History Browser

By 1942, fearing an Allied invasion in the west while embroiled in war with the Soviet Union in the east, Hitler endeavoured to create the "Atlantic Wall", or "Fortress Europe", by encrusting the Atlantic seacoast with concrete and steel defences. This article describes these German fortifications and how the First Canadian Army participated in capturing these defensive positions. Includes reading list.

The tank was a technical marvel of war and an antidote to the rule of the machine gun. The tank was able to penetrate any defensive position and was employed in ever increasing numbers.

One of a series of reports dealing with the operations of the First Canadian Army in North-West Europe. It describes the part played by the Canadians in the assault across the Rhine.

A detailed account of the operations of 1 Cdn Inf Div and 1 Cdn Army Tk Bde (later 1 Cdn Armd Bde) in Southern Italy during 1943.

A description of the operations of the First Canadian Army in Belguim, under the command of Lieutenant-General Guy Simonds, as it attempted to break German control over the sea approaches to Antwerp and the long winding estuary of the West Scheldt.

The attack at Amiens succeeded beyond all expectations and shattered the reputation of the German Army. A combined arms assault by infantry, tanks, motorized machine-guns and mortars, and effective artillery coordination with air superiority, destroyed over seven German divisions in a single day. Thereafter, the Germans referred to August 8th as the Black Day.

A description of the operations of the First Canadian Army during September and October 1944, as they pushed eastward through France to Belgium and on to the Netherlands.

The Canadians prepared for a surprise attack at Amiens by deceiving the Germans at Kemmel, ensuring operational secrecy by pretending to be Australian troops. This began the Allied '100 Days Campaign' that ended the war with the use of a mass tank attack.

Canadian forces were active in Southern Italy from September to December of 1943. After the war information on these activities became available from German sources. Army Headquarters presents, in this report, relevant details from these sources.

While Canadian operations are dealt with from a Canadian prespective in other reports, certain information from German sources became available after those reports appeared. This particular report deals with the period from January 1944 to the fall of Rome on June 4, 1944.