World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

On the eve of the European War in 1939, Canada only had a population of 11 million people despite its vast size. Her army was small, her navy was but a fleet of 15 ships, and her air force consisted only of 275 aircraft most of which were obsolete. Despite the lack of military strength, she had great war potential. When Britain declared war on Germany, Prime Minister Mackenzie King called for Parliament debates on whether Canada should also join in the war beside Britain. On 10 Sep 1939, Canada produced a declaration of war for the approval of King George VI of the United Kingdom, which was approved immediately. In the mean time, Canada did not sit idle. In the ten days since Germany's invasion of Poland, Canada purchased US$20,000,000 worth of arms from the United States in preparation for war.

The Canadian Army was the largest branch of the Canadian military at the start of the European War; it had 4,261 officers and men in the permanent army and 51,000 in the reserves. That number grew dramatically during the course of the war. By mid-1942, the size of the Canadian Army increased to over 400,000, and by the end of the war, over 730,000 men and women. Initially lacking properly equipment and weapons, the Allied war effort quickly remedied that problem. Famously, the bravery of Canadian troops contributed to the Allied victories at Sicily and Normandy. On the industrial front, Canadian factories built more than 800,000 trucks for the Allied war effort. Many historians, including those who wrote the British Official History, cited Canada's truck production being Canada's greatest contribution to the eventual Allied victory. Soldiers of the Canadian Army fought in the Battle of Hong Kong in 1941, the Dieppe Raid in 1942, the invasion of Sicily and then Italy in 1943, the Normandy landings in 1944, the liberation of the Netherlands, and the advance into the heart of Germany that ended in 1945.

The Royal Canadian Navy boasted only a small fleet of 15 ships, but the mere 1,800 officers in active service were very well trained, thanks to exchange programs with the British Royal Navy. With a sound echelon of leaders, when the Canadian industries began increasing naval production, the RCN had little trouble finding capable officers to command them. At the end of the war, the RCN operated a powerful fleet of small ships, mainly destroyers and corvettes, that played a critical role in escorting Allied convoys across the Atlantic Ocean; by 1944, RCN ships also had an increased presence in the Pacific Ocean. When the war ended in 1945, the RCN suddenly found itself as the world's third-largest navy with 95,000 personnel (which included 6,000 women) and 471 ships. In addition to building most of the 471 naval ships, the Canadian industries also built over 400 merchant ships between 1939 and 1945; these merchant ships completed more than 25,000 trips across the Atlantic.

In Sep 1939, the Royal Canadian Air Force had 4,061 personnel, only 235 of which were pilots. Out of the 275 aircraft available, only 19 were considered modern. The RCAF was the weakest of Canada's military branches, but that did not diminish Canada's contribution to the Allied war effort in the air at the start. During WW2, Canada ran the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, which trained 131,553 air crew, which included 49,507 pilots; more than 70,000 of the 131,553 were Canadian. The RCAF's contribution should not be ignored, as by 1945 it boasted 86 squadrons and 249,000 personnel (17,000 were women); they played a part in the Allied advance across Western Europe, among other successful campaigns. In addition, thousands of Canadians fought under the banner of the British Royal Air Force. On the civilian front, Canada produced more than 16,000 aircraft of various types. President of the United States Franklin Roosevelt praised Canada as the "aerodrome of democracy".

During the war, Canada supplied 40% of the Allies' total aluminum production. The number for nickel was even higher at 95%. Wheat production was also increased dramatically, along with other civilian products that aided the war effort.

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Visitor Submitted Comments

1. Alan Chanter says:
   30 Dec 2007 03:54:09 AM
   
   In Italy the Canadians displayed a considerable talent for street fighting. It has been noted that, whenever a British Battalion was undertaking a mission that was likely to involve street fighting, it was quite a normal occurrance for the Canadians to be called upon to provide instructors for training.
2. Alan Chanter says:
   30 Dec 2007 03:57:21 AM
   
   Nice to see the correct Canadian flag being depicted-The current flag not being adopted until 1965. Well Done
3. Andy Banman says:
   8 Feb 2009 09:52:30 PM
   
   Canadian involvement in world affairs is often portrayed as passive and insignificant. Events of WWI and WWII clearly reveal that Canada will not hesitate to fight and is a powerful ally despite its small population.
4. Anonymous says:
   5 Mar 2009 08:45:59 AM
   
   Go canada!
   
