World War II

On September 10, 1939, Canada declared war on Germany, who had invaded Poland on September 1. By the time the war ended in 1945, 1.1 million Canadians had served in the nation’s armed forces. Canada had the world’s fourth largest air force and the third largest navy.

Canadians would see action in every theatre of the war, from the Battle for France in 1940, to the Battle of Britain in 1940, the Battle of the Atlantic from 1939-1945 to the Battle of Hong Kong in 1941, the Dieppe Raid in 1942, the invasion of Sicily and Italy in 1944, the air war over Europe, the invasion of Normandy in 1944 and the liberation of Europe in 1944-1945. Canada would also serve as the home of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, allowing Allied pilots to train in Canada.

Canada’s role in World War II came at a cost of over 45,000 killed and 54,000 wounded.

Researched and written by John Milner.