Northern Allies

(All materials translated from the northernallies.ru website)

Contents

Canada-USSR Relations During the Second World War — A.N. Uchaev, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Associate Professor at Saratov State University

Soviet-Canadian Cooperation During the Second World War in Canadian Foreign Policy Documents


Russia and Canada — the two largest countries on Earth by territory — are northern giants with similar climates and natural conditions. The relationship between them has a long history, characterized predominantly by cooperation and mutual respect, despite occasional periods of tension. A particularly notable period in the history of their relations was during the Second World War, when both countries fought together against a common enemy. Of course, unlike the USSR, Canada did not experience the horrors of a nazi invasion and did not bear the primary burden of fighting against nazi Germany and its allies. However, its contribution to the common victory is also worthy of remembrance and honour.

In this year, when our country and all those who value peace, truth and justice celebrate the 75th anniversary of the end of the most devastating war in human history, we — a group of Russian historians specializing in Canadian studies — felt it our duty to make Canadian documents and materials on Canada-USSR relations during 1941-1945 accessible to the wider public. This edition presents government meeting records, excerpts from politicians’ diaries, records from public organization meetings and articles from Canadian newspapers. They reaffirm that, during the war years, both the leaders of the anti-Hitler coalition and the general public clearly recognized the leading role of the Soviet Union in the war. These documents also show that the Soviet people’s titanic struggle against the German fascist invaders inspired genuine admiration, deep respect and gratitude from people of goodwill around the world. In Canada, many organizations were established to collect funds, clothing, medicines and essential supplies for the Red Army and Soviet citizens. The institution of “sister cities,” where Canadian cities sponsored devastated Soviet cities, became widespread. Soviet films and books enjoyed great popularity, and the public showed keen interest in Soviet sailors and pilots who were on Canadian soil.

It is essential to note that Canada remains one of the few leading Western powers today that does not revise the USSR’s crucial role in the victory over fascism and acknowledges our country’s decisive contribution to it. The positive experience of cooperation and mutual interest can very well form the foundation upon which the structure of mutual respect and cooperation between our countries can be built in the future.

Project Leader, Northern Allies

Doctor of Historical Sciences,
Professor at St. Petersburg State University,
Y.G. Akimov