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Germany invades Poland
Germany's desires to expand into the Saarland, Rhineland, Austria and Sudentland were all granted by Britain and France because of the policy of appeasement. However, when Nazi's invaded Poland in a lightning fast "Blitzkreig", Britain and France, honouring their promise to defend Poland, immediately declared war on Germany. This invasion was the first event that offically marked the beginning of the Second World War. -
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World War II in Europe
The Europe Theater of one of the bloodiest and brutalist conflicts in the history of the world. -
Phony War Begins
After the German conquest of the Poland, along period followed where no significant military action took place on either sides of the war despite the fact that both the allies and the axis powers had many troops prepared for combat, This period, known as the Phony War, took many by surprise as it seemed like there was not going to be a war at all. -
Germany Invades Denmark and Norway
The following year, the Phony war, ended and military action once again resumed. Denmark and Norway were the first countries to be targeted by the German War Machine. -
Germany Invades the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg
After the conquest of Dernmark and Norway, Hitler began to focus on the invasion of the Low Countries. Eventually, the German blitzkrieg in western Europe led to the conquest of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg. -
Germany Invades France
With many of the low countries defeated, Hitler begins to set his sights on the conquest of France. French defenses, such as the static Maginot Line proved useless against the lightning strikes of the German military. The French forces were no match for the German panzers and their blitzkrieg strategy. The Nazi's swept across france with ease. -
Evacuation of Allied Troops at Dunkirk Begins
As the Germans swept across France, many allied troops were forced to flee to the beaches on Dunkirk in Nothern Belgium where they became sitting ducks. A massive evacuation of allied troops was then called in order to bring the soldiers back to Britain before they were captured by the Germans..The British Navy, merchant ships, along with many other boats, helped in moving 340,000 stranded allied soliders off the beaches of Dunkirk and brought them safely to Britain. -
North African Campaign Starts
This 3 year campaign (Operation Torch) saw the Allies battle the Axis powers in a desert war over important resources.. Strategic positions such as the Straight of Gibraltar and the Suez Canal were critical in dominating the Mediterranean and controlling oil from the Middle East. The campaign would also allow the Allies to attack Italy from North Africa. -
France Surrenders to Germany
The French army, proving that it is not match for blitzkrieg tactics, crumbles under the might of the German War Machine. The government of France surrendered unconditionally to the Nazi Regime, marking the beginning of the German occupation of France. This also meant that Britain and the Commonwealth now stood alone against Germany. -
The Battle of Britain
With France defeated, Hitler sets his sights on conquering Britain. Before a ground assault could be launched, the Germany first needed to gain air superiority over the RAF. Military installaions, airfields, shipping facilities and harbours were all targeted in prepartion for Operation Sealion, the german invasion of Britain. -
The Blitz Begins
The Luftwaffe was commanded by Hitler to target resdential areas and cities in Britain, leading to constant nightly bombing raids. British civilians were forced into the subways in order to protect themselves from the Blitz. Hitler hoped this would demoralize the British people, but it only made them stronger.The RAF also began bombing runs on Germany cities such as Hamburg and Dresden as well. -
Germany Invades Greece
After a failed Italian assault on Greece, Hitler comes to his ally's aid and intervenes. German subseqently defeated and occupied the Greek Pennisula and the island of Crete. -
Hitler Orders Operation Barbarossa
After his failure in the Battle of Britain, Hitler turns his attention eastward. Deciding that the abundant resources in Russia would greatly benefit Germany, he orders Operation Barbarossa. Nearly a million German soldiers invade the Soviet Union, breaking the German-Soviet non-aggression pact. He was now fighting a two-front war. -
Siege of Lenningrad
The city of Lenningrad was the victim of a German siege. All supply lines and routes into the city were cut off by the Nazis. Many of its citizens were starved to death as food could not reach them. Aside from a route via a frozen lake during the winter, there was no way for supplies to enter the city. The four year siege crippled the city and killed thousands of civilians. -
