Guess what...America can be a pretty lousy...Look at japanese internment and................
America's planned invasion of canada!
Date: Wed, 1 Feb 1995 11:35:53 EST
From: FLOYD RUDMIN
Newsgroups: soc.culture.canada
A 1935 US Plan for Invasion of Canada
Submitted by F.W. Rudmin
Queen's University
Kingston, Ontario Canada
Email: [email protected]
FAX: (613) 545-6611
The following is a full-text reproduction of the 1935
plan for a US invasion of Canada prepared at the US Army
War College, G-2 intelligence division, and submitted on
December 18, 1935. This is the most recent declassified
invasion plan available from the US archival sources.
Centered pagination is that of the original document. The
spelling and punctuation of the original document are
reproduced as in the original document, even when in error
by present-day norms.
This document was first identified by Richard Preston
in his 1977 book, "The Defence of the Undefended Border:
Planning for War in North America 1867-1939" (Montreal:
McGill-Queen's University Press.) Preston's reference
citation (p. 277) identified this to be archived at the US
Military History Collection, Carlisle Barracks, Pa., coded
AWC 2-1936-8, G2, no. 19A. It was located by the US
National Archives and supplied on microfilm.
The military planning context of this document is War
Plan Red, which was approved in May 1930 by the Secretary
of War and the Secretary of Navy. War Plan Red and
supporting documents are available from the US National
Archives on microfilm, in the Records of the Joint Board,
1903-1947, Roll 10, J.B. 325, Serial 435 through Serial
641. In War Plan Red, the US Army's theatre of operations
is defined to be: "All CRIMSON territory" (p.80), and the
US Army's mission, in bold type: ULTIMATELY, TO GAIN
COMPLETE CONTROL OF CRIMSON (p. 84). CRIMSON is the
colour code for Canada. In 1934, War Plan Red was amended
to authorize the immediate first use of poison gas against
Canadians and to use strategic bombing to destroy Halifax
if it could not be captured.
In February 1935, the War Department arranged a
Congressional appropriation of $57 million dollars to
build three border air bases for the purposes of
pre-emptive surprise attacks on Canadian air fields. The
base in the Great Lakes region was to be camouflaged as a
civilian airport and was to "be capable of dominating the
industrial heart of Canada, the Ontario Peninsula" from p.
61 of the February 11-13, 1935, hearings of the Committee
on Military Affairs, House of Representatives, on Air
Defense Bases (H.R. 6621 and H.R. 4130). This testimony
was to have been secret but was published by mistake. See
the New York Times, May 1, 1935, p. 1.
In August 1935, the US held its largest peacetime
military manoeuvres in history, with 36,000 troops
converging at the Canadian border south of Ottawa, and
another 15,000 held in reserve in Pennsylvania. The war
game scenario was a US motorized invasion of Canada, with
the defending forces initially repulsing the invading Blue
forces, but eventually to lose "outnumbered and outgunned"
when Blue reinforcements arrive. This according to the
Army's pamphlet "Souvenir of of the First Army Maneuvers:
The Greatest Peace Time Event in US History" (p.2).
The following document is a declassified public
domain document and may be freely reproduced. This should
be of particular interest to people in the Halifx and
Quebec City regions, then considered to be the most
strategic cities in Canada.
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SUPPLEMENT NO. 3
TO
REPORT OF COMMITTEE NO. 8
SUBJECT:
CRITICAL AREAS OF CANADA AND APPROACHES THERETO
_______________________________________________
.
Prepared by:
SUBCOMMITTEE NO. 3
Major Charles H. Jones, Infantry, Chairman.
Lt. Col. H.W. Crawford, Engineers.
I. Papers Accompanying.
___________________
1. Bibliography. (Omitted, filed in Rec.Sec.)
2. List of Slides. "
3. Appendices (1 and 2). "
4. Annexes. (Incl. A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,K, and L) "
II. The Study Presented.
___________________
Determine under the geographical factor, the critical areas in
Crimson (Canada) and the best approaches thereto for Blue. A critical
area is assumed to be any area of such strategic importance to either
belligerent that control thereof may have a material bearing on the out-
come of the war.
