Canadian declaration of war on Germany


A recommendation for a Declaration of war by Canada on Nazi Germany was announced in a speech made by Canadian Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King on 3 September 1939. Though Mackenzie King was in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, at the time of his speech, it was broadcast over the radio. There was also a Canadian announcement in the Canadian newspaper, the Canada Gazette. The declaration of war was made on 10 September 1939, just 7 days after the United Kingdom and France declared war.

Background and procedure

After Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939, the United Kingdom and France declared war on September 3. To assert Canada's independence from the UK, as already established by the Statute of Westminster 1931, Canada's political leaders decided to seek the approval of the federal parliament to declare war. Parliament was not scheduled to return until October 2, but returned to session early on September 7 to consider the declaration of war.
On September 9, the House of Commons and Senate approved authorization for a declaration of war. The Cabinet then drafted an Order in Council to that effect. On September 10, Vincent Massey, Canada's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, brought the document to King George VI, at the Royal Lodge, Windsor Great Park, for his signature, whereupon Canada had officially declared war on Germany. In his capacity as the government's official recorder for the war effort, Leonard Brockington noted: "King George VI of England did not ask us to declare war for him—we asked King George VI of Canada to declare war for us."

Documents

King's speech

Below is the speech, given by William Lyon Mackenzie King:

''Canada Gazette''

The following was printed in the Canadian newspaper, Canada Gazette, the morning following Canada's declaration of war against Nazi Germany.