History Browser

During the weeks of April 1915 the fledgling Canadian army faced its first devastating battles. Amid huge losses, the Canadians established a reputation as a formidable fighting force.

In April 1940 the war in Europe took an ominous turn. On June 22, 1940, France surrendered, and Britain and its Dominions stood alone against a formidable enemy. Although Britain managed to stave off Hitler's planned invasion, it remained under siege. London and the Channel ports were bombed unmercifully, and the U-boats, using their brand new bases in France, attacked convoys and independently-routed ships almost at will.

In 1991, Canadian troops were sent abroad for the first time since the Korean War, joining the Allied forces to fight Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. Unlike any conflict before, the Gulf War of 1991 brought the threat of biological warfare. Iraqi forces retreated quickly; however, it was evident that problems remained unresolved. Includes links to related topics.

During the First World War, gas attacks killed or injured an estimated 1,296,853 soldiers. Canadian troops were front and centre during some of the first uses of such attacks in the war. From the television series "Canada: A People's History." Includes links to educational resources, bibliography, games, puzzles, and video clips.

Between 1915 and 1917, Canadians engaged in trench warfare. They endured a year-long war of attrition and poison gas attacks. By October 1916, the number of Canadians fighting overseas had grown to 80,000.

Vietnam may have been America's war but Canada was heavily involved — for and against. Canada harboured American draft dodgers and helped supervise ceasefires. But at the same time, about 30,000 Canadians volunteered to fight in southeast Asia. And there was Canada's involvement in secret missions, weapons testing and arms production. The CBC Archives looks at Canada's role in the Vietnam War.