Jump to content

If Day

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by MystBot (talk | contribs) at 10:03, 4 August 2011 (r2.7.1) (robot Adding: de:If Day). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Fake Nazis harassing a newspaper carrier during If Day

If Day was a simulated Nazi invasion of the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba, and surrounding areas on February 19, 1942, during the Second World War. It was conceived and organized by the Greater Winnipeg Victory Loan organization, which was led by prominent Winnipeg businessman J. D. Perrin.

Features of If Day included a staged firefight between Canadian troops and volunteers dressed as Nazi soldiers, the internment of prominent politicians, the imposition of Nazi rule, and a parade. The event was intended to raise money for the war effort: over $3 million was raised in Winnipeg on that day.

Background

A. J. Casson's Canadian Victory Bonds poster Give Us The Tools 1941

If Day was an elaborate loan drive to promote the purchase of Victory bonds. These bonds were sold to individuals and corporations throughout Canada, and were considered a loan to the government to allow for increased war spending. The drive of which If Day was a part was the second Victory Loan campaign of the Second World War. The campaign began on February 16 and continued until March 9. Manitoba’s fundraising target was $45 million and Winnipeg’s was $23,569,000. The Greater Winnipeg Victory Loan committee, a regional branch of the National War Finance Committee, organized If Day under chairman J. D. Perrin. It was believed that bringing the war (or, rather, a simulation thereof) to people's homes would result in a change of attitude in people living in North America who were not being directly affected by the war.[1]

The committee drew up a map of Manitoba divided into 45 sections, each representing $1 million of their fundraising target. As money came in from those selling Victory Bonds, the sections were "reclaimed" from the Nazi invaders.[2] The map was posted at the corner of Portage and Main, the city's central intersection.[3] The campaign was publicized in local newspapers for a few days prior to the event, although many citizens were caught unawares by the "invasion".[2][4] Residents of northern Minnesota were also warned in order to prevent a rush on emergency shelters, as radio stations dramatizing the event could be received in that area.[2] Aircraft painted to look like German fighter planes flew over the city on February 18.[5]

Events

3500 Canadian Army members participated in the simulation, making it the largest military manoeuvre the city had seen to that point.[6] The defending forces were commanded by E. A. Pridham and D.S. McKay.[1][7] Troops were drawn from the Royal Winnipeg Rifles, Winnipeg Grenadiers, Winnipeg Light Infantry, Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders, Veteran's Guard of Canada, 18th Manitoba Reconnaissance, No. 10 District Engineers and Signals, and a number of reserve and civilian groups.[8] The Nazi troops were volunteers from the Young Men's Board of Trade (now the Winnipeg JCs), using uniforms rented from Hollywood and painted sabre scars on their faces.[5][9][10] They were commanded by Erich von Neurenberg.[5] Approximately $3000 was spent on the event.[4]

Troops were assembled at Fort Osborne barracks and Minto and Macgregor armouries at 6:30 am, and at 7 am on February 19 air-raid sirens were sounded and a blackout ordered in preparation for the invasion.[2][7][11] Beginning at 7:03 am, Nazi troops began their simulated attack on the city, which was defended by a small group of active and reserve troops assisted by local community groups. The troops formed a defensive perimeter around the industrial and downtown areas of the city, approximately 5 kilometres (3.1 mi)* from City Hall, retreating to a 3 kilometres (1.9 mi)* perimeter at 7:45.[5][7] The firefight included large-scale troop movements and the simulated destruction of major bridges.[9][10] 30 anti-aircraft vehicles fired blanks at fighter planes overhead, assisted by anti-aircraft gunners on buildings downtown. The first mock casualty was reported at 8 am. Dressing stations were set up at strategic points to treat the mock casualties; they also treated the two real casualties of the event, a soldier who sprained his ankle and a woman who cut her thumb preparing toast during the early-morning blackout.[7]

City officials being arrested and taken to the internment camp

At 9:30 am, the Canadian troops surrendered to the Nazis and withdrew to the downtown muster point,[2] and the city was occupied. The fake Nazis began a widespread harassment campaign, sending armed troops throughout the city. A tank was driven down Portage Avenue, one of the main streets of the downtown area.[9] Some people were taken to an internment camp at Lower Fort Garry; those interned included prominent local politicians like Premier John Bracken, Mayor John Queen, Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba Roland Fairbairn McWilliams, and visiting Norwegian ambassador to the United States Wilhelm de Morgenstierne.[9][7] One council member, Dan McClean, escaped but was recaptured after an intensive search.[5] The Union Flag at Lower Fort Garry was replaced with the swastika.[12] The city was renamed "Himmlerstadt", and Main Street was termed "Hitlerstrasse".[5][13]