III. Facts bearing on the study.
__________________________
1. General Considerations:
An area in Crimson territory may be of strategic importance from
the viewpoint of tactical, economic, or political considerations. In the
final analysis, however, critical areas must be largely determined in the
light of Red's probable line of action and Crimson's contribution to that
effort.
2. Geographical Features of Canada.
a. Location and extent. The location and extent of the Dominion of
_
Canada is shown on the Map herewith (see Exhibit A). It comprises the
entire northern half of the the North American continent, excepting only
Alaska and the coast of Labrador, a dependency of the colony of New-
foundland.
The principal political subdivisions are those located along the
border of the United States. These from east to west are:
(1) The Maritime Provinces:
Prince Edward Island.
Nova Scotia.
New Brunswick.
(2) Quebec.
(3) Ontario.
(4) The Prairie Provinces:
Manitoba.
Saskatchewan.
Alberta.
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(5) British Columbia.
Newfoundland, while not a part of the Dominion of Canada, would
undoubtedly collaborate in any Crimson effort.
b. Topography. (Slide 14852)
_
The great area in eastern Canada underlain by rocks of Precambrian
age is known as the Canadian Shield. Its northern boundary crosses the
Arctic archipelago; the eastern boundary lies beyond Baffin Island and
Labrador, and reaches the depressed area occupied by the St. Lawrence, a
short spur crossing this valley east of Lake Ontario to join the Adirondack
Mountains of New York. The southern boundary runs from this spur west to
Georgian Bay thence along the north shore of Lake Huron and Lake Superior,
thence northwest from the Lake of the Woods to the western end of Lake
Athabaska. Its average elevation does not exceed 1500 feet. The greatest
known elevations are in the eastern part of Baffin Island and along the
coast of northern Labrador. Peaks of the Torngat Mountains of Labrador
have elevations of between 4000 and 5000 feet. The coast is one of the
boldest and most rugged in the world, with many vertical cliffs rising
1000 to 2000 feet high. Occasional exceptions occur in which there are
reliefs of several hundred feet, as in the hills along the north shore of
Lake Huron and Lake Superior. The area is dotted with lakes, large and
small, and of irregular outline. A lowland of considerable extent
stretches for some distance into Ontario and Manitoba from Hudson Bay.
Extending south and west form the Canadian Shield, between the Ap-
palachian Mountains on the east and the Cordilleras on the west, lies the
Great North American plain. The northeastern portion of this plain called
the St. Lawrence lowlands occupies southern Ontario, south of a line ex-
tending from Georgian Bay to the east end of Lake Ontario; eastern Ontario
lying between the Ottawa and St. Lawrence rivers, and that part of Quebec
lying adjacent to the St. Lawrence between Montreal and Quebec.
The plain west of the Canadian Shield, known as the Interior Plains,
stretches northward to the Arctic Ocean between a line approximately join-
ing Lake Winnipeg and Lake Athabasca, Great Slave Lake and Great Bear Lake
on the east, and the foothills of the Rocky Mountains on the west.
That part of the St. Lawrence Lowlands lying in the eastern angle of
Ontario, and in Quebec south of Montreal and extending down the St. Law-
rence is comparatively flat and lies less than 500 feet above sea level.
On the lower St. Lawrence it is greatly narrowed by the near approach of
the Appalachian system to the Canadian Shield. The part lying adjacent to
Lakes Ontario, Erie and Huron is of less even surface, has its greatest
elevation of over 1700 feet south of Georgian Bay and slopes gently to
the Great Lakes.
The Interior Plains region is in general rolling country with broad
undulations and a slope eastward and northward of a few feet per mile,
descending from an elevation of 3000 to 5000 feet near the mountains on the
west to less than 1000 feet at the eastern border. The rolling character
of the area is relieved by several flat topped hills, by flat areas that
formed the beds of extensive lakes, and by deep river valleys.
