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war and social upheaval: World War II country trends British Dominions loyalty
World War II: The British Dominions: Loyalty
Figure 1.--When Hitler invaded what was left of Czechoslovakia, where few Germnans lived, in total violation of the Munich Acccords it was clear that war was coming (March 1939). The new King, George VI who had become king after the abdication crisis, and Queen Mary visited America and Cananda to shore up relations (May-June 1939). A few months later Hitler and Stalin launched World War II by invading Poland (September 1939). The press caption read, "Canadian Lad Gets Down To Earth to See Their Majesties: Robert Giles, a 5-year-old Canadian lad crouched down and peered between the legs of a Canadian soldier to see King George and Queen Elizabeth take part in the unveilings of Canada's National War Memorial [World War I], at Ottawa, May 21st."
The British Empire was evolving by World War I. The self-governinhg dominions of Australia, Canada (including Newfoundland), New Zealand, and South Africa had achieved a substanial degree of independence and the constitutional relationship with Britain was ambiguous. They essentially were thrust into World War I when Britain deckared war (1914). There was little debate or discussion. There was a competing interest of imperial sentiment and rising nationalism which increased after the War, in part because of the horendous losses. There was also a rising tide of pacifism which ignored how imprtant it was to resist the Gerams and which played a major role on the disaster of World War II. World War II was different. The Dominions were basically fully indeoendent contries at the time Giutlernaf Stalin launched World War II. Despite the horrors of World War II, the Dominions loyally came to Britain's defense. India and the other colonial territories had no say in the matter, protectorates were a different matter. (The United States wa slower to enter the War, but there were no restrictions on overseas deployment of draftees.) The colonies were at war with Germany when Britain decalred war. This was not the case for the Dominions. There was, howevrer, no hesitation among the Dominions. This time, however, there was no automatic participation. Each Dominiomn made their own indeperndent decision to declare war on Germany. The Irish Free State chose neutrality. While the Dominions chose to support Britain, a major issue was conscription. Both Canada and Australia would fight the War largely with volunteers. While there was conscription, there were restictions on oversea service. And there was consiuderable resistance among French Canadians to participoation in the War even when the liberation of France became a primary objective. The British War Cabinet estimated that the Dominions could raise 14 of the 55 division field force with which the British Commonwealth would wage the war against Germany. The British got what they hoped for, although after Japan launched the Pacific War, the Domionion force was divided. These may sound like small numbers, but the logistical effort to support an overseas division was far in excess of that faced by the Geramns and Soviets in the Ostkrieg with rail connections and relatively short distances from the suppprting war industries.
