Canada’s Role and Experiences in World War II

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Initial Reflection

What stands out in the book, Canada at War, is the prevailing evil caused by war. Paul Kerry and Michael Wyatt use different formats of book authorship to grasp their readers’ attention effectively. The book clarifies that war cannot solve political issues among countries but rather intensifies them. Even though the occurrences were saddening experiences, the use of comic images and short caption texts made me eager to understand the entire material. However, I was left wondering how cruel these wars can be, especially when soldiers would initiate bombings on innocent people in the name of protecting their territories (Kerry and Wyatt, 2012, end of chapter 3). They are just ordinary people trained to fight and battle, but they turn into different people to the extent that they rape and kill women and children. The book emphasized the painful experiences the victims of the soldiers went through and the traumatizing memories they had. Personally, the book is an essential historical work reproduction. Furthermore, it uses impressive comic features for storytelling, making it even more enjoyable.

Review of Review

Following the publication of the novel Canada at War, several reviewers have established different grounds for reaction to it. Most critics primarily based their opinions on the structure the two authors adopted in their writing.

The first review of the novel by the Canadian historian Tim Cook inclines the book’s strengths. Besides, Cook (2013) acknowledges the authors’ commitment to grasp the reader’s attention and pass relevant messages about the occurrence of WW II through graphics and text. The second analysis of the book was done by Maria Alejandra, an internationalist, a business lobbyist, and an author at the Ottawa Life Magazine. In her review, Alejandra (2018) recounts the text concerning Canada’s involvement in the Second World War. She seems moved by the pictorial-and-text format that Paul Kerry and Michael Wyatt adopt in their authorship. The reviewer finalizes her review with critical praise of the authors outlining the role they have played not only in their fields of significance but also in the community (Alejandra, 2018). The two reviewers, Cook and Alejandra, concur that the approach utilized in Canada at War is the best for young Canadians interested in learning about the history of the Canadian Military. The two authors believe that the novel-graphic format blends accessible history with moving illustrations that don’t sugarcoat the horrors of war (Cook, 2013, para.9).

On the contrary, a review by Nathan Whitlock criticizes Paul Keery and Michael Wyatt’s work in developing the book. Whitlock (2012) states that the writers’ attempts to discuss Canada’s participation in WW II “makes the messy business seem even more confusing”(para.1) He faults the entire book starting from the introduction citing that the writing lacks an impressive grasp for the audience. Instead, Whitlock believes that they conspired with the texts and images in the book to confuse their audience. To Nathan Whitlock, Canada at War is inefficient for readers who wish to understand the historical chronology of the war and its impact on Canadians.

My conclusion about the reviewers’ analysis is that they provide an honest view of how each of them understood the book. Cook and Alejandra had an accurate idea of the authors’ works, thus positively reacting to the writer’s development. On the contrary, Nathan Whitlock could not agree with the methodology in writing Canada at War. I think Whitlock was a little bit harsh in his opinion; however, his take on the material being unessential for some readers was valid.

A Historical Issue Addressed in the Book

One of the Canadian experiences during the Second World War was strategic bombing. Strategic bombing was a strategy adopted by the military troops during WW II, in which they would target their opponent’s strategic places, including cities, factories, and railways. The move to do the strategic bombing came in place after the German Luftwaffe violated the attack military-only air force policy, “which had been set at the beginning of the Second World War” (Britannica, 2016, para. 2). Instead, Germans started to conduct militia raids in significant cities, including London, in 1940 (Britannica, 2016). Consequently, strategic bombing evolved to become an integral aspect of armed conflict. Strategic bombing aimed to demoralize the populace and damage their ability to produce goods in factories. Many bombing raids were aimed at civilian areas. As more and more planes were being shot down, both sides shifted to night raids, which were less effective but protected their bomb crews better (Markusen and Kopf, 1995).

