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Germany invades Poland
On September 1, 1939, after weeks of military threats, German forces attack Poland. The Second World War began at dawn on September 1, 1939 as German armies swept into Poland. -
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WWII
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Britain and France declare war on Germany
Britain and France, honouring their pledge to Poland, declared war on Germany on September 3, 1939. -
Canada declares war on Germany
Although not automatically committed by Britain's declaration of war, as in 1914, there was no doubt that Canada would soon follow. For Canada, the Second World War officially began on September 10, 1939. When Britain went to war on September 3, 1939 Canada remained neutral. This displayed Canada’s right to declare war independently of Britain. One week later Parliament voted in favour of going to war. -
Units of the 1st Canadian Infantry Division sailed for Britain
In December units of the 1st Canadian Infantry Division sailed for Britain, the first of thousands that were to serve overseas during the war. The Second World War was one of the most significant events in Canadian history. Canada played a vital role. Between 1939 and 1945 more than one million Canadian men and women served full time in the armed services. More than 45,000 were killed. -
The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan was established.
The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan was established to train air force personnel from several Allied countries at bases across Canada. Under the BCATP Canada agreed to provide facilities and training for airmen from every part of the Commonwealth. One of the first and most important contributions Canada made to the war effort was the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. -
The Department of Munitions and Supplies was established.
The Department of Munitions and Supply was Canada's principal agency for co-ordinating domestic industry during World War II. This department controlled the production of munitions for Canada and its allies. Parliament passed the Munitions and Supply Act in September 1939 and brought it into force on 9 April 1940. Minister C.D. Howe's job was to change Canada’s economy to best benefit the war effort. He convinced businesses to produce wartime products and established crown corporations. -
Attack on Pearl Harbour
On December 7, 1941, the Japanese, without warning, attacked the American fleet in Pearl Harbor in the Hawaiian Islands. The United States declared war on Japan. As a result of this many Japanese Canadians were put into internment camps for three years. The Canadian government claimed that they might help Japan to attack Canada or spy for the Japanese. -
Black Christmas - The Fall of Hong Kong
Canadian Prime Minister Mackenzie King had volunteered The Royal Rifles of Canada and the Winnipeg Grenadiers to support Great Britain. The Canadian soldiers were poorly equipped and badly trained and stood little chance against the Japanese troops. Canadian troops had bourne the brunt of the Japanese attacks and of the 2 000 men who left Canada, almost 600 died in the fighting or in Japanese POW camps. Canadian soldiers were unprepared for this battle. -
The Dieppe Raid
The Dieppe Raid, known as Operation Jubilee, involved more than 5,000 Canadians and was one of the most devastating and bloody attacks in Canadian military history. The Raid was necessary for the success of the invasion of the continent two years later on D-Day. The lessons learned at Dieppe were instrumetal in saving countless lives on June 6, 1944. Canadian soldiers went ashore at five different points along a 16-kilometre stretch of heavily defended coastline. -
The Italian Campaign began
The Italian Campaign was an important military effort for Canada during the Second World War. More than 93,000 Canadians, along with their allies from Great Britain, France and the United States, played a vital role. Canadians faced difficult battles against some of the German army's best troops. Canadian casualties in the Italian Campaign totalled more than 26,000, nearly 6,000 of which were fatal. -
D-Day
Allied troops stormed German defences on the beaches of Normandy (France) to open the way to Germany from the West. The task was difficult. The Germans had turned the coastline into a continuous fortress of guns, pillboxes, razor wire, mines and beach obstacles. The Canadians advanced against the best troops the enemy had. Victory in the Normandy campaign, however, would come at a terrible cost. The Canadians suffered the most casualties of any division in the British Army Group. -
WWII officially ended in Europe (V-E Day)
On May 5, German forces in North-West Europe surrendered. The Second World War officially ended on May 8, 1945, in Europe (V-E Day). More than one million Canadians served in the Second World War. More than 45,000 gave their lives and another 55,000 were wounded. -
WWII officially ended in the Pacific (V-J Day)
The Second World War officially ended on August 15, 1945, in the Pacific (V-J Day). Japan had surrendered unconditionally to the Allies, effectively ending World War II. More than one million Canadians served in the Second World War. More than 45,000 gave their lives and another 55,000 were wounded.
