Map of Canada’s “Defense Scheme No. 1” From The 1920s & 30s

Map found on redditThe map above show’s the plans for Canada’s “Defense Scheme No. 1” based on a hypothetical surprise invasion of the US in the 1920s and 30s.

The plan was to buy time to secure defenses before the US could strike back.

Ultimately the plan assumed that help from the United Kingdom and the rest of the Empire would come.

From the map:

1. Western troops occupy Seattle, Spokane, Butte, and Portland.
2. Troops from the Prairie Command take Fargo and Great Falls, then march onto Minneapolis/St. Paul.
3. Great Lakes-based column takes Detroit and Niagara.
4. Troops from Québec occupy Albany.
5. Maritime army reclaims Maine.

More about the scheme:

Defense Scheme No. 1 was a strategic military plan created by Canada in 1921 as a hypothetical response to a potential war with the United States.

It was conceived under the assumption that Canada would be unable to defend against the might of the U.S. military for long, so the plan involved launching a preemptive invasion of key U.S. cities and territories.

The main goal was to disrupt American mobilization and secure time for reinforcements from Britain.

The strategy included:

1. Quick strikes into U.S. border cities such as Seattle, Detroit, and Albany.
2. Occupying key areas in the U.S. while retreating strategically to allow British forces to arrive.
3. Sacrificing certain Canadian territories if necessary to prolong resistance.

While this plan was never implemented (and some even criticized the plan as “suicidal”), it was not entirely unjustified.

War Plan Red

War Plan Red was a secret military strategy developed by the United States during the 1920s and 1930s, designed to prepare for a potential war with the British Empire.

It was part of a broader series of color-coded war plans created by the U.S. military to address hypothetical conflicts with various nations or coalitions.

Key Features of War Plan Red:

1. Primary Objective:
   • The plan focused on defeating the British Empire, with particular emphasis on Canada as the most accessible and strategically important territory of the empire. The U.S. considered Canada a potential staging ground for British forces.
2. Invasion of Canada:
   • The U.S. planned to invade and occupy key Canadian cities and territories to pre-empt British attacks from the north.
   • Strategic targets included:
     • Halifax, Nova Scotia: To neutralize its naval base.
     • Montreal and Quebec City: To control vital transportation and communication hubs.
     • Winnipeg: To disrupt rail connections between eastern and western Canada.
     • Vancouver and Victoria: To secure the west coast and deny access to British forces.
3. Naval Strategy:
   • The U.S. Navy would aim to seize control of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans to isolate the British Empire from reinforcements and supplies.
   • A blockade of British territories in the Caribbean was also part of the plan.
4. Air Power:
   • The plan called for the use of bombers to target British and Canadian infrastructure.
5. Defense Against Counterattacks:
   • War Plan Red anticipated that Britain might attempt a counterattack via the Caribbean or the Atlantic coast. U.S. defenses in these regions were part of the strategy.

Context and Development:

• Historical Background: Despite the close relationship between the U.S. and Britain today, tensions existed in the early 20th century due to unresolved issues from the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and competition for global influence.
• Timeframe: War Plan Red was finalized in 1930 and revised in 1935.
• Assumptions: It assumed that Britain and its dominions, particularly Canada, would act aggressively toward U.S. interests. The plan also assumed that the U.S. would need to act quickly to prevent a prolonged war.

Never Implemented:

• War Plan Red was purely hypothetical and was never executed. By the late 1930s, geopolitical realities shifted dramatically. With the rise of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan, the U.S. and Britain began aligning as allies rather than adversaries. The plan was officially declassified in 1974.

Connection to Defence Scheme No. 1:

• Canada’s Defence Scheme No. 1 (1921) was a mirror to War Plan Red. As is mentioned above, it involved pre-emptive strikes on U.S. border cities to delay an American invasion and buy time for British reinforcements.
• Interestingly, both plans highlight the mutual distrust between the U.S. and Canada/Britain during the interwar period, despite the lack of direct hostilities.

What do you think?