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Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Archduke of Franz Ferdinand is assassinated by Serbian nationalist group, causing chain reaction.
-Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia.
-Germany invaded France through neutral to get to _____
-Britain joined France in the fight against Germany. -
World War I Begins
World War I Begins when Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia. -
Austria-Hungary Declares War on Serbia
Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia. Russia, allied to Serbia mobilizes troops on Germany (allies of Austria-Hungary). -
Canada enters World War I
Germany invades France through neutral Belgium. Britain feels morally obligated to protect France is and bound by 75 year treaty to Belgium. Canada automatically enters World War I as Britain Declares war on Germany. -
War Measures Act
Law takes away people's civil rights. A federal law adopted by Parliament that gave powers to the Canadian government to maintain security and order during war. -
First Battle of the Marne
Stops German advance into France. -
The Battle of the Second Ypres
Canadian soldiers fight Germans and resist despite chlorine gas in Western Belgium, marking their first major battle. Described as tough and dependable, the Canadians sustained 6,000 casualties. -
The Battle of the Somme
Canadian Army faces major losses. First Newfoundland Regiment destroyed after supporting British division at Beaumont Hamel. 324 soldiers lost and 386 wounded in the first 30 minutes. -
Period: to
The Battle of Vimy Ridge
The victory at Vimy Ridge (Northern France) became a symbol for Canada and a significant event in Canada's progress to full independence from Britain. While British and French units struggled significantly, the Canadian attack against the Germans, in comparison, was miraculous. Over 10,600 Canadians were killed or wounded. -
Period: to
The Battle of Passchendaele
Canadian forces don't arrive until early October. Conditions are exceptionally muddy. -
Conscription Crisis
Canada brings in conscription under the Military Services Act. French-Canadians are upset by this. -
USSR (Russia) withdraws from war
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Halifax Explosion
Two ships collide and explode destroying Halifax. -
Period: to
100 Day Campaign
Canadian Army makes major advances as Germany is exhausted -
Austrian Hungarian Empire Surrenders
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Kaiser of Germany Abdicates
German Kaiser, and King of Prussia, Wilhelm II is forced to abdicate after the outbreak of the German Revolution. He lives the rest of his life in Exile in the Netherlands until his death in June of 1941. He is the last emperor before Germany switched to a republic (Weimar Republic 1918-1933). -
World War I ends (Armistice)
Germany signs an armistice with the Allies, going into effect at 11:00am (the reason our moment of silence begins at 11:00am). This marks a defeat of Germany and victory for the Allies. -
WW II Begins
Germany attacks Poland from the east marking the beginning of World War II. Britain and France had pacts with Poland, so they also declared war on Germany. -
Canada Declares War on Germany
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Canada Declares War on Italy
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The National Resources Mobilization Act
The National Resources Mobilization Act was passed by Mackenzie King's Liberal Government. -
Canadian Government Declares Conscription
Canadian Government announces conscription for males ages 21-24 for home defense. -
Germany Invades USSR
Hitler sends three armies into Russia (codename: Operation Barbarossa). Not letting his men surrender, most of them die during the brutal winter and from starvation and disease. Only 5,000 would ever return to Germany. This attack led to the opening of the eastern front of the war, and is now widely considered a ill-considered plan on Hitler's part. -
Canada Declares War on Japan
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Pearl Harbor
Surprise attack creates fear in Canada of a Japanese invasion. -
Canada looses Hong Kong
Japanese army defeats Canadian forces who are reinforcing the British base. -
Operation Rutter
Bad weather cancels amphibious landing at Dieppe, France- and renamed Operation Jubilee -
Overseas Conscription
exact date unknown
Amendment to the National Resources Mobilization Act permitting overseas conscription. -
The Dieppe Raid
Invasion by 14th Army Tank Regiment, The Essex Scottish Regiment and the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry at Dieppe, France. Canadian soldiers take on Germans at Berneval, Puys, Pourville and Varengville. Operation Jubilee (allied code name for the major raid on the small French coastal part of Dieppe) carried out at 5:00am. By retreat at 10:50am, disaster had befallen the allies; 3,367 of 6,086 soldiers either wounded, prisoners of war, missing, or dead. -
Period: to
Operation Husky
(Allied Invasion of Sicily)
July 9th- Allied Fleets sail to Sicily.
July 13th- 478,000 Allied troops have landed in Sicily.
July 14th- Allies control key airfields across Sicily.
July 17th- The Primsole bridge is recaptured from the Germans
August 17th- Sicily Firmly held by Allies. Operation Husky is a declared a success. -
Period: to
Preparations for D-Day
Allied bombers target railways, rail yards, bridges, and roads in Northern and Western France France in Preperation for D-Day landings. On June 5th, approximately 6,000 navel vessels depart for France from the South of England. -
Juno Beach
Canadian 3rd Infantry Division heads to Juno Beach. As part of D-Day, Canadian forces successfully capture Juno Beach. 30% of the sea craft are lost due to German defences, heavy seas and underwater obstacles. Germans are well-prepared and the on land attack by Canadians is as ominous as what occurred offshore. -
Canadian Conscripts sent Overseas
exact date unknown
12 900 Canadian Conscripts were sent overseas. Only 2463 ever reach the front, with 69 casualties. -
Hitler Commits Suicide
Soviets approaching Berlin from the East, the Allies approaching it from the west, and knowing defeat was imminent, Hitler and his wife commit suicide in their underground bunker. -
Germany Surrenders
On May 2, the Soviets conquered Berlin. Nazi troops fail in Berlin and elsewhere, and negotiators lost any leverage in asking for certain conditions in order to surrender. The surrender was made official on May 8th and was declared Victory-in-Europe (V-E) Day. -
Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
In an effort to get Japan to surrender, atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6th and 9th by the US. Facing the deaths of 220,000 citizens, Japan formally surrenders on September 2nd, ending World War II for the rest of the world. -
WWII Ends
World War II officially ends when Japan formally surrenders.
