Canadian soldiers had been active throughout all of the battles that occurred in World War II, though most battles were in Italy, Northwestern Europe, and the North Atlantic. Over 1.1 million soldiers served in the Army, Navy, and Air Force. The casualties of Canadian soldiers were not minor at all, 45000 canadian soldiers lost their lives and 54000 were wounded. By the end of the War Canada had the world 's fourth largest air force and the fifth largest Navy. When Germany had occupied france and much of the European continent for almost four years, in 1944 the English Channel was the only thing that separated Germany from Great Britain.The allies had no choice but to take back all of their allied territories from germany and defeat the Nazi
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The plan was to push back the fascists in Italy, though the Prime Minister of Italy, Benito Mussolini, had been hanged the German forces were still occupying the country. The Canadians had received orders to liberate the port town of Ortona blocking the way of the Allied troops, preventing them from capturing Rome. On december 21st the Canadian troops had expected the Germans to retreat as soon as the assault began; instead, the Germans defended stubbornly. After eight days of fighting the germans retreated because of their lack of reinforcements. Canadian victory at Ortona was a complete success and it became to be known as one of the best battles fought by the Canadian forces during the Second World War. The significance of the battle of Ortona was that the Canadian forces learned important skills including “mouse-holing” which was a revolution for modern urban warfare. The Battle of Ortona is a “Canadian Display of Bravery, Innovation, and Glory and one of the most impressive military …show more content…
They were five special landing zones and each of them had a code name. The Americans had Utah and Omaha beaches in the west, then came the British at Gold, then the Canadians at Juno Beach and finally the British at Sword on the east. Canada’s optimal goal was to capture the city of Caen by establishing a beachhead (Defended position on a beach) along an 80 kilometre stretch. More than 450 Canadian troops were to drop behind the enemy lines by parachute and 14000 more Canadian troops were to come ashore at Juno Beach and fight their way through the enemy’s frontline. Two hours later, the German defences at Juno Beach had been defeated and Canadian Forces had established the beachhead only to face German Panzer tank divisions in the struggle for Caen. It was mid-August when the Germans were finally retreated bringing the Operation Overlord (code name for the Battle of Normandy) to an end on August 25, 1944. “Canada’s brave fighting at Juno Beach on D-Day is a defining moment in Canadian history because of the independence Canada gained, the number of lives that were saved, and the successes that helped bring an end to World War
The plan was to push back the fascists in Italy, though the Prime Minister of Italy, Benito Mussolini, had been hanged the German forces were still occupying the country. The Canadians had received orders to liberate the port town of Ortona blocking the way of the Allied troops, preventing them from capturing Rome. On december 21st the Canadian troops had expected the Germans to retreat as soon as the assault began; instead, the Germans defended stubbornly. After eight days of fighting the germans retreated because of their lack of reinforcements. Canadian victory at Ortona was a complete success and it became to be known as one of the best battles fought by the Canadian forces during the Second World War. The significance of the battle of Ortona was that the Canadian forces learned important skills including “mouse-holing” which was a revolution for modern urban warfare. The Battle of Ortona is a “Canadian Display of Bravery, Innovation, and Glory and one of the most impressive military …show more content…
They were five special landing zones and each of them had a code name. The Americans had Utah and Omaha beaches in the west, then came the British at Gold, then the Canadians at Juno Beach and finally the British at Sword on the east. Canada’s optimal goal was to capture the city of Caen by establishing a beachhead (Defended position on a beach) along an 80 kilometre stretch. More than 450 Canadian troops were to drop behind the enemy lines by parachute and 14000 more Canadian troops were to come ashore at Juno Beach and fight their way through the enemy’s frontline. Two hours later, the German defences at Juno Beach had been defeated and Canadian Forces had established the beachhead only to face German Panzer tank divisions in the struggle for Caen. It was mid-August when the Germans were finally retreated bringing the Operation Overlord (code name for the Battle of Normandy) to an end on August 25, 1944. “Canada’s brave fighting at Juno Beach on D-Day is a defining moment in Canadian history because of the independence Canada gained, the number of lives that were saved, and the successes that helped bring an end to World War