The book depicts the issue of strategic bombing through the combination of short texts and comic pictorial presentations. In the accompaniment of readers, the authors describe strategic bombing as a series of military activities, including the bombing of the Nazi fighters on the crafts and critical cities. Book also indicates that the hardship in navigation and technological resources forced the allies to instigate the bombing of their opponents’ cities intensively. At the end of chapter three, the book indicates a visual demonstration of war crafts and parachutes with the bombers on board (Kerry and Wyatt, 2012). Although the actions were meant to cause fear to their enemy’s camp, the book’s depiction tells otherwise. The Germans under the command of the Nazis were not entangled to give up or decrease firearm production or were not even demoralized. Besides, the 9919 RCAF aircrew from the strategic bomber command lost their lives from the hit by the Nazis. More than 75% of the total, 13,498 RCAF aircrew died in WWII (Kerry and Wyatt, 2012, end of chapter 3). However, by increasing their pressure, Canadian troops forced the Nazis to invest more in defense. As a result, the resources they could have used to fight in France and Eastern Europe were lost in defense of their homeland, helped victory by the strategic bombers.

Different historians have had different accounts of the strategic bombing issue. Some historians believe that adopting strategic bombing to bring them victory against the Nazis was a good idea. However, other historical researchers believe that the concept is a source of terror attacks we experience today. There has been much debate among military historians and experts on air power and whether or not the bombing missions were effective (Manzo, 1992, 35). However, discussions about the legality of the bombing raids have lasted at least as long. According to Smith and Kennett (1963, 87), strategic bombing was offensive and has received criticism for its efficiency and savagery. He believes the issues are only a justification for evil caused by other nations that lost property to the raids and bombings.

Almost without exception, strategic bombing was unsuccessful in achieving its goals, whether those goals were to boost fighting potential and military effectiveness significantly or to gain a competitive advantage. Historical analyses indicate that in no case was a formerly dominant aspect of military force supplanted or depreciated by strategic bombing (Smith, 1977, 175). Neither was a traditional structure, purpose, or organization marginalized. It’s important to note that despite these advancements, other land and naval services continued to play vital roles and that a variety of air service missions, including surveillance, transportation, interdict, gunships, and strategic air power, were still carried out and honed (Lungu, n.d). In this sense, although a significant and valuable contribution to war-fighting authorities, the bombing campaign was not a Revolution in Military Affairs.

The book explains strategic bombing as a military approach used by Britain and America to defeat the Germans during the Second World War. I think the idea of strategic bombing was only good and effective for the time when it was used. However, I am with historians like Lee Kennett, Richard Smith, and Louis Manzo, who believe that adopting strategic bombing is as good as justifying illegal attacks on other nations. Riding the opponents to terrify the civilians is unthoughtful to me, and I think there were different essential ways to resolve the war at the expense of killing innocent persons.

Review and Analysis

The Book Canada at War: a Graphic History of World War Two is a 2012 text-graphic publication authored and illustrated by Professor Paul Kerry and Michael Wyatt, respectively. The main idea that the two authors covers in the book is Canada’s role in World War II. There were apprehensions felt after World War I about getting involved in European battles through some consequences that followed, forcing Canada to join one of the allies. The book also discusses and shows in pictures how those Canadians who earned military decorations throughout the conflict are singled out for praise

The authors, Paul Kerry and Michael Wyatt, use clear language comprised of brief factual sentences and vivid comedic pictures. Their way of presenting the information creates a significantly new format, which allows them to attract their audience’s attention. They can as well use vivid graphics modeled by real-life incidents. The writer should have probably thought about the current generation. The current generation prefers and is drawn to quick reading rather than reading extensive accounts of the war that are spread over hundreds of pages with two columns on each page.

