If day

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Fake Wehrmacht soldiers harass a newspaper deliverer during If Day

If Day was a simulated German raid on the city of Winnipeg , Manitoba , and the surrounding areas in Canada on February 19, 1942, during World War II .

On If Day, a firefight was staged between Canadian troops and volunteers disguised as Wehrmacht soldiers . The internment of prominent politicians, the imposition of Nazi rule and a parade were also re-enacted. The event was designed to encourage citizens to buy Victory Bonds : more than $ 3,000,000 was raised in Winnipeg that day.

Background information

If Day was supposed to encourage buying war bonds. These bonds were sold to individuals and corporations across Canada and enabled further war spending. If Day was part of the second campaign of its kind ( Victory Loan ) in World War II. The campaign began on February 16 and lasted through March 9. All of Manitoba was to be raised $ 45,000,000 and Winnipeg was $ 23,569,000. If Day in Winnipeg was organized by the Greater Winnipeg Victory Loan Committee , a branch of the National War Finance Committee . It was believed that if people in North America were shown the effects of the war, they would get a different attitude towards war, because otherwise they were not directly affected by the war.

The campaign was announced in the local newspapers a few days before the event, but many citizens were caught by the "invasion" nonetheless. Northern Minnesota residents were also warned to prevent the emergency shelter rush anticipated from the dramatic coverage on local radio stations. On February 18, fighter planes flew over the city. The planes had been repainted in the style of the German Air Force .

Events

City officials are arrested and taken to the detention center
The imprint of the Winnipeg Tribune , February 19, 1942
Wrong Reichsmark , the reverse shows an advertisement for Victory Loans .

3,500 members of the Canadian armed forces participated in the simulation. It was the largest military maneuver the city had seen at the time. The defending forces were under the orders of Colonel EA Pridham and Colonel DS McKay. About $ 3,000 was spent on the event.

The troops were assembled at Fort Osborne Barracks at 6:30 a.m. The air raid sirens sounded at 07:00 and a power failure was simulated. At 7:30 a.m., fake German troops began their simulated attacks on the city, which was defended by a small group of active local groups and by reservists . The troops formed a defensive ring around the industrial areas and the city center, which was about 5 kilometers from the town hall and only 3 kilometers after the retreat at 7:45 am. In the course of this simulated invasion, the destruction of the great bridges was recreated. Anti-aircraft guns with blank cartridges fired at the repainted warplanes that were flying over the city. The first false victim was reported at 8 a.m. Field hospitals were set up at strategically important points to treat the wrong victims. The two real casualties at the event were also treated there, a soldier who had sprained his ankle and a woman who cut her thumb while preparing breakfast during the power outage that morning.

At 9:30 a.m., the Canadian troops surrendered to the fake Germans, withdrew to the city center, and the city was occupied. The fake Germans sent armed troops through the city and harassed the population. A tank was driven to Portage Avenue , one of the main downtown streets. Some people were interned in a camp in Lower Fort Garry , including local politicians, Prime Minister John Bracken , Mayor John Queen, Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba Roland Fairbairn McWilliams, and Norwegian Ambassador Wilhelm de Morgenstierne. The Union flag in Lower Fort Garry was replaced by the swastika flag . The city was renamed " Himmlerstadt " and the main street Main Street became " Hitlerstrasse ".

The day ended at 5:30 p.m. with the ceremonial release of the prisoners, a parade and speeches by dignitaries. Members of the organizing committee and local businessmen marched through Portage Avenue with banners reading, "It can't happen here!" And "Buy Victory Bonds".

Effects

Card showing the sale of Victory Bonds in Manitoba

The event had the intended result: within a week of the event, the city had exceeded its Victory Bond sales quota. The entire provincial quota was met less than two weeks after the events of If Day. The Life Magazine did a photo series of if day activities in Winnipeg. Reporters from Newsweek , the New York Times and the Christian Science Monitor attended the event.

On that day, a record $ 3,200,000 war bonds were raised in the city. Winnipeg hit its $ 24 million quota on February 24, largely because of the impact of If Day. Manitoba raised $ 60,000,000, well in excess of the target quota of $ 45,000,000. Across Canada, 2 billion were dollars collected for the war effort.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Werier, Val: Winnipeg to be 'occupied' . In: Winnipeg Tribune , February 17, 1942, pp. 1, 10. Retrieved July 22, 2011. 
  2. ^ A b Michael Newman: February 19, 1942: If Day . In: Manitoba History . No. 13, Spring 1987, pp. Np. Online on the website of the Manitoba Historical Society (English)
  3. ↑ a b c d Sirens will wail and guns roar as IF DAY dawns . In: Winnipeg Free Press , February 18, 1942, p. 1. 
  4. ↑ a b What if Nazis invaded city? See for yourself on CTV special . In: Winnipeg Free Press , February 18, 2006. Retrieved July 21, 2011. 
  5. ↑ a b c d e Groom, Kick: If . In: Winnipeg Free Press , Jan 5, 1985, p. 1. 
  6. ↑ If ... the Nazis came to Winnipeg . In: Winnipeg Tribune , February 19, 1942, p. 1. 
  7. ↑ a b c d e Grim realism marks arrest at legislature . In: Winnipeg Free Press , February 19, 1942, pp. 1, 10. 
  8. ↑ Blackout 7 on Thursday Begins 'If Day' events . In: Winnipeg Tribune , February 18, 1942, p. 13. 
  9. ↑ a b c d e Aaron Floresco (director / writer). (2006). If Day: The Nazi Invasion of Winnipeg . [DVD]. Past Perfect Productions.
  10. ↑ Sanburn, Dick: On a black morn Winnipeg fell under Nazi heel . In: Winnipeg Tribune , February 19, 1942, pp. 1, 16. 
  11. ↑ If IF DAY Were Real . In: Winnipeg Tribune , February 19, 1942, p. 10. 
  12. ↑ Morton, Lisa; Adamson, Kent: Savage detours . McFarland & Co, 2010, ISBN 9780786443536 , p. 175.
  13. ^ Winnipeg is 'conquered' . In: Life . March 9, 1942, pp. 30-32.
  14. ^ Record day for war loan . In: Winnipeg Free Press , February 19, 1942, p. 1. 
  15. ↑ Winnipeg leaps past its war bond quota . In: Winnipeg Free Press , February 24, 1942, p. 1.