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{{Short description|Simulated Nazi invasion of Winnipeg, Manitoba, in 1942}}
[[File:Wfp 1942.jpg|thumb|Simulated German soldiers [[harassment|harassing]] a newspaper carrier during If Day]]▼
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'''If Day''' ({{lang-fr|"'''Si un jour'''"}}, "If one day")<ref name=burch/> was a simulated [[Nazi Germany|Nazi German]] invasion and occupation of the Canadian city of [[Winnipeg, Manitoba]], and surrounding areas on 19 February 1942, during the [[World War II|Second World War]]. It was organized as a [[war bond]] promotion by the Greater Winnipeg Victory Loan organization, which was led by prominent Winnipeg businessman [[John Draper Perrin|J. D. Perrin]]. The event was the largest military exercise in Winnipeg to that point.<ref name=perrun>{{cite book|author=Perrun, Jody|title=The Patriotic Consensus: Unity, Morale, and the Second World War in Winnipeg|publisher=University of Manitoba Press|year=2014|isbn=978-0-8875-5749-1|
If Day included a staged [[Shootout|firefight]] between Canadian troops and volunteers dressed as German soldiers, the internment of prominent politicians, the imposition of Nazi rule, and a parade. The event was a fundraiser for the war effort: over
==Background==
[[File:GiveUsTheTools.jpg|thumb|upright|[[A. J. Casson]]'s Canadian Victory Bonds poster ''Give Us The Tools'' 1941]]
If Day was an elaborate campaign to promote the purchase of [[war bond|Victory Bonds]]. These bonds, which were loans to the government to allow for increased war spending, were sold to individuals and corporations throughout Canada. If Day was the second Victory Loan campaign of the Second World War. The campaign began on 16 February 1942, and continued until 9 March. [[Manitoba]]'s fundraising target was $45 million ($620
The committee drew up a map of Manitoba, which was 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.<ref name=dawn/> The map was posted at the corner of Portage and Main, the city's central intersection.<ref name=werier/> The campaign was publicized in local newspapers for a few days before the event, although the "invasion" took many citizens by surprise.<ref name=dawn/><ref name=ctv/><ref name=per113>{{cite book|author=Perrun, Jody|title=The Patriotic Consensus: Unity, Morale, and the Second World War in Winnipeg|publisher=University of Manitoba Press|year=2014|isbn=978-0-8875-5749-1|page=113}}</ref> To prevent a rush to emergency shelters, residents of neighbouring northern [[Minnesota]] were also warned because radio broadcasts dramatizing the event could be received in that area.<ref name=dawn/>{{refn|Organizers hoped to avoid a similar situation to the [[The War of the Worlds (radio drama)|1938 radio drama ''The War of the Worlds'']], when a fictional broadcast of an alien invasion was interpreted as real by frightened citizens.<ref name=burch/>|group=note}} [[Royal Canadian Air Force]] aircraft painted to look like German fighter planes flew over the city on 18 February 1942.<ref name=if>{{cite news|newspaper=Winnipeg Free Press|title=If|page=1|author=Groom, Kick|date=5 January 1985}}</ref> [[Selkirk, Manitoba|Selkirk]], a small town northeast of Winnipeg, held its own fundraising simulation, a one-hour blackout and mock bombing, on 18 February 1942 in preparation for the main If Day event.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Winnipeg Free Press|date=18 February 1942|title=War's nightmare staged in vivid Selkirk raid to boost Victory Loan|page=1}}</ref>
== Events ==
The simulation included 3,500 Canadian Army members, representing all of Winnipeg's units, making it the largest military exercise in Winnipeg to that point.<ref name=burch/><ref name=came>{{cite news|newspaper=Winnipeg Tribune|title=If ...the Nazis came to Winnipeg|date=19 February 1942|page=1}}</ref> The defending forces were commanded by [[Colonel]]s E. A. Pridham and D. S. McKay.<ref name=newman/><ref name=grim/> Troops were drawn from the
'Nazi' patrols in the city began before 5:30 am on 19 February. A radio announcer was detained and his microphone commandeered for radio broadcasts, beginning at 5:45 am. 'Nazi' troops assembled on the west side of the city half an hour after the first patrols.<ref name=burch>{{cite journal|journal=[[Maclean's]] |author=Burch, Ted|date=10 September 1960|title=The day the Nazis took over Winnipeg|pages=46–47}}</ref> Canadian troops were massed at Fort Osborne barracks and the Minto and
The firefight included large-scale troop movements and the simulated destruction of major bridges
[[File:Arrest at city hall 1942.jpg|thumb|upright|City officials being arrested and taken to the [[internment camp]]]]
At 9:30 am, the defenders surrendered to the 'Nazis' and withdrew to the downtown muster point,<ref name=dawn/> 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.<ref name=floresco/> Some people were taken to an internment camp at [[Lower Fort Garry]]; those interned included prominent local politicians like Premier [[John Bracken]] (arrested with several members of his [[cabinet (government)|cabinet]] at a [[caucus]] meeting), Mayor [[John Queen]], [[Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba]] [[Roland Fairbairn McWilliams]], and visiting Norwegian ambassador to the United States {{Interlanguage link multi|Wilhelm de Morgenstierne|no|3=Wilhelm von Munthe af Morgenstierne}}.<ref name=grim>{{cite news|title=Grim realism marks arrest at legislature|newspaper=Winnipeg Free Press|date=19 February 1942|pages=1, 10}}</ref><ref name=floresco/> One council member, Dan McClean, escaped but was recaptured after an intensive search.<ref name=if/> Chief of Police George Smith avoided capture because he was dining out when soldiers arrived at his office.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Winnipeg Free Press|title=Blitz swoops on city|date=19 February 1942|page=1}}</ref> The [[Union Flag]] at Lower Fort Garry was replaced with the [[flag of Nazi Germany|swastika]].<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Winnipeg Tribune|page=10|title=If IF DAY Were Real|date=19 February 1942}}</ref> The city was renamed "[[Heinrich Himmler|Himmlerstadt]]", and Main Street was termed "Hitlerstrasse".<ref name=if/><ref>{{cite book|page=175|title=Savage detours|author1=Morton, Lisa |author2=Adamson, Kent |publisher=McFarland & Co|year=2010|isbn=978-0-7864-4353-6}}</ref>
Erich von
<blockquote>
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## Entering or leaving the province without permission.
