History Browser

Canadian airmen took part in various missions far from their main theatres of operation. These missions included reconnaissance, air transport, sea patrol and others, sometimes flying from remote bases.

This report is an account of the effect of enemy air action on units and men of the Canadian Army in the United Kingdom during the period 1939 – 1943, and of the part played by Canadian units in the defence of Britain against the enemy air force in those years.

Despite early growing pains, the Royal Canadian Navy grew into a formidable anti-submarine force. The R.C.N. sank 28 enemy submarines and escorted Allied shipping across the Atlantic and along the northeastern seaboard of North America.

The Second World War was fought over vast distances, with airpower and technology playing crucial parts. Both sides tried to avoid the stalemates of the First World War, and usually succeeded. This resource provides an index of World War II battles.

The Second World War began at dawn on September 1, 1939, as the German armies swept into Poland. Events quickly unfolded and by June 1940 virtually all of Europe was overrun or isolated by the Axis Powers.

Listing of films from the National Film Board dealing with military actions during World War 2. These clips, told from several points of view, paint a picture of an active fighting force and a busy home front dealing with changes in society and industry.

The HMC Prince David, Prince Henry and Prince Robert ships were built at Birkenhead in the United Kingdom by Cammell Laird for the Canadian National Steamships Company. By the 1930s they sat idly much of the time because of the decade's decline in trade. When war broke out in September of 1939, the Naval Service lost no time in making arrangements for the conversion of the Princes, adding anti-submarine weaponry for armed merchant cruiser operations.

With its obvious strategic location, Signal Hill became the site of harbour defences from the 18th century through the Second World War. The last battle of the Seven Years' War in North America was fought here in 1762.

The Dieppe online exhibit explores the raid on Dieppe through photographs and films selected from the holdings of the National Archives of Canada. Includes and proposes classroom activities based on these archival sources.

In the early months of the war only three RCAF squadrons could be spared for overseas service. This number was steadily increased so that by war's end there were 48 RCAF squadrons serving in several theatres of war. Thousands of Canadians also served in the Royal Air Force.