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Battle of the Atlantic
Royal Canadian Navy and Air force were crucial in protecting convoys of supply ships from German U-boats.
Canada also played a role in the research in sonar technology which was a new technology at the time and helped win the Atlantic. -
Battle of Britain
Contributing directly and indirectly, Britain was not ready of an attack from Germany, not having the equipment or properly trained men. First Canadian division possessed the power needed by Britain. -
Defense of Hong Kong
In December 1941 Canadians with limited training, men and numbers were fighting against odds to defend Hong Kong from Japan. Although they lost and were over run they held strong longer then they thought possible with the numbers and experience they held. Many were taken as prisoners of war. -
The Dieppe Raid
Nearly 5000 of the 6100 troops were Canadian
The Dieppe Raid took place August 19, 1942 and attacked 5 different points. Their element of surprise was ruined by a German convoy and a small party of 20 Commandos used their accurate sniping skills to help evacuate the assault ships. -
Invasion of Sicily
Canada contributed both ground troops and naval support. Soldiers from the 1st Canadian Infantry Division and 1st Canadian Armed Brigade landed on beaches near Pachino. -
Battle of Ortona
In December 1943 to help the Allied forces with the Italian Campaign Canada took on capturing the town of Ortona. A month long campaign resulting in about 2300 Canadian casualties they took the town of Ortona. -
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The Italian Campaign
Canadian soldiers fought their way North into Italy from Summer 1943 to early 1945. There were 25 264 casualties. Canada provided a large number of the soldiers in the Liberation of Italy. -
D-Day
Allied Paratroopers 450 of which were Canadian jumped from an air craft in gliders behind the German coastal defense, outnumbered and only lightly armed they took the German headquarters and sowed confusion in the enemy ranks.
While on the beach Canada, English and US forces stormed the beaches getting taken down by German coastal defense. Canada was the first to break through the beaches leading the way on D-Day. This victory would be the start of the end for Germany. -
Battle of Sheldt
After D-Day while the US and England was focused on the Battle of Aachen the Liberation of Sheldt was entrusted to the first Canadian Army. -
Liberation of Arnhem Holland
The first Canadian Army's role in the Liberation of Arnhem was to open up a supply route North through Arnhem and onward to the Netherlands. -
Canada Attends UN Conference
After the war Canada was highly respected and seen as a separate entity from England. Here they gained there own seat in the United Nations separate from England and is one of the founding members of the United Nations.