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The Invasion of Poland
On September 1st, 1939 Poland was officially invaded by German troops, officially declaring the start of WWII. There were 2 sides of the war; The Axis (which included Germany, Japan, and Italy), and The Allied (which Canada was part of). -
Canada Declares War
On September 10th, 1939 Canada declared war on Germany, confirming Canada's commitment to the Allies and signifying Canada's growing independence from Great Britain -
Battles in the Atlantic Begin
From September of 1939 to May of 1945, Canada plays a big part in securing and protecting the shipping routes in the Battle of the Atlantic, ensuring vital supplies and reinforcements from North America to Britain. -
The Siege of Tobruk Port
On the 21st of January in 1941, the Tobruk was housing the Allied troops, as an attack against the Axis and the Italian troops in attempts to protect Egypt and Cyrenaica. ~25,000 Italian personnel had surrendered there after losing the fight against the Allied troops which consisted of at least 5 different armies including; Indian, Australian, Czech, Polish, and Britain -
The Defence of Hong Kong
The Canadian troops participated in the defence of Hong Kong, several were captured and taken as prisoners of war, were forced to work as slave labourers by the Japan, and many who survived returned home with physical and psychological issues. Around 290 Canadian soldiers were killed, 500 were wounded, and around 264 troops died in captivity as prisoners of war -
The Italian Campaign
In 1943, Canada played a crucial role in the invasion of Sicily and the Italian mainland, suffering many devastating casualties but also experience. While the Sicily was invaded in July of 1943, the mainland was invaded in September of 1943 by the Allied, the troops fought in all weather conditions, and the Germans surrendered in May 1945 -
The Invasion of Normandy
The D-day was labelled as the day when the invasion of Normandy was taken place by the Allied in France on June 6th, 1944. The invasion was the largest amphibious invasion in military history and was codenamed Operation Overlord. The invasion involved soldiers from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and other Allied nations. Over 1,000 casualties were faced by Canadian troops and over 300 were killed in action -
The Liberation of the Netherlands
In 1944, first areas of Netherlands were liberated by the Allied troops in the fall and winter, as a result of the Battle of the Scheldt and other Allied operations. That Christmas, after four years of German occupation, parts of the country celebrated their freedom. Canadian forces were instrumental in the liberation of the Netherlands, showcasing their effectiveness on the European front. -
Victory on May of 1945
The German troops officially surrendered on May 8th of Europe, after the invasion of Western Europe, on May 8th 1945, they surrendered unconditionally after the force of the Allied had outnumbered them. -
Victorious Against the Axis
On May 8th, 1945, Germany officially surrendered to the Allies, officially ending the war in Europe. The surrender was signed by German Col. Gen. Alfred Jodl in Reims, France on May 7th 1945. Whereas Japan surrendered against the Allied September of 1945, officially ending the war in the Pacific side. the surrender was signed by the USS Missouri by Army Gen. Douglas MacArthur and Fleet Adm. Chester Nimitz. the official end of WWII was on September 2nd 1945. -