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Period: to
World War II
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Atlantic
Battle of the Atlantic
Germany used submarines (U-boats) to sink supply ships coming to Britain from other countries. Canada set up convoys (groups of 50 - 60 supply ships) that were protected by corvettes (small fast gun boats). Safely escorted 25,000 merchant ships to Britain and 1000s to Russia -
Canada
Canada join the war
Canada joined the war in 1939. The Canadian did not like the leader in some countries kept killing people so they started to fight in the war by themselves. Canadian played an important role in the war in many different ways such as Air War. The Canadian even went to Asian to help people. -
Britain
Battle of Britain25% of the pilots in the Royal Air Force (RAF) that defeated the German Air Force (Luftwaffe) were Canadians. British PM Churchill said “Never was so much owed by so many to so few” 3000 Nazi planes were shot down, so Germany could not invade Britain. The Allied forces, British and French alike, retreat to Dunkirk. Hitler orders a halt to the advance of Germans toward the Allied beachhead and allows Hermann Göring to use the Luftwaffe to attack. British R.A.F. defends the beachhead. -
Hong Kong
The Attack on Pearl Harbor
Japan attacked USA at Pearl Harbor Dec 7 1941. Inexperienced Canadian soldiers were protecting Hong Kong for the British. Canadian troops surrendered to Japanese Dec 25 after 17 days of fighting. Japanese had better weapons (airplanes and battle ships). 290 Canadians died, 500 wounded. 267 Canadians died in Japanese prison camps. -
Air War
Air War
Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) was small in 1939, but by 1945 4th largest in the world. Canadians bombed German cities at night trying to destroy factories that made war supplies. Not very successful as many pilots died and factories were not totally destroyed. -
Dieppe
The Allies wanted to scare the Germans so they would move soldiers away from Russia (USSR) and wanted to find out more about German coastal defences in France. They decided to have a short raid of French coastal town of Dieppe. 900 Canadians died, 1000 wounded, 1900 became prisoners of Germany and only 2200 returned safely to Britain. 2 years later the same mistakes would not be made when attacking France. -
Italy
Operation Husky was the beginning of the attack on Italy. Canadian soldiers were the first to take the island of Sicily. 60 Canadians were killed / injured, but they captured 650 enemy soldiers. After 1 month Sicily was captured, but 2310 Canadian dead/wounded
Ortona was key city on the way to capturing Rome. Defended by the best German soldiers. Canada lost over 2300 men, but used “mouse-holing” technique to capture the city. Blasted holes in walls of buildings to avoid being shot by Germ -
D-Day
D-Day
Day of Deliverance - Canada’s largest military operation of WW 2. 14,000 soldiers landed on the beach and 10,000 sailors on 100 ships off the coast. Canada, USA and Britain attacked Normandy, France to take France back from the Germans. Canada was most successful at Juno Beach, but had 335 dead and 739 wounded. -
Europe
Europe(VE Day)
Canada freed the Netherlands from the Nazis. Canada had 7600 dead/wounded. Canada gave food to the Dutch people who were so happy they threw flowers (tulips) at the Canadian soldiers. Germany surrendered on May 7, 1945 (VE Day Victory in Europe Day) -
Pacific
Pacific
Chinese Canadians had elite commando unit called Force 136. They were used to sabotage Japanese war effort by destroying Japanese weapons, bridges and railways. Japanese Canadians became helped create propaganda and serve as translators.
