggressive actions of the Japanese. The U.S had been trying to set up a treaty with Japan, unfortunately, the peace talks were merely a distraction, intended to keep all thoughts of a Japanese invasion out of the thoughts of Americans.

It was a calm Sunday morning, December 7, 1941, on the Hawaiian island and there was little going on. But this calm was quickly shattered when Japan led an air assault on Pearl Harbour. Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto planned for fighter planes to be launched from aircraft carriers. The plan succeeded beyond belief. The reason for its overwhelming effectiveness is simple: the entire U.S naval fleet had been docked and still, very easy targets for a bombing. And that's just what the Japanese did. They bombed and shot ships and people to bits. In just 2 hours, an entire naval fleet gone.

It turns out that this attack had been premeditated, planned 3 months in advance. There were also other attacks planned for British colonies Hong Kong and Malaya, and another U.S base in the Philippines on the same day. It was an extremely aggressive move by the Japanese, and it awakened the sleeping giant called the United States.

PHOTOS

An entire U.S naval fleet was taken out by a surprise Japanese attack.

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National & Local News

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Women Gaining Responsibilities on the Home Front

By: Matt Clarke

With men across the Atlantic, the women began to have increased roles in industries normally dominated by men. In the beginning, only single women were targeted for jobs, but by September 1942, any woman between the age of twenty and twenty-four would be recruited into the National Selective Service. Later, the government even campaigned for married women to work.

During World War I factories were just getting used to having women as a part of their workforce. Now, during World War II, they began to think of the women's needs. In Ontario and Quebec, they set up a few day-care centres for women doing war work. Almost 1 million women had taken jobs by 1944.

In some areas of work, women began to dominate. For example, in aircraft plants, 30% (25 000) were women and more 260 000 had jobs in munitions plants. Wearing a trousers and a bandana around their head to keep long hair out of the way, women became an integral part of the work force. Without working women on the home front, times would have been tough.

Chrysler Canada Booming!

By: Matthew M. Clarke

During World War II, Chrysler Canada experienced a great jump in sales, shattering all previous production records. Chrysler Canada began manufacturing military vehicles to help the Allied forces in the war effort. Chrysler built 180 816 military trucks, plus millions of shells and tubes for rockets, along with tracers, igniters, parts for Bofors guns, and other war materials. In Chatham, Ontario, a Chrysler parts plant made a major contribution to the Allied effort in developing a new way of rustproofing, protective wrapping, and packaging. This new development was adapted by the British Army and Canadian Government. Not only did Chrysler Canada produce vehicles and parts, it also owned the only plant in North America that produced finished field guns straight from scrap iron.

A 1948 Chrysler Town and Country

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Editorials

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The U.S Shouldn't Have Dropped the Atomic Bomb

An Editorial By: M. Clarke

I think that it was terrible of the United States to drop the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Frankly, I don't really care that the war was lasting for such a long time, all I really care about is the innocent lives claimed by "Little Boy" and "Fat Man", the nicknames for the atomic bombs.

When the first bomb was dropped onto Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, after U.S President Truman asked Japan if they would surrender or otherwise accept "prompt and utter destruction", I became nervous. I was worried about all those innocent Japanese that would no doubt be killed. When the Japanese denied this offer, I almost cried. When I heard 70 000 had been killed and 61 000 were injured, I knew it would be devastating. But still, even after that B-29 bomber dropped "Little Boy" that stubborn Japanese Emperor didn't surrender.

When Japan decided to reject the U.S' second ultimatum after 3 days, in went "Fat Man". It wasn't as devastating as "Little Boy", but it was still quite bad. On August 29, 1945, the second atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. 40 000 more were killed in this second bombing. Finally, after the deaths of over 100 000, the Japanese Emperor surrendered unconditionally on August 10, 1945. I was extremely happy, for lives would be saved. The day became known as VJ Day (Victory in Japan Day).

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Sports and Entertainment

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Leafs Come Take Another Stanley Cup From Detroit

By: Matthew Clarke

They were down three games to none in the series, yet they came back in 1942. They won the seven game series and brought the Stanley Cup back to Toronto after a ten year absence. It had been Hap Day's second year as coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and now he's done it again.

Now, the 1947 playoffs have been played, and we have a winner of the Stanley Cup. In a repeat of the 1942 series, the Maple Leafs beat the Detroit Red Wings in another thrilling seven game series. Hap Day gets another Stanley Cup.

With their heroes slowing down, whether due to the war, age, or illness, it was a comeback victory. It was also a big time for some of the lesser-known players such as goalie Frank McCool and defenseman Babe Pratt. The Leafs are playing their best hockey in a while, but no one really knows the reason, except for maybe the players themselves.

Babe Pratt is pictured here. He was a hero during the 1947 series against the Detroit Red Wings.

Bibliography

History. 2006. Daimler Chrysler Canada Inc. December 14, 2008. [http://www.chryslercanada.ca/CA/03/EN/CORPORATE/1,,CA-03-EN-CORPORATE-DCC-HISTORY-1940,.html]

Individual Team History. 2008. TMLFever.com. December 15, 2008. [http://www.tmlfever.com/Leafs.html]

Newman, Garfield. Canada: A Nation Unfolding, Ontario Edition. Canada: McGraw-Hill Ryerson Limited, 2000.