   There's nothing here about them making tanks for commonwealth and soviets though. Itsn't that another huge contribution?
5. RENEE VERRET says:
   14 Mar 2009 11:48:27 AM
   
   MY FATHER WAS IN THE CANADIAN ARMY .HIS NAME WAS RENE........ANYONE KNOW OF HIM?......THANKS
6. Bob Guild says:
   8 Apr 2009 12:13:23 PM
   
   My dad specialized in aluminum and bronze during his 40+ year career in the foundry. During the war he worked for AA Aluminum Foundry in Vancouver BC. Came to the States after the war. At AA Aluminum, they were making this new 'skin' for state-of-the-art aircraft. Due to his knowledge and foundry skills, he was deemed an 'important person' and not allowed overseas with his buddies as they joined up with the RAF and Armies of Canada and Great Britain. He did spend some time in Vernon BC in the Reserves, but stayed within the Province. Thanks for the information - I'm researching our family history and didn't know much of this. Great info.
7. Anonymous says:
   8 May 2009 11:00:31 AM
   
   Great info. This really helped me with my research. Thanks!
8. CdnHistoryTeacher says:
   6 Jun 2009 11:47:15 PM
   
   I know that the major WWI Canadian battlefields include Ypres, Somme, Beaumont-Hamel, Vimy Ridge, and Passchendaele.
   
   "To the south of the Canadians, the 1st British Corps entered the city of Le Havre on September 3. In the meantime, the troops of the 1st Polish Armoured Division crossed the Somme and led the 2nd Canadian Corps as they drove northward. On September 5, the 4th Canadian Armoured Division took St. Omer and on the 6th crossed the Franco-Belgian border and overcame enemy forces at Ypres and Passchendaele (sites of well-known First World War Canadian battles). On September 7 they reached Roulers, Belgium."
   
   source: http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm?sourcehistory/secondwar/belgium/road
   
   Are there any records/documents/memoirs of WWI veterans who returned to these same battlefields during WWII in the liberation of Belgium?
   
   if so, I can only imagine the shear horror of retracing their steps!
9. gary r hepburn says:
   24 Aug 2009 06:46:23 PM
   
   great site peter-i was wondering how do i find info on my father's russell james hepburn journey as he spoke rarely - on the war and has since passed away i know he spoke of holland- and italy can you steer me in the right direction and thx so much keep up to good work sir
10. Zak says:
    7 Sep 2009 10:45:55 PM
    
    Then there's the role of Canadian Spy Master, William Stephenson, especially trusted by Winston Churchill for special missions.
    
    "Sir William Samuel Stephenson, CC, MC, DFC (January 23, 1897 – January 31, 1989) was a Canadian soldier, airman, businessperson, inventor, spymaster, and the senior representative of British intelligence for the entire western hemisphere during World War II. He is best-known by his wartime intelligence codename of Intrepid. A lot of people consider him to be one of the real-life inspirations for James Bond."
    
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Stephenson
    
    He was creator of Camp X , located in Canada, which trained paramilitary and commandos meant for landing behind the Axis lines and in occupied countries.
    
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camp_X
    
11. Claude Godin says:
    9 Oct 2009 06:49:13 PM
    
    MESSAGE TO RENEE VERRET.
    
    Hello Renee, I am your cousin from Canada, Claude Godin, the son of the sister of your father, Madeleine. I tried to find something about him in Internet and I find your message! Is it possible for you to give me your email here? Regards. Claude
12. Anonymous says:
    15 Oct 2009 10:21:13 PM
    
    As much as I agree with the entry above...
    
    Canada IS NOT A DOMINION.
13. C. Peter Chen says:
    16 Oct 2009 07:28:42 AM
    
    Hello Anonymous who posted on 15 Oct 2009: This article primarily focuses on Canada during the World War II years, and during those years, Canada was officially a Dominion in the British Empire, despite legislative independence. In the 1950s, Canada began to phase out the usage of the word Dominion. It was not until 1982 that Canada officially became independent from the United Kingdom.
14. daryll says:
    31 Oct 2009 08:10:28 PM
    
    My father served in the Air Force in the early 1940's in Penfield New Brunswick.Would appreciate any info or contacts he may have had.His name was Chester Ellis Stothart

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