The “If” Notes

Originally published as “The IF Day Invasion” by Darryl Atchison (C.N.J., May 1996) but published in somewhat abridged form in the Vancouver Numismatic Society News Bulletin (Sept. 1995) by Peter Moogk , editor, Darryl Atchison , author, under the title “The 1942 ‘IF DAY' Invasion of Winnipeg”. It is the latter reprinted here with permission of all parties.

The ‘If Day' Invasion.

On the morning of February 19 th , 1942, in sub-zero weather, approximately 3,800 Canadian soldiers, dressed in German uniforms, engaged in a mock invasion of the city of Winnipeg. This event was called the “IF DAY” and was staged to demonstrate to Winnipeggers what they could expect IF THE GERMAN NAZIS CAME TO WINNIPEG.

Residents of the city awoke to the roar and rumble of German military vehicles patrolling their streets and German aircraft in the skies. The assault was swift and fierce. All resistance attempts were quickly and thoroughly defeated. After just two and a half hours, the city of Winnipeg surrendered on behalf of the Province of Manitoba. The city was promptly renamed ‘Himmlerstadt' by the pseudo-Nazi invaders for the remainder of the day, its citizens forced to live under occupation conditions. For the first time ever, Canadians on the home front witnessed at first-hand many scenes which were commonplace in Nazi-occupied Europe and Africa.

Local radio stations and newspapers were seized in order to control the flow of information throughout the city. Random searches and seizures of property were commonplace occurrences. Check points were established throughout the city and even transportation on the city bus line was disrupted. Prominent citizens were arrested, rounded up, and imprisoned in Lower Fort Garry in a concentration camp set up for the exercise.

War Finance Committee.

From the start of the Second World War in 1939, most of the Allied countries relied upon “War Bonds” or “Victory Bonds” to help finance their war effort. Since the years directly preceding the war were fraught with an economic depression, most governments simply did not have the necessary funds to underwrite a prolonged war. Soldiers and civilians alike were encouraged through every possible means to purchase these bonds.

The “IF DAY” invasion was organized by the Manitoba Chapter of the War Finance Committee. Established in 1939, the committee was responsible for raising funds for the war effort. Winnipeg's “IF DAY” was the single largest fund-raiser of its kind held in Canada. This monumental exercise was staged to promote the sale of Series Two of the

The “IF NOTE”.

Face (copy of genuine German 10RM note): Red overprinting on green background.

Back: All green. Printed on newspaper stock paper. Actual size: 150mm x 74mm.

Victory Bonds. This is apparent on the reverse of the mock “Occupation 10 Reichsmarks” banknote, distributed at the time, which reads “What would it be like if …? This is what we will have to accept for our labor, our services, our wheat, our land, if we fail in our job to fight a total war. Our money is good only if Canada wins the war. This worthless money represents slavery, broken pledges, suffering, humiliation. It must not happen here! BUY VICTORY BONDS …. AND KEEP THIS ‘BLOOD' MONEY OUT OF CANADA – BONDS OR BONDAGE … the choice is yours!”

Victory Bond sales peaked at over $3,500,000 for the day. This record for bond sales on any single day lasted throughout the war. Manitobans had responded very well to the committee's terror and paranoia-generating tactics and subscribed to over $11,000,000 in Series Two bonds in total. “IF DAY” had been a complete success for its organizers.

Media coverage of the event included articles in Time , Newsweek , Life , The New York Times and several large Canadian papers. Other North American cities were quick to pick up on Manitoba's success and conducted similar exercises of their own.