Conflicts Escalate

The 1929 stock market crash devastated the global economy and left countries around the world with devalued currencies, high unemployment, and ruined industries. To save their economies, some countries resorted to seizing territories and resources from other nations. Many of these nations embraced fascism, an ideology that saw war as a source of strength and pride.

In 1931, Japan began to gradually invade China and several other territories on the Asian continent. Italy also tried to expand its empire in Africa by attacking Ethiopia in 1935. However, the largest threat came from Nazi Germany. Led by Adolf Hitler, Germany forced the annexation of Austria in 1938 before occupying Sudetenland, Bohemia and Moravia in 1939. The invasion of Poland later that same year became the last straw for France and Great Britain, which declared war against Germany on September 3, 1939. Loyal to Britain, and increasingly concerned over the threat of fascism, Canada independently declared war and entered the hostilities. Canadian troops were sent to all fronts in Europe, Africa and Asia.