If Day Turns 70

February 19th, 1942, in an inspired attempt to raise money for Victory Bonds, 3500 volunteers from the Junior Board of Trade and others rented Nazi uniforms and 'invaded' Winnipeg to give an average Canadian, well sheltered from the horrors of war, a taste of what life was like under Nazi occupation.

By all accounts, it was incredibly realistic.  Air raid sirens sounded, blank artillery shells and rifle rounds were fired in the 'battle' for Winnipeg, and volunteers in mock Nazi uniforms arrested and jailed the mayor, the premier and the lieutenant-governor.  'Troops' entered the cafeteria of a large insurance company and commandeered lunch for Nazi soldiers, kicking people out of their seats.  People's homes were looted, and people were seized and searched on the street.  Books were confiscated from the library and burned (they were headed for the incinerator anyway).  Nazi flags flew where Union Jacks once flew.  The Winnipeg Tribune was seized and renamed.  Churches and synagogues were closed.  And radios replaced their normal programming with Hitler's speeches and military music.  And proclamations were posted all over town:

Ankundigung

IT IS HEREBY PROCLAIMED THAT:

1. This territory is now a part of the Greater Reich and under the jurisdiction of Col. Erich Von Neuremburg, Gauleiter of the Fuehrer.

2. No civilians will be permitted on the streets between 9:30 p.m. and daybreak.

3. All public places are out of bounds to civilians, and not more than 8 persons can gather at one time in any place.

4. Every householder must provide billeting for 5 soldiers.

5. All organizations of a military, semi-military or fraternal nature are hereby disbanded and banned. Girl Guide, Boy Scout and similar youth organizations will remain in existence but under direction of the Gauleiter and Storm troops.

6. All owners of motor cars, trucks and buses must register same at Occupation Headquarters where they will be taken over by the Army of Occupation.

7. Each farmer must immediately report all stocks of grain and livestock and no farm produce may be sold except through the office of theKommandant of supplies in Winnipeg. He may not keep any for his own consumption but must buy it back through the Central Authority in Winnipeg.

8. All national emblems excluding the Swastika must be immediately destroyed.

9. Each inhabitant will be furnished with a ration card, and food and clothing may only be purchased on presentation of this card.

10. The following offences will result in death without trial

a) Attempting to organize resistance against the Army of Occupation

b) Entering or leaving the province without permission.

c) Failure to report all goods possessed when ordered to do so.

d) Possession of firearms.

NO ONE WILL ACT, SPEAK, OR THINK CONTRARY TO OUR DECREES

published and ordered by the Authority of (signed) Erich Von Neuremburg

Although it was publicized beforehand, some people managed to miss the warnings that this would be staged.  It was a miracle that some gun-toting vigilante didn't shoot any of the mock soldiers!  But all in all, the only two reported injuries were a sprained ankle a soldier got (soldiers used the event to practice field maneuvers) and a cut thumb a young woman received in her blacked-out apartment.

If Day was covered all over the world as a major news event, and by all accounts a resounding success.  In 24 hours, If Day raised 3 million (in 1942!) dollars and gave people a little better perspective on what life under military occupation was like.  A neat day in the history of Winnipeg!