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After Hitler invades Poland prompting the beginning of WWII, Canada declares war a week after Britain and France, the first and only time it had declared war on another country independently. At the time, people believed that Invasion of Canada was a possibility. "It is important to remember that Canadians had no assurance at the outset of the war that their country would not be invaded or that their homes would not be bombed." ("Chronology of hte Second World War, veterans.gc.ca) -
The first Canadian convoy of merchant ships sailed from Halifax. Over the duration of the war 377 convoys moved 180 million tons of supplies for the war, much of that product was Canadian made. This effort, was a significant contributing factor to winning the war. Churchill said that it was the "dominating factor all through the war...everything happening elsewhere...depended ultimately on its outcome." (Boileau, J. "Canada's Merchant Navy: The Men that Saved the World" Legion, 2010) -
The first large contingent arrived in Scotland. Over 1M soldiers ultimately would serve in this war, more than 45K would never return. Because of Canada's contributions to the war effort, Canada would take it's place on the world stage. "The Second World War was a defining event in Canadian history, transforming a quiet country on the fringes of global affairs into a critical player in the 20th century's most important struggle." (Stacey, C, "Second World War" 2013, The Canadian Encyclopedia) -
BCATP is established and Canada would provide facilities and would train 131,533 airmen - half of the entire commonwealth air crew. Canada had to build the infrastructure for this project that cost every Canadian $3000 in tax funds. This was a catalist to a huge increase in aircraft production that in time saw canada become the fourth largest allied air force (4000 air craft, employing more than 215,000).
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The Vancouver shipyards scale up production of naval assets such as corvettes and mine sweepers. Canadian efforts help protect vital sea lanes and replenish the numerous vessels lost to German U-boats. Some 57,000 individuals were employed in merchant ship building in Canada and a further 27,000 in naval ship building.
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Canada create the Department of Munitions and Supply to manage the production of war materials under Minister C. D. Howe. Canadian industries under the Department's control produced an estimated 10 Billion Dollars (1940 value) worth of war materials, making Canada a key contributor to the Allies.
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A massive rescue operation from dunkirk france, forced troops to abandon an estimated 75K british military vehicles leaving the Allies crippled. Canada was turned ot to help replenish this supply. Canadian industry produced more than 800,000 military transport vehidles, 50K tanks, 40K field naval and anti=aircraft guns and 1.7 small arms. Of the 800K military vehicles of all types built in Canada, 168K were issued to Canadian forces, making it the most mechanized field force in the war.
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After defeating France, German was trying to do the same to the equipment crippled England. This battle was primarily a war in the air. Many Allied countries, including Pols, New Zealanders, Czechs, Australians, Belgians, South Africans, French, Irish and Americans to part with Canada to save Brittain. Twenty-three Canadians lost their lives.
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Japan attacks Pear Harbour drawing the United States in the war. Canada declares war along with Britain and the US the following day. At the same time Canadian troops stationed in Hong Kong. December 8th 1941 Hong kong is also attacked by Japanese. on dec 25 honkong falls. Of the 1975 Canadain troops, 290 were killed with the remaining taking prisoner to particulary brutal POW camps. A further 260 would die.
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Britains nuclear program at the time was the most developed, but the threat of the program falling into Hitlerk's hands led them to move it to Canada. The program was merged with the US Manhattan Project with Canada supplying the processed uranian and researched plutonium production.
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The Allies - not without controversy - decide to test the stregth of the German defenses and their logistics to attack them by sea. The Diepp Raid took place in occupied France but he operation would prove to be a catastrophic failure. In just 9 hours 6K troops, 5K were Canadaians,, stormed the coast with 1874 taken prisoner and 916 losing their lives.
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Canadians forming a part of the British 8th army join in the invasion of Italy.
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Canadian Forces storm Juno Beach in Normandy
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The critical port of Antwerp,
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