-
End of World War I
The Treaty of Versailles was harsh towards the central powers, especially Germany. The harsh punishment grew resentment towards the allied powers in Germany resulting in the Nazis taking over and deconstructing it. -
Beginning of World War II
Germany under the leadership of Adolf Hitler invades Poland on the first day of September, 1939. As a result Britain and France declare war on Germany. -
Canada declares war on Germany
The first and only time Canada has declared war on another country on its own. Joins with Britain and France as an ally a week after they declare war. -
Soviet Union joins Germany
The Soviet Union joins forces with Germany in their invasion of Poland -
Poland Capitulates
Warsaw is taken by German troops and Poland surrenders. -
Canadian Troops arrive in Britain
The first Canadian troops sail from Halifax to Britain -
Canadian Department of Munitions and Supplies created
Production of war material ensuring raw material supply was available for Canada’s armies and it’s allies. -
Paris Falls, France Surrenders
German forces take the capital city of Paris before subjugating the rest of France. -
Period: to
Battle of Britain
Canada participates in air fights, contributing both fighter pilots and supplies such as vehicles, arms, as well as guns necessary for a strategic victory over the English Channel. -
Period: to
The Blitz
Nazi Germany bombs Great Britain and Northern Ireland in attempts to destroy essential port cities and lower British war support. As a result there were thousands of civilian casualties and damage to infrastructure. -
Period: to
Japan attacks Hong Kong
Canadian troops arrive at the British Colony in Hong Kong to defend it from Japanese attacks. On December 8th, 1941 Japan began its attack on Hong Kong. Hong Kong is taken resulting in the capture of 1,975 Canadian troops with 290 being killed and 1,685 taken as prisoners of war; 260 would die as POW's before the end of the war. -
Operation Barbarossa
German invasion of the Soviet Union was launched to destroy the Soviet army and gain its territory and resources. The operation resulted in a heavy loss of life and was the beginning of a turning point in World War II as a result of its ultimate failure -
Japan attacks Pearl Harbor
Japan bombs Pearl Harbor inciting the United States of America into joining World War II. Canada joining forces with it's allies, Great Britain and USA in declaring war on Japan. Japanese Canadians in Canada were registered and placed into internment camps -
Internment of Japanese Canadians
A federal order created a protected area in BC as well as the removal of Japanese Males aged 18-45 into internment camps followed shortly after to include all Japanese Canadians. -
Wannsee Conference
Nazis begin mass extermination plan to eradicate Jewish people. Jewish people forced into labor concentration camps and killed in gas chambers. -
Veterans' Land Act
Canada creates a provision for soldiers returning from war where they are able to buy land with loans from the government, assisting in industry. -
The Dieppe Raid
Nearly 5000 Canadian soldiers involved in the raid to test German defenses. Of the 5000 Canadian soldiers 916 were killed and 1874 were taken as POWs. -
Soviet Union pushes German Army
The Soviet Army pushes the Germans out of Stalingrad. -
Invasion of Sicily
Canadian troops contribute to the invasion of Sicily with Benito Mussolini being overthrown while Germany continues to fight the allies, with the conquest of Sicily by allies obtained on August 17, 1943. -
Period: to
Battle of Ortona, Italy
Canadian forces fight with allied forces in Italy's mainland in Ortona, with German troops withdrawing. 5,764 Canadian soldiers perish while defending in Italy. -
Period: to
Recapturing Benelux
The Canadian army in collaboration with British forces clear Antwerp and finally the Scheldt estuary including an import port and the sea. Allies capture Aachen and Canadian Army liberates Holland from Germany. -
Period: to
Normandy Campaign and D-Day
Allies begin landing in Normandy to regain their position in France to eventually liberate France from German occupation. Combined forces with the British afford the successful D-Day objective of Canadians in the city of Caen.
The Battle of Normandy concludes with the liberation of Paris but in the loss of many Canadian lives. -
Dieppe Freed
Canadian military successful in liberating Dieppe from Germans. -
V-E Day
Victory over Europe Day, Germans surrender to the Allies and subsequently the Soviet Union.
Allies refocus and align with American troops to defeat Japan. -
Formation of United Nations
Canada joins in the formation of United Nations, created to maintain security and peace on a global level. -
Bombing of Hiroshima
The first use of an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan by the Americans in an effort to force the Japanese into surrender without the cost of lives through a bloody invasion. The bombing of Hiroshima saved approximately 80000 Canadian troops from being sent into battle. -
Bombing of Nagasaki
The second atomic bomb targets the city of Nagasaki in Japan by Americans resulting in the deaths of over 200,000 Japanese people. Many more died later from burns and radiation poisoning. -
V-J Day
V-J Day is Victory over Japan Day, marks the surrender of Japan, and the of the deadliest World War in human history.