Today I Learned (TIL)

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TIL about If Day, a fake German Invasion of Canada in 1942 (en.wikipedia.org)

submitted 2 years ago by [email protected] to c/til

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If Day included a staged 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 $3 million was collected in Winnipeg on that day.

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Such an absurd idea. There isnot pragmatic way for them to launchan ground assault in America. It's literally an ocean away. You can't supply it.

[–] troyunrau 3 points 2 years ago

It's absurd only if taken literally. What they were trying to do was help people transport themselves into the minds of the conquered in Europe. It was a fundraising scheme, not a wargame. And as a fundraising scheme, it mostly worked.

Using the bank of Canada inflation calculator, that would be $53 million in today's Canadian dollars.

If someone staged something similar today and it raised $53 million for Ukraine to continue to fight, then it would probably be considered a resounding success.

(although I don't know how a bunch of volunteers can simulate the Russians shelling a city into non-existence...)