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Germany incites war by invading Poland.
War Museum - The Long Road to Victory -
Germany's invasion obligated France and Great Britain to declare war and defend Poland's land boundries.
War Museum - The Long Road to Victory -
The longest continuous battle of WWII, which sought to prevent German submarines from hindering supply lines through the northern Atlantic. Canada's primary role was manning escort ships for supply convoys, which led to Canada's increased production of war ships, particularly the corvette.
More than 70,000 allied soldiers (naval/aviation) would loose their lives.
Government of Canada -
A precautionary board set up under the Department of Labour to control inflation and decrease chances of civil unrest during the upcoming war. It was deemed largely ineffective untill the power transfer to the Department of Finance in 1941.
The Canadian Encyclopedia -
Canada joins in the war, 7 days after Great Britain and France.
Pictured is the official proclamation of war published by Ottawa. You can find a legible PDF version on the linked website.
War Museum - Proclamation of War -
One of Canada's central contributions to the war would be their training of skilled aviators. Though the plan would only be put into effect later that year.
War Museum - The Long Road to Victory -
Along with the replacement, the board was transferred from the Department of Finance to the department of Transport by mid November. The board would inevitably be absorbed into the Department of Munitions and Supply, which would be established five months later.
Buisness Council of Canada -
The first Canadian army convoy departed from Halifax port.
The Canadian Encyclopedia -
All Commonwealth countries (in exception of Ireland) signed an agreement to train allied air crews for the war.
Canada contributed many trained aviators as well as set up distinguished pilot schools, this is considered one of the nations greatest contributions to the war effort.
The Canadian Encyclopedia -
The department was responsible for coordinating domestic industry, and was tasked with completing all contracts placed by Britain, the US, and of course Canada. Led by Clarence Decatur Howe (pictured), who would gain significant control over the Canadian economy and managed to lead Canadian industry to a stronger future post-war.
Buisness Council of Canada -
The expansion of war ship construction focused primarily on a single variety, the corvette (pictured), a smaller ship roughly half the size of a destroyer, armed with a single cannon and descirbed as a "Jack of all trades". Minesweepers were also mass constructed by Canada to join the Atlantic convoys.
Government of Canada -
More than 100 Canadian pilots participated in the battle along with other Commonwealth citizens, Poles, Czechs, French, and a few individuals from other nations.
540 pilots would loose their lives, 23 of them Canadian.
Government of Canada
Pictured Royal Air Force (RAF) squadron 242, which was initially made up of mostly Canada pilots. -
The agreement established a joint Canadian-American board to collaborate on the defence of North America, though the USA was still neutral in the war at the time.
This was a part of Canada's growing relations with the US and seperation from Britain (though they were still allied of course)
The Royal Edmonton Regiment Military Museum
Pictured Franklin D. Roosevelt (Left) and William L. M. King (right) -
The Ram tank (pictured), modelled after the US M3 Medium tank chassis was produced by Canada between 1941 and 1943. Though they were less effective than the US Sherman tank, which would enter production in early 1942, and inevitably replace the Ram in use. Canada would go on to primarily construct military trucks (CMPs) and smaller lightly armoured/manned tanks (Valentines).
BCoC -
Another agreement made between Roosevelt and King, made to facilitate a joint war related economy between Canada and the USA. Primarily because Canada was concerned that British war contracts would be diverted to the US due to the American-British Lend-Lease agreement that followed the Canada-US Ogdensberg agreement.
WarTime Canada -
Canadian troops were sent a few months earlier to aid Hong Kong against a possible Japanese attack. They would become the first Canadians to fight in the war on land when Japan launched attacks on multiple locations at once, including Hong Kong and Pearl Harbor. The outpost surrendered on the 25th of that month, many Canadian and allied soldiers died or became POWs.
GoC -
Operation Jubilee was made up of primarily Canadian troops. The plan was to assault German controlled France through the port town of Dieppe. The plan was a failure, with no ground gained, many dead, and the highest single day loss of aircrafts in WWII. Less than half of the allied participants would return to Britain after the event.
GoC
Pictured, Germans investigating Canadian tank at Dieppe. -
The charts displayed what 900,000 Canadian factory workers could produce in a week.
This totalled 6 sea vessels, 80 aircrafts, 4000 vehicles, 450 armoured vehicles, 940 heavy guns, 13,000 small weapons, 525,000 artillery shells, 25 million cartridges, 10,000 tons of explosives, and at least 4$ million in communication instruments. This was prior to the countries production peak in 1944.
BCoC -
The first large scale land operation Canadian troops took part in. The goal was to liberate/takeover Italy from both Fascist dictator Mussolini and Nazi Germany, which would additionally provide access to the mainland. While the campaign was largely successful and Sicily was taken, Canadian troops withdrew before the final phase. They would however rejoin the campaign for the mainland assault.
GoC -
The Italian campaign continues into mainland Europe. Canadians fought well alongside their British and American allies in the push towards Northern Italy, though they once again withdrew before the final stage to join the war effort in the North-West of Europe.
Italy was conquered in the Spring of 1945, nearly 6,000 Canadians died during the nearly 2 year long campaign.
GoC -
The Allied Powers invasion into German controlled France, Canada contributed primarily pilots and navy officers for the assault that resulted in a major success for the allies. The "Atlantic Wall" had been breached, allowing the allies to get a foot in the door to continue their conquest into mainland Europe.
It was one of the most significant moments of the war, and Canada played a central part in it.
GoC -
Nearly 80% of the worlds population was represented by a delegate at the conference, and it took roughly 2 months (ended June 26) to produce a charter accepted by all participating nations. While the UN would only become an official organization several months later, Canada was a member from it's inception like many allied countries.
United Nations -
Germany surrenders to the Allies, ending the war in Europe.
TCE -
Several months after the bombings on Hiroshima (August 6) and Nagasaki (August 9) Japan issues a formal surrender.
TCE