Canada/Australia in the event Britain was invaded by Germany?

[Mitchell Hundred]

Assuming Britain was successfully invaded by germany during ww2 either through operation sealion or another battle. What do you think the repercussions for this would have been on the commonwealth countries? Specifically Canada and australia.

Now by this period these two nations were essentially autonomous from britain. Canada actually waited 2 weeks after britain before declaring war on germany. However connections still ran deep.

Would the royal family have attempted to flee to either one of these countries? (and what repercussions would that would have had?). Assuming this happens in 1940 before the US is officially in the war, would these two countries attempt a counter invasion to aid GB themselves?

[MasterSanders]

Canada seems the most likely place for a government in exile. I can imagine George V, after being forced to by Churchill, flee to Ottawa to establish his court-in-exile.

[Paul V McNutt]

I agree the government In exile is in Canada. a Austrila has more forces to fight the Japanese.

[Paul V McNutt]

Sorry forgot to subscribe.

[Emperor-of-New-Zealand]

Australia and Canada were independent in full, but yes, still tied to the British via the royals. Australia was threatened by Japan however, so I don't think that's where the government would head. But they aren't going to set up a government in exile in the same sense as the Free French, since Canada isn't going to take on the entire empire.

A common mistake is made here - the royals may make Canada their base of operations, and the 'legitimite' British government may be in Canada, but there will also be the Canadian government which isn't just going to suddenly hand over all its resources to the Westminster parliament for the sake of the empire.

Originally Posted by Paul V McNutt

Sorry forgot to subscribe.

I fail to see why you needed to tell everyone...

[miguelrj]

Originally Posted by Paul V McNutt

Sorry forgot to subscribe.

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[Hoist40]

Assuming this happens in 1940 before the US is officially in the war, would these two countries attempt a counter invasion to aid GB themselves?

Invade with what?

If British Islands get conquered I doubt that there would be much of the British Army and Airforce left and the British Navy would be in a damaged condition. I assume that they would put up a big fight which would leave them in unable to do a organized withdrawal to Canada across the Atlantic and that includes the two Canadian divisions in Britain. So some ships and a few long range aircraft would escape with whatever soldiers or civilians they could carry. They might be able to use Ireland neutrality to get some people out but I am sure that the Germans would pressure the Irish government to stop that.

Also neither Canada or Australia have much in the way of war production early in the war. While latter they managed to produce more, in 1939/1940 they were very weak. In fact Canada did not even start to get serious with war production until the fall of France.

A portion of the British Navy would probably be able to withdraw to Canada but Canada did not have much in the way of shipbuilding and repair in 1940. So just supporting what was left of he British Fleet would probably strain Canada’s resources for the first couple of years.

[MattII]

Well I'd assume most of the ships aren't going to be there any more, probably only those produced in the 30s will get saved, if any. The others? More meat for the grinder in an attempt to stop the Germans.

[Wet Coast]

Originally Posted by Emperor-of-New-Zealand

A common mistake is made here - the royals may make Canada their base of operations, and the 'legitimite' British government may be in Canada, but there will also be the Canadian government which isn't just going to suddenly hand over all its resources to the Westminster parliament for the sake of the empire.

Depending upon how the people in power approach it that could be a very interesting scenario. McKenzie King is not going to let the Brits run his country and would handle wartime production and resource allocation in a manner that best benifits Canada. After butting heads a few times I could easly see the UK government in exile moving to a colony they can control, like Jamaica.

[libbrit]

The royals would likely head to Canada(the plans were all there ready to be enacted).

The government would likely travel to a British colony rather than a self governing dominion-somewhere in the Carribean i imagine, or possibly Newfoundland if they want a mainland north american base

[Bob in Pittsburgh]

I think Churchill would have moved to washington DC just as soon as he could.

[Hoist40]

Here is a link to a PDF copy of an official Canadian report, starting on page 485 talks about how little war material especially for the Army, that Canada was producing prior to Dunkirk.

http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/UN/Canada/AMG_e.pdf

[New Yorker]

Originally Posted by libbrit

The royals would likely head to Canada(the plans were all there ready to be enacted).

Does anyone know of a book or something that details the plans for the royals and the UK government to get out of the UK if they had to?

[Alex1guy]

Originally Posted by New Yorker

Does anyone know of a book or something that details the plans for the royals and the UK government to get out of the UK if they had to?

Well I believe this happens in Fatherland but thats not the kind of book you're after

[phx1138]

Originally Posted by MasterSanders

Canada seems the most likely place for a government in exile. I can imagine George V, after being forced to by Churchill, flee to Ottawa to establish his court-in-exile.

Canada wouldn't welcome the British government-in-exhile. The King & Queen would be more than welcome here, but HMG is more likely to set up in Bermuda or the Bahamas. We were recently-enough independent at that time to not want to feel, or seem, "re-occupied"...

Originally Posted by Emperor-of-New-Zealand

A common mistake is made here - the royals may make Canada their base of operations, and the 'legitimite' British government may be in Canada, but there will also be the Canadian government which isn't just going to suddenly hand over all its resources to the Westminster parliament for the sake of the empire.

I do agree, here. That said, if Britain proper is occupied, it doesn't mean Canada or Australia is going to throw up her hands & say, "Tough luck. See you."

Bear in mind, that declaration of war against Germany wasn't "until Britain is defeated": it was a separate declaration by Canada. In support of Britain, yes--but independent of her. Plus, there is still a British government in the war. And France. And Poland....

[JN1]

Originally Posted by MasterSanders

Canada seems the most likely place for a government in exile. I can imagine George V, after being forced to by Churchill, flee to Ottawa to establish his court-in-exile.

Wow, things would have to be really bad for George V to flee the UK in the face of the USM! But OTOH a zombie King would be one hell of a weapon to use against the Nazi hordes.

[Lord Grattan]

Originally Posted by libbrit

The royals would likely head to Canada(the plans were all there ready to be enacted).

The government would likely travel to a British colony rather than a self governing dominion-somewhere in the Carribean i imagine, or possibly Newfoundland if they want a mainland north american base

I was thinking Newfoundland as I read your post - excellent idea!

[Hrvatskiwi]

wasn't there some plan for the British govt, but not the royals, to relocate to New Delhi? We'd probably see more of a focus on the Pacific, due to the Japanese threat.

[JN1]

Since we've written off the USM on this site isn't this discussion a bit academic?

[Henriksson]

I'm going to ignore the extreme implausibility of the discussed scenario for the sake of discussion...

Originally Posted by Emperor-of-New-Zealand

A common mistake is made here - the royals may make Canada their base of operations, and the 'legitimite' British government may be in Canada, but there will also be the Canadian government which isn't just going to suddenly hand over all its resources to the Westminster parliament for the sake of the empire.

If that is true, can Britain keep it all together? Can it put up a fight on other fronts, like in North Africa or the Far East? Will Indians try to push for liberation?