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Canada Declares War on Germany
France and Great Britian declare war on Germany for invading Poland. Canada reacted to this by entering the war against Germany two days after GBR and France because they wanted to show they were independant from Great Britian. This event was so significant because Canada now had to gear its whole economy, industries and people towards the war. In September 58,000 Canadian's enlist in the armed forces. In December, Canada is asked to train British pilots in Canada. -
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Major Events of World War II
PIvotal events that shaped the outcome of World War II and all of history. -
Russia Declares War on Germany
Russia declares war on Germany by invading Poland to defeat the Germans in Poland. -
Canada Deploys the RCAF to GBR
Canada sent RCAF pilots to engage the enemy planes over GBR. Canada was now playing a vital role in the air defence of Great Britain. This helped save many lives. -
Formation of Axis Powers
Other countries begin to join the war. Germany, Italy and Japan sign the "Axis" pact, agreeing to assist each other in war. This expands the war to more countries which will mean that the Allies will have to increase their efforts to defeat the Axis. -
Germany Invades the Soviet Union
Germany invades the Soviet Union breaking their secret peace treaty. This was also the largest invasion force in history with over 4 million Axis troops. Many historians argue that this decision to invade Russia was Germany`s biggest mistake. -
Japanese-Canadian Internment Camps
The Canadian government moves 22,000 Japanese-Canadians from coastal areas of BC to the inland. The Japanese were held in prison camps for fear of them aiding the Japanese or being spies. It was a disgraceful act by the Canadian government because these people were Canadian citizens and they did not want to aid Japan. This event left a dark scar on Japanese-Canadian relations. -
Battle of Hong Kong
The Battle of Hong Kong occured, Canadian soldiers from the Royal Rifles and the Winnipeg Grenadiers were asked to help by Britain to defend Hong Kong from the Japanese. Canada suffered a major defeat. -
The Holocaust
The Holocaust, the initiation of extermination camps began. Early during the war the Jews were gathered from their homes and put into Jewish ghettos. In 1942 the Germans went further and started to kill the Jews. Untill the end of the war the Germans had killed almost 6 million jews, which was approximately 67% of the European-Jewish population. This event fueld hatred against Germany to end this inhuman crisis. -
Battle of Dieppe
In August of 1942, 5,000 Canadian troops, 1,000 British troops and 50 Americans invaded the beaches of the Dieppe. Canada suffered 3,367 casualties and 907 were killed. This showed how Canada played a major roll in attempting to penetrate Dieppe, unfortunately it failed. I feel that it was unfair that the British and Americans sent so few troops and made Canadians play a major role and were slaughtered. -
Germans Surrender at Stalingrad
The Germans surrender to the Soviets at Stalingrad. This was such a huge deal being that it was the first big defeat of Hitler's armies as well as Hitler earlier declaring that "surrender is out of the question" -
Allies Invade Sicily
In July of 1943 the Allied forces invaded Sicily to take it from the Axis powers. This was the first major attack on the Axis powers and to take over land. Canada also had a major role in this attack along with the US and GBR. -
D-Day
The Allies invaded the beaches of Normandy France, which was held by Germany at the time. 150,000 Allie troops invaded the beaches on this day alone, 14,000 of them being Canadian. Canada also provided 110 ships and 10,000 sailors from the Royal Canadian Navy as well as a number of RCAF squadrons. Canada suffered 1074 casualties and 359 deaths. Although the Allies suffered over 10,000 casualties by the end of the attack they were still successful in taking over Normandy. -
Battle of the Bulge
Following the liberation of Paris, Germany was defeated at the battle of the Bulge. The Canadian troops continued their march to liberate Holland. This was a major victory for Canada, the people of Holland still apreciate Canadians and their actions to this day. -
Hitler's Suicide, Germany's Surrender
Russians continue their forward march towards Germany through Poland, preparing the way for a united assault against Germany. Germany was bombed heavily leading to the suicide of Hitler and a German surrender to the Allies. -
Atomic Ending
The United States drop atomic bombs on Nagasaki and Hiroshima, forcing Japan to surrender and bringing upon the end of World War II.
