Unit 3: How Did WWII Affect Canada? Pt. 1

When Hitler declared war on the allies, Canada voluntarily joined the war as an affirmation of friendly relations with Britain. Canada sent thousands of soldiers, pilots and nurses to support the war effort and secure a victory over Nazi-occupied Europe. The Royal Canadian Air Force led attacks on major German cities such as Frankfurt, Hamburg and Berlin. It had a critical role in the Battle of Britain in the skies, and led night bombings over Germany in the darkness. In August, 1942 five thousand Canadian troops were sent to the French port of Dieppe. The purpose of this attack was to test how an all-out Allied invasion would unfold in France. The results were catastrophic and nearly a fifth of the soldiers sent died in battle, but the lessons learned were vital for the future success of the D-Day operation. Canadians had also held important roles in defending Hong Kong from the Japanese, and in the Italian Campaign. There they had they fought with the British to trap Mussolini’s fascist government in the heart of Italy. The most notable Canadian impact of World War II was most likely the Normandy invasion, aka D-Day. D-Day was a strategically massive planned operation where all of the Allies would storm the beaches of France and reclaim Europe. Canada was given the responsibility of conquering one of the five beaches of D-Day; Juno Beach. Canada succeeded and the operation was considered a major success, triggering the turning point of the war. Canada was once again recognized and honoured for its outstanding bravery and success in World War II, earning Canada a seat in the United Nations. Women also experienced an increase in their roles as they flourished in the workforce of Canada. Overall, Canada saw major changes due to the outcome of World War II.