The Appalachain and Arcadian regions occupy practically all that part
of Canada lying east of the St. Lawrence, with the exception of the lowlands
west of a line joining Quebec City and Lake Champlain. The Applachain
region is a continuation into Quebec of three chains of the Applachain
system of mountains. The most westerly of these ranges, the Green Mountains
of Vermont, stretches northeast into the Gaspe peninsula, where it forms
flat topped hills some 3000 feet high. The Acadian region, which includes
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New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island is an alternation of
upland with hills and ridges rising 2500 feet and higher. Adjacent to the
Bay of Fundy is a series of ridges rising in places to 1200 feet. Between
these two New Brunswick uplands, which converge toward the southwest is a
lowland forming the whole eastern part of the province. This lowland ex-
tends east to include Prince Edward Island, the western fringe of Cape
Breton Island and the mainland of Nova Scotia north of the Cobequid moun-
tains, which have an elevation of 800 to 1000 feet. South of the Cobequid
Mountains lies a long narrow lowland stretching from Chedabucto Bay to
Minas Basin, and along the Cornwallis Annapolis valley between North and
South Mountains. South of this lowland is a highland sloping to the Atlantic
Coast. The northern part of Cape Breton Island is a tableland 1200 feet
high with its central part rising to an elevation of over 1700 feet.
The Cordelleran region, a mountainous area bordering the Pacific
extends from the United States through Canada into Alaska and embraces
nearly all of British Columbia and Yukon and the western edge of Alberta
and the Northwest Territories. The eastern part of the Cordillera is occu-
pied by the Rocky Mountains, with peaks rising to 10,000 feet and 12,000
feet. They extend northwest and fall away towards the Liard River. The
western part of the Cordillera is occupied by the Coast Range and the
mountains of Vancouver and Queen Charlotte Islands. The Coast Range rises
to heights of 7000 to 9000 feet. Between the Rocky Mountains and the Coast
Range lies a vast plateau 3000 to 4000 feet high and cut by deep river
valleys.
3. Population.
According to the census of 1931, the total population on June 1, 1931
was 10,376,786, of whom 5,374,541 were males. The inhabited areas of the
Dominion are essentially confined to a narrow strip alolo the United States
boundary, generally south of the 56th parallel of latitude west of the Lake
Winnipeg, and south of the 49th parallel of latitude east of Lake Superior.
Approximately 10% of the total population are found in the Maritime provinces,
61% in Quebec and Ontario, 23% in the Prairie Provinces and 6% in British
Columbia.
Of the present population, 51.86% are of British descent, 28.22%
French, and the remainder of widely scattered nativity.
4. Climate.
The climate of southern Canada is comparable to that of the northern
tier of the states of the United States. The west coast of British Columbia
tempered by the Pacific Ocean is mild and humid. The prairie provinces
generally experience extreme cold weather from November to March, with heavy
snow fall. The climate of southern Ontario, the St. Lawrence Valley and the
Maritime Provinces is much milder that that of the prairie provinces, but
freezing temperatures are general between the end of November and the first
of April, and the ground is usually covered with between one and three
feet of snow. Any extensive military operations in Canada between November
1st and April 15th would be extremely difficult, if not impossible.
5. Communications.
a. Railways.
_
There are only two railway systems in Canada, both crossing Canada
east and west from the Atlantic to the Pacific. These lines generally
parallel the United States border, in some instances crossing through the
United States.
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(1) The Canadian national Railways system (See inclosure B) belonging
to and operated by the government, has eastern terminals at Halifax, N.S.,
Portland, Maine (Grand Trunk), and through the Central Vermont, at Boston,
New London and New York. Western terminals are Vancouver and Prince Rupert
B.C. An extension from Cochrane, Ontario, to Moosonee, Ontario on James
Bay, was completed by the Province of Ontario in July 1932, to connect with
water routes to Churchill, Hudson Bay and with the northern route to Europe.
(2) The Canadian Pacific system (see inclosure C) has its eastern
terminus at Saint John, N.B. and it western terminus at Vancouver, B.C.
As indicated by the systems maps, there are numerous branch lines serving
the industrial and farming areas of the Dominion, and connecting lines ty-
ing in with various railroads of the United States.
From a military viewpoint, these railroads provide excellent trans-
portation facilities for Blue, if invasion of Crimson is decided upon, and
being located in close proximity to the border are, from the Crimson view-
point, very liable to interruption. This is particularly true at Winnipeg
some 60 miles north of Blues border, through which both transcontinental
systems now pass. This fact probably encouraged Canada to construct the
railroad from The Pass, Manitoba and develop the port at Churchill.
Complete details concerning all railroads of Canada are contained in
Appendix No. 1.
b. Highways.
