Lost Liberties – The War Measures Act

Adolf Hitler and his National Socialist German Workers Party — or Nazi Party — ruled Germany between 1933 and 1945. Germany wanted more territory and control across Europe, so it invaded Poland on September 1, 1939. Having promised to protect Poland, the United Kingdom and France declared war against Germany on September 3. With the outbreak of war in Europe, Canadians’ worst fears were realized, but the government had been preparing for this eventuality for years. In 1936, Canada’s Defence Committee had already begun laying the groundwork for a future military effort, and had adopted guidelines for individuals from enemy countries.

A week before Canada entered the war, Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King announced to Canadians that preventative measures had been put in place. The War Measures Act was invoked once again. The Defence of Canada Regulations were adopted to counter any threat from “enemy aliens” who were defined as “a person who, not being a British subject, possesses the nationality of a State at war with His Majesty.” On September 3, 1939, Mackenzie King said, “I appeal to my fellow Canadians to unite in a national effort to save from destruction all that makes life itself worth living, and to preserve for future generations those liberties and institutions which others have bequeathed to us.”

On September 10, 1939, Canada entered the war — of its own volition, having gained its independence from Great Britain in foreign affairs. The mobilization of human and industrial resources was unprecedented. Protective measures against the enemy, and people from enemy countries, were soon implemented.

As the war progressed, Germany continued to invade European countries. In June 1940, Italy joined the war on the side of Germany. Japan, Italy and Germany became known as the Axis powers, and agreed to mutually defend and support one another. Great Britain and France were allied against the Axis. As the war progressed, the Soviet Union, the United States and China also joined the Allied powers.

This topic features Second World War perspectives on threats to national security and how those threats were countered. Explore several points of view by clicking on the objects below.