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Canada's International Involvement after WW2
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Canada Joins United Nations
When fifty countries, led by Britain, the Soviet Union and the US, including Canada, met in San Francisco to create the United Nations. The UN had quite a few goals: peace keeping in the world, preventing new wars, encouraging cooperation among nations, defending human rights, promoting equality and just in general improving the standards of living for all. nations. -
The Liberation of Holland
Canadian forces urge the Nazis to retreat from Holland and surrender. This gives the Allies allowance to move on to the Germans. -
Gouzenko Affair
After the end of the WW2, a Russian clerk named Igor Gouzenko betrays the Soviet Embassy in Ottawa by fledding with 109 documents proving the existence of Soviet spying in Canada. -
The Cold War Begins
The Cold War was a struggle between the US and the Soviet Union. Although this was called a war, no weapons were used. It was fought using propaganda and economic and political pressure. -
Iron Curtain Speech
In the year 1946, Sir Winston Churchill declared that an Iron Curtain had fallen across Europe. This iron curtain divided the communist states and the non-communist ones. -
Berlin Airlift
The Western Allies organized the Berlin Airlift to bring supplies to the people of West Berlin. The UK's Royal Air Force and the US Air Force flew over 200,000 flights in a year supplying up to 47,000 tonnes of daily necessities such as fuel and food. -
Canada Joins NATO
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is an intergovernmental military alliance based on the North Atlantic Treaty. This event led the Americans to make a peacetime military commitment to Europe. It was designed for mutual defence. -
Canada Enters the Korean War
A UN force made up of 32 countries, led by American fores was sent to fight in Korea when the Communist North Korea attacked the Democratic South. Over 26,500 Canadians served in Korea, and in total, 1000 were wouned and 400 were killed. North and South Korea agreed to an armistice, but still remained divided between the North and South. This war was significant to Canada because it showed that Canada supported the UN and was willing to fight to support the UN's goals. -
The Suez Crisis
The Suez Canal, a vital trade route, was seized in 1956 by the Egyptian President. In response, Britain & France joined Israel to attack Egypt. Canada's Minister of External Affairs, Lester Pearson, then went to the UN to create a United Nations Emergency Force that kept troops apart while an agreement to the Suez Crisis was negotiated. Battle forces were then withdrawn and replaced with UN peacekeeping forces as a result. -
Canada Joins NORAD
The North American Aerospace Defense Command also known as NORAD, is an organization between Canada and the US that provides for their countries: aerospace warning, air sovereignty and defence. -
The Cuban Missle Crisis
The US and Soviet Union stock piled their nuclear weapons in many countries around the world. When the US saw Soviet missles in Cuba, an advanced warning of a possible Soviet nuclear attack had been lessened from half an hour to a few minutes. The US then set up a blockade around Cuba. -
John F. Kennedy is Assassinated
On the streets of Texas, people were shocked as they witnessed the death of John F. Kennedy: a bullet to the head by Lee Harvey Oswald. -
Canadian Peace-Keepers in Cyprus
In the year 1959, Cyprus, an island in the Mediterranean, gained independence from Britain. The Turkish and Greek were not on good terms during this time therefore resulting in conflict that became an international crisis. However, the UN and Canada was sent in an effort to keep peace. Canada spent over $600 million during this mission and did not depart until 1993. -
Canada Recognizes Communist China
The communists, led by Mao Zedong, took over the government of China in 1949 after the UN had refused to recognize them. After a certain lot of time, Canada recognized communism in China and the US followed. -
Canada Enters the Gulf War
The UN authorized coalition forces from 34 nations that were led by the US' waged war against Iraq. Canada took part in the conflict surrounding the Iraqui invasion of Kuwait and sent ships and fighter planes to patrol the Persian Gulf.???? -
The Cold War Ends
Between 1980 to 1990, the Berlin Wall came down, boarders opened, and free elections drove out Communist regimes in Europe. The Soviet Union break down and the Iron Curtain were lifted thus signifying the end of the Cold War. -
Canadian Peace-Keepers in Bosnia
Canadian Peacekeepers were sent to Bosnia with the UN to attempt to restore peace. During their time in Bosnia, peacekeepers were kept hostage by the Serbs. -
Canadian Peace-Keepers in Somalia
In 1992, Somalia was suffering from famine and civil war. As a result, the UN formed a peacekeeping mission to help strengthen the reigion and bring supplies to those who needed it. Canada escorted famine relief convoys, participated in the removal of landmines and collected/destroyed thousands of confiscated weapons. Unfortunately, in 1995, the UN peace support mission withdrew and could no longer end the strife. -
War on Terror
War on Terror is an international military campaign, led by the US and the UK with support from NATO and non-NATO countries, that reacted to the Al-Qaeda's bombing of the Twin Towers in New York. -
Canada Enters Afghanistan with NATO
After the September 11th attacks in 2001 by the Al-Queda, the Minister of National Defence Art Eggleton advised the Governor General, Adrienne Clarkson, to permit more than 100 Canadian force members to take part in the US' operations in Afghanistan. -
Saddam Hussein dies
The execution of Saddam Hussein took place on December 30, 2006. He was sentenced to death by hanging, after being found guilty and convicted of crimes against humanity. -
Osama Bin Laden Diies
Osama bin Laden, head of the militant Islamic group al-Qaeda, was killed in Pakistan on May 2, 2011, by a United States special forces military unit.
