War Plan Red: The United States' Secret Plan to Invade Canada and Canada's Secret Plan to Invade the United States

by Kevin Lippert

Overview

A humorous history of simmering tensions between the US and Canada from the War of 1812 to actual invasion plans drawn up by both sides.

It’s known as the world’s friendliest border. Five thousand miles of unfenced, unwalled international coexistence and a symbol of neighborly goodwill between two great nations: the United States and Canada. But just how friendly is it really? In War Plan Red, the secret “cold war” between the United States and Canada is revealed in full and humorous detail.

With colorful maps and historical imagery, the breezy text walks the reader through every aspect of the long-running rivalry—from the “Pork and Beans War” between Maine and Newfoundland lumberjacks, to the “Pig War” of the San Juan Islands, culminating with excerpts from actual declassified invasion plans the Canadian and US militaries drew up in the 1920s and 1930s.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781616894603
Publisher:	Chronicle Books
Publication date:	06/22/2023
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	128
Sales rank:	335,569
File size:	8 MB

Table of Contents

Introduction 7

Part 1 The War of 1812 8

Part 2 Border Disputes 30

Part 3 We've Got Your Back: War Plan Red & Defence Scheme No. 1 54

Appendix A War Plan Red 88

Appendix B Extracts from Defence Scheme No. 1 124

Acknowledgments & Sources 140

Editorial Reviews

"We were charmed and amazed by this history of the 'world's friendliest border.' " - San Francisco Chronicle

"War Plan Red is a beautiful and fun book. It's a military history told in a snarky, fun, pop way, full of interesting historical stories and beautifully done. A fascinating exploration of little-known elements to Canada's longstanding relationship with our neighbor to the south." -- CBC Radio

"Terrifically fun." - Vox.com

"Every once in a while, leaders of the two countries that sit along the world's longest open border have eyed the territory on the other side as prime for an invasion. Lippert's fascinating and frequently funny book details the moments when the countries' relationship became a little strained, including details of Canada's 1921 plan for attacking the United States and a full reproduction of 'War Plan Red,' the 1935 American scheme to storm Canada. The details of Canada's 1921 espionage excursion through New England alone are worth a purchase--find out what state's men were characterized as 'fat and lazy but pleasant and congenial!'' -- Mental Floss

From the Publisher