The word-and-image format is more of an essay with numerous images than a graphic novel due to its lack of a linear plot. One scenario that deviates from this norm describes how Reverend John Foote assisted in evacuating soldiers from Dieppe and then voluntarily surrendered to aid Canadian prisoners (Kerry and Wyatt, 2012, end of chapter one). It’s a great tale I hadn’t heard before and worthy of special mention, but, as I mentioned previously, it’s also one of the rare times the conflict is dramatized. I will say without any biases that the book’s presentation conveys relevant information to the audience since it provides sufficient interaction.

The authors put a lot of hard work into the book to ensure that it incorporates crucial aspects of classroom learning. With this commitment, any student can read and understand it regardless of grade level. In addition, the book is written in English for speakers of other languages, making it an excellent resource for students of English. Even if it’s not as complex as the comic books, I used to read when I was a youngster. Even a first-grader should be able to follow along and get the point. When the authors were attempting to represent Canada’s experience throughout the war, they took into consideration not only the context but also the images. In the course of reading the book, it became abundantly evident how the various branches of the Canadian armed forces and battles were necessary. Besides, they acted as the fulcrum of history throughout the chronological and thematic progression of the book.

On the other hand, the authors neglected to provide vital components that might have been useful in directing the audience’s attention in the right direction. For me, the first parts of the book presented challenges because I had anticipated receiving some form of orientation at the beginning of the first chapter (Kerry and Wyatt, 2012). In addition, the reader is taken from one occurrence to another during the novel. For instance, during two panels, Hitler is seen assuming the post of German chancellor and beginning to solidify his authority. After this, the attention changed to the problem of how much money Canada spends on its Military. A new reader interested in learning about the history surrounding the World Wars will find this quite perplexing. Furthermore, it could be important if Paul Kerry and his accomplice could and where they sourced the information to help their readers find more information upon need.

Final Reflection

My interaction with the book Canada at War and this assignment has enabled me to reflect and understand the current co-existing relationships between nations like Canada and Germany. From the historical concepts presented in the textbook, I know the issues encountered before and after WW II. This assignment taught me the importance of giving vital information to the audience using short texts and graphics rather than writing hundreds of pages. As I interacted with the project, I learned that people might have different opinions on what one does. My current view is not different from the take I took in the first reflection because what I had seen in the comic images displayed aligned with the step-by-step undertakings in this assignment. Everything I have done was an emphasis on the first reflection. Canada showed total devotion in the Second World War despite having fewer resources to fight. However, they supplied their manpower to defend the East and West Coasts, with had been invaded by the Nazis. They could afford to go into a war while not ready willingly. Besides, I think using graphic novels in a classroom opens students’ minds and enables them to think deeply and critically about storytelling elements.

Works Cited

Alejandra, Maria. 2018. “.” Ottawa Life Magazine. Web.

Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. 2016. “.” Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., 2016. Web.

Cook, Tim. 2013. “Canada at War: A Graphic History of World War Two.” Canada’s History 93 (1): 51. Web.

Kerry, Paul, and Michael Wyatt. 2012. Canada at War: A Graphic History of World War Two. Vancouver, Canada: Douglas and McIntyre.

Lungu, Maj Angela Maria. n.d. “.” Air University. Web.

Manzo, Louis A. 1992. “Morality in War Fighting and Strategic Bombing in World War II.” JSTOR, , 39 (3): 35–50. Web.

Markusen, Eric, and David Kopf. 1995. The Holocaust and Strategic Bombing : Genocide and Total War in the Twentieth Century. Westview Press. Web.

Smith, Melden E. 1977. “The Strategic Bombing Debate: The Second World War and Vietnam.” Journal of Contemporary History 12 (1): 175–91. Web.

Smith, Richard K., and Lee Kennett. 1963. “A History of Strategic Bombing: From the First Hot-Air Balloons to Hiroshima and Nagasaki.” Naval War College Review: Vol. 36: No. 4, Article 12., 12, 36 (4): 87–88. Web.

Whitlock, Nathan. 2012. “.” Quill and Quire – Canada’s Magazine of Book News and Reviews. Web.

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