Dieppe Raid
Dieppe, or Operation Jubilee, was a disastrous raid by Canadian and other allied forces with questionable objectives . In an attempt to capture the French port led to countless troops being cut down by German machine gun fire in a short amount of time. This resulted in one of the greatest tragedies of World War 2. -
Battle of Stalingrad
Hitler was adamant in capturing Stalingrad, exclaiming that his troops would either win or die trying. The Russians fought fiercely in a battle that would be one of the bloodiest of the entire war. Though each side suffered enourmous amounts of casualties, the battle was a major turning point for the allies. and a crushing defeat for the Germans who where forced to begin their long retreat back to Berlin. -
Beginning of the Tunisia Campaign
The Tunisia Campaign was a series of conflicts that led to the defeat of the Afrika Korps and the end of Nazi rule in Northern Africa. This meant that the allies had now gained a foothold in Africa where they could launch their northward attack into Italy. -
Battle of Kursk
The largest tank battle of World War 2, fought between the Germans and Soviets took place near the Russian town of Kursk. The result was a decisive Soviet victory and the crushing of the German forces in Russia. Operation Barbarossa had failed. -
Battle of Sicily - Beginning of the Italian Campaign
Allied forces began to chip away at Nazi-controlled Europe through the soft "underbelly", marking the beginning of the Italian campaign. The Allies, including Canadian forces, proved themselves a formidable force. The invasion of Sicily was a stepping stone towards the liberation of the Italian pennisula. Though Mussolini was removed from office and the Italian government surrendered, Germany still defended the Italian mainland. -
Battle of Ortona
Canadians fought heroically against battle-hardened German troops in small but fierce house-to-house battle in the medival town of Ortona on mainland Italy, An allied victory greatly helped with advance up the Italian Pennisula. . -
D-Day Normandy Invasions
D-Day, or Operation Overlord, was a meticulously-planned massive allied amphibious invasion that took place in Normandy, France. Five beaches, Juno, Gold, Sword, Utah, and Omaha, were the targets of Canadian, American and British forces. Succes would provide an allied foothold in mainland Europe as well as the opening of a second front in the east. -
Liberation of France
Only a few months after D-Day, allied troops reach and succeded in liberating Paris. This victory ended the four years of Nazi occupation in France and allowed the re-establishment the French Republic. The Nazi's we're being pushed back further and further. -
Battle of the Scheldt
Canadian troops were ordered to take the Scheldt River from the Germans since it connected Antwerp to the North Sea. Victory here would allow allies to provide supplies for the advance into Germany -
Battle of the Bulge
In order to halt the Allied advance, Germany launched a major counter-offensive through the Ardennes in the winter to stop the allies, but were unsucessful. The offensive was crushed and the allies carried on with their advance towards Germany. -
Battle of the Rhineland
Allied troops began to push the Germans back over the Rhine River. Though soliders had to fight through muddy and flooded fields against formidable German troops, and 23,000 allied troops we're killed, their victory helped free the Netherlands from Nazi control and continued the allied advance to Berlin. -
Battle of Berlin
The allies march onto the German capital. Whatever wasn't obliterated by allied bombing raids was destroyed as the allies fought block-by-block. Eventually, Reichstag is captured by Soviet troops, signaling the fall of Nazi Germany. -
Liberation of the Netherlands
Canadian's were given the special task of liberating the Netherlands. It was a difficult battle since many the dikes in port cities such as Amsterdam and Rotterdam were destroyed, causing massive flooding in the countryside. Supplies to the Dutch had been cut off and many civilians were starving. After fierce fighting, Canadians managed to free the Netherlands and we're given the everlasting gratitude of the Dutch people. -
Collapse of Facist Italy
With much of Italy conquered and Benito Mussolini dead, facism in Italy collapses as the Italian campaign comes to an end. Italy was out of the war for good. -
Nazi Germany Surrenders - Victory In Europe
With Hitler's suicide, Berlin's capture by the allies and the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany, Victory In Europe was declared. After seven long years of brutal conflict, the Second World War was over.