Erich von Neurenberg was installed as gauleiter; he was assisted by George Waight, who acted as the local Gestapo chief.[5] Their stated purpose was to assist Hitler in his plans to take advantage of Canada's relatively low population density by colonizing the country.[1] Von Neurenberg issued the following decree, which was posted throughout the city:

  1. This territory is now a part of the Greater Reich and under the jurisdiction of Col. Erich Von Neuremburg, Gauleiter of the Fuehrer.
  2. No civilians will be permitted on the streets between 9:30 pm and daybreak.
  3. All public places are out of bounds to civilians, and not more than 8 persons can gather at one time in any place.
  4. Every householder must provide billeting for 5 soldiers.
  5. All organizations of a military, semi-military or fraternal nature are hereby disbanded and banned. Girl Guide, Boy Scout and similar youth organizations will remain in existence but under direction of the Gauleiter and Storm troops.
  6. All owners of motor cars, trucks and buses must register same at Occupation Headquarters where they will be taken over by the Army of Occupation.
  7. Each farmer must immediately report all stocks of grain and livestock and no farm produce may be sold except through the office of the Kommandant of supplies in Winnipeg. He may not keep any for his own consumption but must buy it back through the Central Authority in Winnipeg.
  8. All national emblems excluding the Swastika must be immediately destroyed.
  9. Each inhabitant will be furnished with a ration card, and food and clothing may only be purchased on presentation of this card.
  10. The following offences will result in death without trial
  1. Attempting to organize resistance against the Army of Occupation
  2. Entering or leaving the province without permission.
  3. Failure to report all goods possessed when ordered to do so.
  4. Possession of firearms.

No one will act, speak or think contrary to our decrees.[1]

The masthead of the Winnipeg Tribune, 19 February 1942

Notices were posted on area churches forbidding worship services, and priests who objected were arrested.[2] The Winnipeg Tribune was renamed Das Winnipeger Lügenblatt ("The Winnipeg Lies-sheet"), a Nazi publication featuring heavily censored columns and a front page written almost entirely in German.[9] One satirical story noted that "this is a great day for Manitoba...The Nazis, like Der Fuehrer, are patient, kind and tolerant, but THEIR PATIENCE IS RAPIDLY EXHAUSTED BECOMING".[14] A newspaper carrier for the Winnipeg Free Press, a rival paper to the Winnipeg Tribune, was attacked and his papers ripped up.[5] The Winnipeg Free Press featured a front-page story about the "invasion", describing in great detail the devastation caused by the Nazis in Winnipeg.[4] Books were burned in front of the main Carnegie branch of the Winnipeg Public Library (the books had been pre-selected for incineration as damaged or outdated).[15][5] Soldiers entered the cafeteria at Great West Life and stole lunches from workers.[7] They seized buffalo coats from the police station and wore them throughout the day – the temperature was below −8 °C (18 °F). At one local elementary school, the principal was arrested and replaced with a Nazi educator dedicated to teaching the "Nazi Truth"; special lessons were prepared for high-school students throughout the city.[5][3] Some stores and homes were looted by the fake troops. Canadian currency was replaced with fake German Reichsmarks, the reverse of which were printed with an advertisement for Victory Loans; these were the only propaganda notes that Canada created during the war.[9][5][10][16][17]

Fake German Reichsmarks; the reverse features an advertisement for Victory Loans.

The day ended at 5:30 pm with a ceremonial release of prisoners, a parade and speeches from the released dignitaries.[9][5] Members of the organizing committee and local businesspeople marched down Portage Avenue with banners reading "It MUST Not Happen Here!" and "Buy Victory Bonds". Following the parade, a banquet was held at the Hudson Bay Company building.[5] Ambassador de Morgenstierne spoke about his experiences with If Day and in Norway, suggesting that the "make-believe Nazi occupation of [Winnipeg] was an authentic glimpse of German behavior in German-ridden Europe".[18]

Surrounding towns were also affected by the invasion: for example, Selkirk, Manitoba, was placed under a blackout and its civic officials were arrested. In Neepawa Nazi soldiers confronted citizens in the streets.[9] Virden was renamed "Virdenberg".[5] A mock attack was planned for strategic targets in Brandon.[3] The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation broadcast a program called "Swastika over Canada" on the radio throughout the province, along with military music and extracts of Hitler's speeches.[5]

