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Canada officially entered World War II to support the Allies and stop Hitler.
Historical significance: This moment showed Canada wasn't just following Britain anymore - we made our own decision to fight. -
Canada trained over 130 000 pilots and crew in safe airfields far from the fighting.
Perspective: Many allied countries depended on Canada's training schools because they kept people safe from bombs. -
Canada set up a government organization to help change factories over from everyday products to war supplies.
Cause: This happened because Canada realized winning the war meant producing tons of goods, not just fighting. -
With lots of men overseas, women took jobs making planes, bullets, ships and tanks.
Change: This was a huge shift because women had never worked in a heavy industry like this before the war. -
Almost 2000 Canadian soldiers tried to defend Hong Kong from Japan and many were killed or taken prisoner.
Perspective: For Canadian families, this was shocking because it was the first major combat experience of the war. -
Canadian troops attacked the German held town of Dieppe. It went really badly and most soldiers didn't make it home.
Cause Consequence: Even though it failed, the mistakes taught the allies what not to do which helped plan D-Day later. -
Canadian and US forces worked together to protect the coasts and to escort ships carrying supplies across the ocean.
Cause: They joined forces because German submarines were threatening ships close to North America. -
Canadian factories produced one of the most important allied bombers used in missions over Europe.
Historical Significance: This made Canada a major player in the aircraft industry and helped support allied air attacks. -
Canada hosted Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt to plan the war.
Historical Significance: This proved Canada was respected enough to help make big decisions with major world leaders. -
Canadian Navy ships protected supply convoys from German submarines across the ocean.
Historical Significance: This kept Britain alive because they needed food, weapons and fuel to keep fighting. -
Canadian soliders landed in Normandy, France and pushed farther inland on day one than any other Allied unit.
Continuity and Change: Canada went from being seen as a small country to being respected as a strong military force. -
Canada made everything from guns and radios to trucks and food for millions of allied soldiers.
Consequence: After the war, Canada was way more industrialized and had a stronger economy. -
At the end of WWII, Canada helped create the United Nations (UN) to try to keep future wars from happening.
Continuity Change: Canada continued to work with other countries but now focused more on peace and cooperation, not fighting. -
The Canadian Encyclopedia. “Canada and the Second World War.” Historica Canada, www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en Images were obtained from public-domain archives including Library and Archives Canada, PICRYL, and Wikimedia Commons. Note:
All sources accessed 2025. -
Library and Archives Canada. “Second World War — Research Help and Resources.” Government of Canada, www.canada.ca/en/library-archives/collection/research-help/military-history/second-world-war.html Veterans Affairs Canada. “Canada and the Second World War.” Government of Canada, www.veterans.gc.ca/en/remembrance/military-history/second-world-war Canadian War Museum. “Historical Overview: Canada and the Second World War.” Canadian Museum of History, www.warmuseum.ca