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World War 2 started because Germany thought that the Treaty of Versailles after they failed World War 1 was not fair to them. They fought against and occupied a lot of countries, especially in Europe, with their allies in the Axis powers, but were eventually defeated by the Allies. This war had pushed countries to use their best industrial and scientific power for wars, but numerous lives and a lot of places were gone due to the war.
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Because Britain and Russia depended on North America for supplies, Germany U-boats attacked the ships with supplies under the Atlantic Ocean. Canada was protecting the supply ships by letting them travel as convoys in groups of 50 to 60, and protecting them with 3 to 4 corvettes. Then, the supplies were successfully sent to Britain, Russia, and the Mediterranean. Some historians thought that it was the most important contribution to the war that Canada had. (https://bit.ly/2xgB54) -
In order for German troops to invade Britain, Hitler ordered them to fight against the RAF and RCAF at night in southern Britain and London. Though, RAF and RCAF defeated the German air force and won. After this battle, the British Prime Minister Churchill said so due to the losses in this battle: "Never was so much owed by so many to so few." (https://www.history.com/news/10-things-you-should-know-about-the-battle-of-britain) -
This battle started as Japan bombed Pearl Harbour, and it continued until 1945. In 1945, the Canadian government had some Chinese Canadians to form an elite commando unit: Force 136. They sabotage and attack the Japanese army, and their contribution brought Chinese Canadians rights to vote. To show their loyalty, many Japanese Canadians worked for Canada, such as translating for the prisoners in Allies hands. America dropped 2 atomic bombs on Japan and then concluded World War 2. (bit.ly/3xIX96) -
Since lots of British soldiers were fighting in Europe, also because Japan attacked America's Peral Harbour, Britain asked some Canadian troops to defend their colony, Hong Kong. Though, due to their limited experience and equipment, they were killed or injured by the Japanese army. On December 25, 1941, Canadians surrendered, and the survivors were taken to Japanese prison camps, and were treated badly. (https://ww2db.com/battle_spec.php?battle_id=61) -
To destroy German industries, railways, and other important places, as well as Germany's spirit to fight, the Allies bombed German cities. RAF and RCAF fought with other Allied forces, destroyed some key places. Though, the war was tough, and resulted in high losses and cost. One of the famous raids of the war was "Dambusters", which happened in the Ruhr valley of Germany. (https://nationalinterest.org/blog/reboot/revisiting-air-war-over-europe-world-war-ii-181877) -
To test out Nazi forces and help the Soviet Union, the Canadian and British troops were sent to the French coast at Dieppe for a quick attack. Though, they were defeated by the Nazi army, resulting in a lot of soldiers dead or being taken away by the Nazi army. A few soldiers survived and then returned to Britain, and stated that this battle was bloody. (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/09/raid-on-dieppe-masked-secret-mission-to-steal-nazis-enigma-machine) -
Canadian, British, and Americans attacked Sicily from the sea, which revealed the attack on Italy and was called Operation Husky. They got lots of Italian soldiers, but then, they were attacked by German troops, and they did "mouse-holing": blasting a hole in a house, firing all the enemies in that house, and then moving to the next one. It was slow but useful. Later, Canadians took Ortona and Rome, but with high causalities. (www.junobeach.org/canada-in-wwii/articles/the-italian-campaign) -
The Allied powers started invading Europe and attacking the German army at the Normandy beaches in Northern France. Due to the bad weather, the Allies' invasion that was planned on D-Day (Day of Deliverance) was pushed one day backward. Canada used the largest amount of military power in this invasion, and it had its soldiers fighting and significantly winning the German army at Juno Beach, even though there were lots of causalities. (https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/d-day) -
During the battle of Normandy, as Canada, Britain, and America were fighting, other Allied forces invaded Europe from the south. Germany used secret missiles, but the Allies already went beyond the launching sites of the rockets. The Allies fought the Nazi army in the Netherlands, helped them be liberated, and Canadians brought people in Netherlands food to deal with their starvation. As an appreciation, people threw tulips onto the Allies. (https://www.warmuseum.ca/liberation/)