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The Beginning
World War II was a global war that lasted from 1939 to 1945, though related conflicts began earlier. It involved the vast majority of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis. It was the most widespread war in history, and directly involved more than 100 million people from over 30 countries. -
Canada Declares War on Germany
Canada declared war on Germany, 7 days after Britain and France. -
First Troops Sail for Britain
The first Canadian troop convoy sailed for Britain escorted out of Halifax by HMC ships Ottawa, Restigouche, Fraser and St. Laurent. -
Vancouver Shipyards Gear up for War
Vancouver shipyards began to build corvettes and minesweepers for action in the Battle of the Atlantic. -
Québec Women Get Vote
Québec women were the last in Canada to earn the rights to vote and run for office in provincial elections. -
Communists Declared Illegal
Nazi, Fascist and Communist groups were declared illegal in Canada, and their leaders were jailed. -
June 18, 1940 - Hitler and Mussolini meet in Munich; Soviets begin occupation of the Baltic States.
Hitler and Mussolini meet in Munich; Soviets begin occupation of the Baltic States. -
Ogdensburg Agreement
PM Mackenzie King and President Roosevelt held a conference on the defence of North America at Ogdensburg, NY. The Odgensburg Agreement was signed, and the Permanent Joint Board of Defence was created on August 18. -
German Prisoner Escapes
Oberleutant Franz von Warrna escaped from a train near Smiths Falls, Ont., and returned to Europe. He was the only German prisoner of war to make it back across the Atlantic from Canada. -
Women Admitted to the Québec Bar
Québec law was changed to admit women to the Bar. They would have to wait until 1956 to become notaries. -
Women Enlist in Army
The federal government passed legislation that allowed women to enlist in the army. -
Attack on Pearl Harbor
Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December, 38 Japanese-Canadians were arrested as subversives. The federal government used the War Measures Act 12 weeks after the attack to order the removal of all Japanese Canadians residing within 160 kilometers of the Pacific coast. About 20,000 Japanese Canadians in BC, 75 per cent of whom were Canadian citizens, were fingerprinted, issued identification cards and removed from their homes. More than 8,000 were moved t -
Japanese Canadians Interned
Invoking the War Measures Act, the Department of Justice issued a notice that called for the internment of citizens of Japanese ancestry. Some 20,881 men, women and children, 75 per cent of whom were Canadian citizens, were removed from their homes and moved to temporary detention camps. They remained in detention for the remainder of the Second World War. -
German Agent Lands
The first German agent landed from a U-boat off New Carlisle, Quebec and was promptly arrested by the police. -
Germans Surrender at Stalingrad
The German army surrendered to the Soviet army at Stalingrad, generally considered one of the turning points of WWII. -
Battle for Aachen
After a fierce defence by the Germans under Gen Hermann Balck, the Allies captured Aachen, the first German city captured by the Allies in World War II. -
Canadian Casualties Announced
Canadian casualties from the start of the Second World War to November 30, 1944, were reported at 78 985, including 28 040 killed. -
The End
The final battles of the European Theatre of World War II as well as the German surrender to the Western Allies and the Soviet Union took place in late April and early May 1945. The Allies accepted Germany’s surrender, about a week after Adolf Hitler had committed suicide.
