History Browser

In fighting along the Cote d’Azur at the end of WW2, the Canadian officer Ralph Wilson Becket won the American Silver Star, along with Sergeant Thomas Price, the most decorated Canadian aboriginal soldier.

A young Canadian officer, Ralph Wilson Becket, joined the First Special Service Force, a combined Canadian-American mountain warfare force, and saw service at Kiska and the invasion of southern France.

During the early phase of the war, the Pacific coast was defended by three divisions, later reduced to the 6th Division in order to provide conscripts for Europe. Elements of the division participated in the liberation of the Aleutian islands of Kiska and Attu in 1943.

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 North West Europe Campaign came in response to Stalin's demands that the allies open a "Second Front" in western Europe to relieve pressure on his Eastern Front. Canadian soldiers were once again ready to contribute to the battle and Canadian newspapers were there to cover the push to Germany.

A discussion of Canadian troop involvement in raids along the coast of France. It contains documents dealing with Operation 'Abercrombie' which had previously been secret.

After the German occupation of Poland, nothing much happened for month after month. War did not seem like war. A "phoney war," the British called it. But in the spring of 1940 Hitler's forces struck again, and by June he held Europe in his grasp. Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, France and Belgium all fell quickly to German forces.

This painting is based on a famous 6 October 1944 picture taken by Canadian war photographer Ken Bell. Sergeant Harold A. Marshall was the sergeant of the scout platoon of The Calgary Highlanders. He was a sniper, trained and equipped to kill at long range. Marshall carries a SMLE no. 4 Mk 1 (T) rifle fitted with a sniper scope. He wears a 'Denison smock,' designed for use by paratroops, but adopted by snipers because of its camouflage pattern. Over his head the sergeant wears his green and brown mesh face veil. Reconstruction by Ron Volstad. (Canadian Department of National Defence)

This very descriptive report tells of the Canadian force that was sent to this Norwegian island. The details of the operation, movements of units, references to a personal diary kept by Captain Perry Hall, and a short history of the relationship between Canada and Spitsbergen are included. Canada was offered the honour of providing the major part of the military force for this operation from her army in the United Kingdom.

Listing of films from the National Film Board. Our fighting forces took part in operations in several theaters during the Second World War. While some films show the preparation for manoeuvres that took place in countries such as Germany and Japan, some show actual scenes taken during military actions.