## Failure to report all goods possessed when ordered to do so.
## Possession of firearms.
NO ONE WILL ACT, SPEAK OR THINK CONTRARY TO OUR DECREES.<ref name=newman/></blockquote>
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Notices were posted on churches forbidding worship services, and priests who objected were arrested.<ref name=dawn/> Buses were stopped and their passengers searched by armed troops.<ref name=tactics/> 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.<ref name=floresco/><ref>{{cite news | url=http://manitobia.ca/content/en/newspapers/WPT/1942/02/19/pages/00003996.xml/iarchives | title=Das Winnipeger Lügenblatt | work=Winnipeg Tribune | date=19 February 1942 | accessdate=16 November 2011 | pages=1–2}}</ref> 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",<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Winnipeg Tribune|page=2|date=19 February 1942|title=A great day|url=http://manitobia.ca/content/en/newspapers/WPT/1942/02/19/articles/31.xml/iarchives|accessdate=16 November 2011}}</ref> while another included an "official joke", approved by the German authorities, at which all readers were ordered to laugh or be imprisoned.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://manitobia.ca/content/en/newspapers/WPT/1942/02/19/articles/35.xml/iarchives|title=Der Trumpeter|newspaper=Winnipeg Tribune|date=19 February 1942 | accessdate=16 November 2011|author=von Vermin, Herman|page=2}}</ref> Henry Weppler, a newspaper seller for the ''[[Winnipeg Free Press]]'', was attacked and his papers ripped up.<ref name=if/><ref name=tactics>{{cite news|newspaper=Winnipeg Free Press|date=19 February 1942|title=Nazi storm troopers demonstrate invasion tactics|pages=1, 10}}</ref> The ''Winnipeg Free Press'' featured a front-page story about the "invasion", describing in great detail the devastation caused by the Nazis in Winnipeg.<ref name=ctv/>
[[Book burning|Books were burned]] in front of the main [[Carnegie library|Carnegie]] branch of the [[Winnipeg Public Library]] (the books had been pre-selected for incineration as damaged or outdated).<ref name=if/><ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Winnipeg Free Press|date=17 February 1942|page=5|title=More about Victory Loan}}</ref> Soldiers entered the cafeteria at [[Great West Life]] and stole lunches from workers.<ref name=grim/> They seized [[buffalo coat]]s from the police station and wore them throughout the day, as the temperature was below {{convert|−8|°C|°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.<ref name=werier>{{cite news|newspaper=Winnipeg Tribune|title=Winnipeg to be 'occupied'|url=http://manitobia.ca/content/en/newspapers/WPT/1942/02/17/articles/3.xml/iarchives|pages=1, 10|date=17 February 1942|author=Werier, Val|accessdate=22 July 2011}}</ref><ref name=if/> Some stores and homes were looted by the fake troops. Canadian currency was replaced with fake German [[Reichsmark]]s, the only propaganda notes that Canada created during the war.<ref name=if/><ref name=floresco/><ref name=morn/><ref>{{cite web|page=39|url=https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:OuYoPDC08QsJ:www.philadelphia.edu.jo/Books/Variety%2520of%2520Topics/WWII%2520ALLIED%2520PROPAGANDA.doc+%22if+day%22+winnipeg&hl=en&gl=ca&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESg_BBl17-K6lUSjCXZcNuHqpOQHUjy80h3OcL0nBJ8KhJhQVbR88LjVooaGc6vR1dwnsIo8vQYL2Seys_IaVJS6GqpRQxTdSABc7hiHgPElpQe46HnEwr2TW6FuKpIrtFwyXe3V&sig=AHIEtbTAIVweIQIn3tYf_YFcCJS3H_LaOg|accessdate=30 July 2011|title=WWII Allied Propaganda Banknotes|author=Friedman, Herbert A|publisher=Philadelphia University Jordan}}</ref>
[[File:BondsorBondage.JPG|thumb|upright|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.<ref name=if/><ref name=floresco/> 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's Bay Company]] building.<ref name=if/> 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".<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Winnipeg Tribune|page=3|date=20 February 1942|title=Norwegian minister says If Day authentic}}</ref>
Surrounding towns were also affected by the invasion: for example, in [[Neepawa]] 'Nazi' soldiers confronted citizens in the streets.<ref name=floresco/> [[Virden, Manitoba|Virden]] was renamed "Virdenberg".<ref name=if/> A mock attack was planned for strategic targets in [[Brandon, Manitoba|Brandon]].<ref name=werier/> 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; students were dismissed from school early to listen.<ref name=if/><ref name=perrun/>
==Effects==
[[File:If day map.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Map showing the sale of Victory Bonds in [[Manitoba]]]]
If Day 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.<ref name=if/>
In 2006, a television documentary of the
==See also==
* [[New Order (Nazism)#Plans for North America|Nazi plans for North America]]
==Notes==
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==References==
{{
==External links==
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62wULout6HQ
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8scLEt70yIE Newsreel] documenting If Day, from [[British Pathé]]
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[[Category:1942 in Canada]]
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