_
In recent years Canada has greatly increased and improved her road con-
struction and while there are enormous stretches of country, particularly
in the northern portion of the Dominion, with few or no roads, the southern
portion is well served with improved roads. A number of transcontinental
motor roads are under construction or projected, the most important being
the "Kings International Highway" from Montreal to Vancouver, via Ottawa,
North Bay, Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie, Winnipeg, MacLeod, Crow's Nest Pass,
Fernia and Cranbrook. Another highway is being constructed from
Calgary to Vancouver.
The principal roads in Ontario, Quebec and the Maritime Provinces
are shown on Inclosure D, herewith. Roads in the Prairie Provinces and
British Columbia are shown on inclosure E.
The majority of improved roads are classified as gravel; macadam and
concrete construction amounting to only 7870 miles out of a total of some
95,000 miles improved. Gravel roads will require extensive maintenance
under heavy motor traffic, especially during the spring.
c. Water Transportation.
_
(1) Inland Waterways.
The Great Lakes, with the St. Lawrence River, is the most im-
portant fresh water transportation system in the world. At the present
time it affords a draft of 21.0 feet over all the Great Lakes and through
the Welland Canal into the St. Lawrence. From the Atlantic Ocean to Mon-
treal, the present head of ocean navigation on the St. Lawrence, a draft
of 30.0 feet is available, adequate for the great majority of ocean shipping.
For some distance above Montreal the present channel has an available depth
of only 14.0 feet.
The inland waterway is of prime importance to the economic life
of both the United States and Canada for the transportation of bulk com-
modities, especially for the movement of wheat from the western plains to
shipping centers on the eastern seaboard; of iron ore from the mines in
Minnesota to foundaries along Lake Ontario; and for coal from the mines of
Pennsylvania and West Virginia to Ontario, Quebec and the northwest.
-44-
The locks at Sault Ste. Marie, the boundary channels between Port
Huron and Detroit and to a lesser degree the Welland Canal are the critical
points on this waterway and effective control of such areas is vital to
Blue.
Navigation on the Great Lakes is generally closed by ice from
about the end of November to the first of April.
The St. Lawrence River is ordinarily ice bound for a similar period,
but somewhat later about early in December to the latter part of April.
While there are a number of Canadian lake ports of importance, Montreal is
the only one which would not be automatically closed by Blue control of the
Lakes. Montreal is also an important ocean port and will be considered
along with other deep sea ports.
(2) Ocean Shipping.
The Dominion of Canada owns and operates a cargo and passenger
carrying fleet consisting of some 57 cargo vessels and 11 passenger ships.
The principal ocean ports and the magnitude of Canadian ocean
traffic is indicated by the following tabulation:
A. Number and tonnage of sea-going vessels entered and cleared at the
principal ports of Canada. (For year ending March 31, 1934.)
SEA-GOING VESSELS
PORT arrived departed TOTAL TONS (REGISTERED)
____ _______ ________ _______________________
Halifax, N.S. * 1259 1484 7,540,990
Yarmouth, N.S. 535 519 1,102,191
St. John, N.B. * 684 688 2,924,822
Montreal, Quebec * 1078 907 7,266,569
Quebec, Que. * 397 308 3,388,829
Prince Rupert, B.C. 1141 1155 251,881
Vancouver, B.C. * 2332 2137 11,705,775
Victoria, B.C. 1927 1938 8,874,481
New Westminster, B.C. 678 700 3,123,606
IMPORTANT SECONDARY PORTS.
Churchill, Man. * 15 15 132,000
Three Rivers, Que 79 79 424,560
Windsor, N.S. 56 69 201,032
Note: The above figures do not indicate amount of commerce; Register tons
______
are gross tons. (Namely cubical contents in cubic feet divided by 100)
less deductions for crews space, stores, etc.
A brief description of the above ports to indicate size, avail-
able depths and important terminal facilities is included in Appendix No.
2.
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akagi_2
18 years ago
And my question would be so? I am sure the United States has plans for invasion of every country in the world and I'd be shocked if they didn't.
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WarHawkeye
18 years ago
Yes, the US had a war plan for all of the Major Powers (even England), and the Major Powers all had a war plan for the US. Hardly some sort of diabolical scheme, how ever odd it may seem in the world we live in now.
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