Was the Second World War Worth Fighting?

Yes, in that war. It was worth it in that war, because that was a just war. You know, like some of the wars that are going on now, I don't know how you're going to find some way of solving problems without killing some foreign afield. But the war against Germany was a, was a, you just couldn't let that go on, the slaughter and the six million Jews gone. And the way the elderly and the infirmed. So you know, everybody was happy to go. You have to try to avoid war at all costs. But if it's a just war, and we're living in the best country in the world, you'd have to defend it. You would have to go. We fought a just war and, from 1939 to ‘45, there was no way that you could let, allow what was taking place to happen. But I see wars after that you know, just political and unfortunately that's what happens, the Second World War was a lot of politics in it too eh. You know. We lost a lot of men you know, you had Montgomery is a fine general, Patton and they were in a race to beat one another and you lost men needlessly, just to satisfy their ego. And Antwerp was another example of it when, or General Simmonds wanted to follow the Germans and Montgomery stopped him, give the Germans two or three days to get set up, lost a lot of men for nothing. It was all politics. And then when our Canadians were told to halt before they got to Rome to let Mark Clark go through with the Americans taking Rome without firing a shot, you know, it kind of disgusts you. They want the glory, they didn't want to fight the war.

Although no war can keep away from politics, Mr. McInnis believes they must be fought if they are just. In his opinion the Second World War was a just war. He explains why.

Alexander McInnis

Mr. McInnis was born in Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia, on September 7, 1919. His father was a section man for the CNR. He was the 3rd in a family of six (four brothers and one sister) of which his sister was the eldest. He joined the Cape Breton Highlanders without telling his parents when he was 20 years old. His four brothers also joined the forces. He started training in Baddeck, Nova Scotia, and then Victoria Park in Sydney until joining the West Nova Scotia Highlanders Regiment. He went overseas May 12, 1940, and trained in Aldershot for three years. In 1943 he was sent by convoy to partake in the invasion of Sicily. After helping to free the town of Agira, he was sent across to southern Italy. After taking part in the Battle of Ortona he was wounded and ended up in the hospital in England for seven months. He then moved on to France, with the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry Division. After five more months of fighting in France and Holland where he helped in freeing the port of Antwerp, he was sent home to Canada.