Effects

Map showing the sale of Victory Bonds in Manitoba

The event had its intended result: within a week of the event, the city had surpassed its war bond sales quota. The entire province's quota was met less than two weeks after the events of If Day. The If Day event not only resulted in Victory Bond sales well over Greater Winnipeg's goal, but brought Winnipeg's innovative efforts to the attention of people throughout North America. Life Magazine ran a pictorial spread of the If Day activities in Winnipeg and in smaller centres across Manitoba, photographed by William Shrout.[19] Reporters from Newsweek, The New York Times and The Christian Science Monitor were also present for the event.[5] Lucien Roy, a cameraman from Paramount, shot newsreel footage of the event.[19] Newspapers as far away as New Zealand included stories about the event.[9] An estimated 40 million people worldwide saw coverage of the event.[5]

The money raised for the Victory Loan campaign on If Day was $3.2 million, which was the city's largest single-day total.[20] Winnipeg passed its $24 million Victory Loan quota on February 24, largely because of the effects of If Day.[21] The provincial total for the entire campaign was $60 million, well above its target quota of $45 million. The campaign raised approximately $2 billion nationwide for the war effort.[9] If Day was the largest single Victory Loan fundraiser anywhere in Canada.[16] Officials had expected a significant increase in army recruits as a result of the event, but it failed to end the long-term decline in recruitment numbers: 23 people enlisted on If Day, compared to an average of 36 per day for the first half of February.[22]

The event was successful enough to spark imitations in other communities. The US government contacted the organizing committee for details of the event. A smaller-scale invasion was staged in Vancouver, using promotional materials from the Winnipeg campaign.[5]

In 2006, a television documentary of the events was created by Aaron Floresco.[23] The film incorporates newsreel footage from the event, as well as interviews with historians and participants.[4] Filmmaker Guy Maddin included a brief newsreel clip of If Day in his My Winnipeg.[24]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Newman, Michael (Spring 1987). "February 19, 1942: If Day". Manitoba History (13): np.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Sirens will wail and guns roar as IF DAY dawns". Winnipeg Free Press. 18 February 1942. p. 1.
  3. ^ a b c Werier, Val (17 February 1942). "Winnipeg to be 'occupied'". Winnipeg Tribune. pp. 1, 10. Retrieved 22 July 2011.
  4. ^ a b c d "What if Nazis invaded city? See for yourself on CTV special". Winnipeg Free Press. 18 February 2006. Retrieved 21 July 2011.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Groom, Kick (5 January 1985). "If". Winnipeg Free Press. p. 1.
  6. ^ "If...the Nazis came to Winnipeg". Winnipeg Tribune. 19 February 1942. p. 1.
  7. ^ a b c d e f "Grim realism marks arrest at legislature". Winnipeg Free Press. 19 February 1942. pp. 1, 10.
  8. ^ Winnipeg Free Press. 16 February 1942. p. 1. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Aaron Floresco (director/writer) (2006). If Day: The Nazi Invasion of Winnipeg (DVD). Past Perfect Productions.
  10. ^ a b c Sanburn, Dick (19 February 1942). "On a black morn Winnipeg fell under Nazi heel". Winnipeg Tribune. pp. 1, 16.
  11. ^ "Blackout 7 am Thursday Begins 'If Day' Events". Winnipeg Tribune. 18 February 1942. p. 13.
  12. ^ "If IF DAY Were Real". Winnipeg Tribune. 19 February 1942. p. 10.
  13. ^ Morton, Lisa; Adamson, Kent (2010). Savage detours. McFarland & Co. p. 175. ISBN 9780786443536.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  14. ^ "A great day". Winnipeg Tribune. 19 February 1942. p. 2.
  15. ^ Winnipeg Free Press. 17 February 1942. p. 5. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  16. ^ a b Atchison, Darryl (September 1995). Moogk, Peter (ed.). "The 1942 'If Day' invasion of Winnipeg". Vancouver Numismatic Society News Bulletin. Reprinted in "The 'If' Notes". Mid-Island Coin Club. Retrieved 27 July 2011.
  17. ^ Friedman, Herbert A. "WWII Allied Propaganda Banknotes". Philadelphia University Jordan. p. 39. Retrieved 30 July 2011.
  18. ^ "Norwegian minister says If Day authentic". Winnipeg Tribune. 20 February 1942. p. 3.
  19. ^ a b "Winnipeg is 'conquered'". Life: 30–32. 9 March 1942.
  20. ^ "Record day for war loan". Winnipeg Free Press. 19 February 1942. p. 1.
  21. ^ "Winnipeg leaps past its war bond quota". Winnipeg Free Press. 24 February 1942. p. 1.
  22. ^ "Only 23 enlist during If Day". Winnipeg Tribune. 20 February 1942. p. 13.
  23. ^ "If Day (2006)". Past Perfect Productions. Retrieved 6 May 2011.
  24. ^ Wershler, Darren (2010). Guy Maddin's My Winnipeg. University of Toronto Press. p. 50. ISBN 9781442611344.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=If_Day&oldid=442989366"