Canada's importance in world war 2
Canada had a big role in world war 2, by being allied with the British army forces they were involved in a lot of important battles. Canada's military was active in every theater of war, though most battles occurred in Italy, Northwestern Europe and the North Atlantic. Over the course of the war, 1.1 million Canadians served in the army and air force. Of these more than 45,000 Canadians lost there life and 54,000 wounded.The war had significant cultural, political and economic effects on Canada, including the conscription crisis which affected Canadian francophones and anglophones. The war effort not only strengthened the Canadian Economy but further established Canada as a major actor on the world stage.
Canada's important battles
On l9th August 1942 troops of the Canadian 2nd Division formed the Dieppe Raid. Of the 5,000 Canadians who took part, only about 2,000 returned to England. Nearly 1,000 had been killed and 2,000 had been taken as a prisoner. A further 500 Canadians lost their lives.
On 3rd September a combined Canadian, British and American force made the first full-scale invasion of mainland Europe, attacking of Italy and reaching Naples on 1st October. Canadian troops fought at Ortona and Monte Cassino and in May 1944 took part in the costly, but successful, attack on the Hitler line this was the first major operation by a Canadian corps in the second world war. The battle northwards through Italy continued to the war's end and almost 6,000 Canadians died.
Canada's contributions on the sea: During the 1939-1945 War the Royal Canadian Navy grew to a strength of nearly 100,000 personnel and nearly 400 vessels. Their main duty was to act as convoy escorts across the Atlantic, in the Mediterranean and to Murmansk in the USSR. They also hunted submarines, and supported amphibious landings in Sicily, Italy and Normandy. In all they lost around 2,000 sailors.
Canada's contributions in the air: A major task of the Royal Canadian Air Force based at home was the hunting of U-Boats in the North Atlantic, its most important area of operations was Europe, where 48 Canadian squadrons served. The scale of their contribution was recognized on 1st January 1943 by the formation of No. 6 Group, an RCAF formation within Bomber Command. Canadian airmen fought in the Battle of Britain, North Africa, Italy and the Normandy invasion. About 17,000 died, the great majority while serving with Bomber Command.
On 3rd September a combined Canadian, British and American force made the first full-scale invasion of mainland Europe, attacking of Italy and reaching Naples on 1st October. Canadian troops fought at Ortona and Monte Cassino and in May 1944 took part in the costly, but successful, attack on the Hitler line this was the first major operation by a Canadian corps in the second world war. The battle northwards through Italy continued to the war's end and almost 6,000 Canadians died.
Canada's contributions on the sea: During the 1939-1945 War the Royal Canadian Navy grew to a strength of nearly 100,000 personnel and nearly 400 vessels. Their main duty was to act as convoy escorts across the Atlantic, in the Mediterranean and to Murmansk in the USSR. They also hunted submarines, and supported amphibious landings in Sicily, Italy and Normandy. In all they lost around 2,000 sailors.
Canada's contributions in the air: A major task of the Royal Canadian Air Force based at home was the hunting of U-Boats in the North Atlantic, its most important area of operations was Europe, where 48 Canadian squadrons served. The scale of their contribution was recognized on 1st January 1943 by the formation of No. 6 Group, an RCAF formation within Bomber Command. Canadian airmen fought in the Battle of Britain, North Africa, Italy and the Normandy invasion. About 17,000 died, the great majority while serving with Bomber Command.