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Battle of Dunkirk
Dates: May 26 - June 4, 1940. Participating countries: United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Germany. Casualties: Allies; 11,000. Germany; 25,000. Who won the battle: Germany. Who lost the battle: Allies. One fact about the battle: The War Office made the decision to evacuate British forces on the 25th of May. In the nine days from 27 May-4 June, 338,226 men escaped, including 139,997 French, Polish and Belgian troops, together with a small number of Dutch soldiers, aboard 861 vessels. -
The Battle of Hong Kong
Dates: December 8 - 25, 1941. Participating countries: United Kingdom, Canada, and Japan. Casualties: Canada; 557 Japan; 1996. Who won the battle: Japan. Who lost the battle: Canada. One fact about the battle: The Royal Rifles of Canada and the Winnipeg Grenadiers were the first Canadian ground units to see action in the Second World War, and fought valiantly to defend the colony. -
The Dieppe Raid
Dates: August 19, 1942. Participating countries: Canada, Britain, U.S., Germany. Casualties: Canada; 3367. Germany; 311. Who won the battle: Germany. Who lost the battle: The Allies. One fact about the battle: Dieppe was in many ways a victory for German propaganda. The Third Reich largely described the Dieppe raid as a military joke, noting the amount of time needed to design such an attack, combined with the incredible losses suffered by the Allies, pointed only to incompetence. -
Pursuit to Messina
Dates: August 2 - 7, 1943 Participating countries: Canada, United Staes, Britain, Italy, Germany. Casualties: Canada; 562 Axis: 29,000. Who won: Allies. Who lost: Axis. One fact about the battle: On the 23rd of July, Alexander ordered to proceed eastward to Messina. When the Americans learned that both Alexander and Montgomery had maligned the American Seventh Army, he decided to reach Messina before the British, and in so doing prove his troops' superiority or at least competence. -
Kiska
Dates: August 7, 1943 Participating countries: U.S., Canada, Japan. Casualties: Canada; 200. Japan; 4,350. Who won the battle: Allies. Who lost the battle: Japan. One fact about the battle: The military importance of this frozen, difficult-to-supply island was questionable, but the psychological impact upon the Americans of losing U.S. territory was tangible. -
The Sangro
Dates: November 19 - December 3, 1943. Participating countries: Canada, Britain, U.S., Germany, Italy. Who won: Axis. Who lost: Allies. Casualties from either side: 124,917 Allies dead. Axis' death count: Uknown. Interesting fact: The allies thought the Italians were going to surrender, but were surprised when the Italians fought back in waves of strong, dedicated men. -
Normandy Landings
Dates: June 6,1944. Participating countries: Canada, U.K., U.S., Poland, Norway, France, Australia, New Zealand, Netherlands, Germany. Casualties: Allies; 12,000. Germany; 7,000. Who won: Allies. Who lost: Germany. One fact about the battle: The landings were conducted in two phases; an airborne assault landing of 24,000 British, American, Canadian and Free French airborn troops shortly after midnight, and an amphibious landing. -
Clair Tizon
Dates: August 11-14, 1944. Participating countries: Canada, Britain, U.S., Poland, Germany. Who won the battle: Allies. Who lost the battle: Axis. Canadian casualties: 5,381. German casualties: 240,000. Interesting fact: The high casualty rate reflected the specific tasks of the Canadian army during the campaign while continually facing the best troops the enemy had to offer. It was a bloody process. -
Rimini Line
Dates: September 13 - 21, 1944. Participating countries: Canada, U.K., New Zealand, Kingdom of Greece, Germany. Casualties: Canada; 40,000. Germany; Could not find. Who won the battle: Allies. Who lost the battle: Germany. One fact about the battle: The 3rd Greek Mountain Brigade was a unit of mountain infantry formed by the Greek government in exile on July 1, 1944 in Lebanon, under the command of Colonel Thrasyvoulos Tsakalotos.
