One of the most destructive conflicts in history known to mankind is World War II. Totaling over 60 million deaths worldwide and leaving several world powers crippled, the second world war marked the debut of many new types of warfare including the new deadly tactic of “total war” and the atomic bomb. Despite inducing heavy casualties on populations and destroying acres of land, WWII was a turning point that also brought positive change in several countries across the globe, including Canada. Between the years 1939 and 1945, Canada underwent great changes and gradually became a more significant power that appeared frequently on the international scene. Through taking on major roles in the war, Canada proved to be more of an equal rather than
…show more content…
The battle of Ortona was the first major operation by a Canadian corps in the second world war. Led by Canadian Army officer Christopher Vokes, the goal of the battle was to capture the city of Ortona and to clear a path to Rome for the Allies. At first, the Allies considered sending the New Zealand Division, but they were too weak to overcome the tough German defences, so the 1st Canadian Division was entrusted with the task to capture Ortona. The Canadians at Ortona fought fiercely and relentlessly in the urban landscape, and even devised their own tactic for fighting in the narrow streets and buildings. The “mouseholing” technique - a war tactic that involved fighting house-to-house from the top floor down - that the Canadians invented out of their need to reduce casualties was acknowledged by other Allied nations as an effective strategy, and even became a manual for future urban warfare. Furthermore, the battle between the Germans and Canadians at Ortona was so savage and intense that the Italian city was referred to as “Little Stalingrad.” Although the German defences were just as ruthless as the Russian defences at Stalingrad, Canada triumphed over the German paratroopers in the end and came out victorious on December 28th, 1943. Ortona was one of Canada’s most famous victories and contributions in WWII but it was also one of the …show more content…
As the war progressed, Canada was starting to drop into financial difficulty from supporting Britain by sending millions in war materials. Canada increasingly had to purchase American supplies to fuel its factories manufacturing British defence articles, and this huge trade deficit with the U.S. worried Canada’s prime minister, Mackenzie King. Another worry of King’s government was that Britain might stop ordering the production of Canadian war supplies and instead divert their orders to the U.S.. Thus, to alleviate his worries, Prime Minister Mackenzie King visited President Roosevelt’s estate in Hyde Park on April 20, 1941 to negotiate trade between the two countries. King suggested that the U.S. purchase Canadian defense articles worth roughly about the same amount as Canadian purchases in the States. This agreement would provide both countries with the defense articles that the other could produce better, and it would also assist Canada in meeting the costs of its numerous purchases in the U.S.. The negotiation was successful and the two leaders signed the agreement known as the Hyde Park Declaration. As a result of this meeting between the two leaders, the relations between Canada and the United States improved and a new era of close economic ties between the two neighboring countries began. This marked the start of close
The battle of Ortona was the first major operation by a Canadian corps in the second world war. Led by Canadian Army officer Christopher Vokes, the goal of the battle was to capture the city of Ortona and to clear a path to Rome for the Allies. At first, the Allies considered sending the New Zealand Division, but they were too weak to overcome the tough German defences, so the 1st Canadian Division was entrusted with the task to capture Ortona. The Canadians at Ortona fought fiercely and relentlessly in the urban landscape, and even devised their own tactic for fighting in the narrow streets and buildings. The “mouseholing” technique - a war tactic that involved fighting house-to-house from the top floor down - that the Canadians invented out of their need to reduce casualties was acknowledged by other Allied nations as an effective strategy, and even became a manual for future urban warfare. Furthermore, the battle between the Germans and Canadians at Ortona was so savage and intense that the Italian city was referred to as “Little Stalingrad.” Although the German defences were just as ruthless as the Russian defences at Stalingrad, Canada triumphed over the German paratroopers in the end and came out victorious on December 28th, 1943. Ortona was one of Canada’s most famous victories and contributions in WWII but it was also one of the …show more content…
As the war progressed, Canada was starting to drop into financial difficulty from supporting Britain by sending millions in war materials. Canada increasingly had to purchase American supplies to fuel its factories manufacturing British defence articles, and this huge trade deficit with the U.S. worried Canada’s prime minister, Mackenzie King. Another worry of King’s government was that Britain might stop ordering the production of Canadian war supplies and instead divert their orders to the U.S.. Thus, to alleviate his worries, Prime Minister Mackenzie King visited President Roosevelt’s estate in Hyde Park on April 20, 1941 to negotiate trade between the two countries. King suggested that the U.S. purchase Canadian defense articles worth roughly about the same amount as Canadian purchases in the States. This agreement would provide both countries with the defense articles that the other could produce better, and it would also assist Canada in meeting the costs of its numerous purchases in the U.S.. The negotiation was successful and the two leaders signed the agreement known as the Hyde Park Declaration. As a result of this meeting between the two leaders, the relations between Canada and the United States improved and a new era of close economic ties between the two neighboring countries began. This marked the start of close