Second World War
The Second World War transformed Canada from a quiet country on the fringes of global affairs, into a critical player in the 20th century's most important struggle. Canada carried out a vital role in the Battle of the Atlantic, the air war over Germany, and other important theatres of the conflict. The war took the lives of 43,000 Canadians.
![Canadian soldiers landing on Juno Beach, Courseulles-sur-Mer, France, June 6th, 1944.](https://d2ttikhf7xbzbs.cloudfront.net/media/media/f6f8902f-029b-4666-8ab3-5ccd0711dda3.jpg)
Timelines
![Dieppe Raid](https://d2ttikhf7xbzbs.cloudfront.net/media/media/7428ab45-adb7-4620-b8ee-480c8db4f6db.jpg)
Second World War Timeline
The Second World War was one of the most significant events in Canadian history. Canada played a vital role in the Battle of the Atlantic, and contributed forces to the campaigns of western Europe beyond what might be expected of a small nation of then only 11 million people. Between 1939 and 1945 more than one million Canadian men and women served full-time in the armed services.
Education Guides
Record of Service Education Guide
Education Guide![](https://d2ttikhf7xbzbs.cloudfront.net/media/education_guides/record-of-service-thumb.jpg)
Canadian Military Innovations Learning Tool
Education Guide![](https://d2ttikhf7xbzbs.cloudfront.net/media/study_guide_img/ca-mil-inv-thumb.jpg)
Second World War Education Guide
Education Guide![](https://d2ttikhf7xbzbs.cloudfront.net/media/study_guide_img/ww2-thumb.jpg)
Gallery
![Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service](https://d2ttikhf7xbzbs.cloudfront.net/media/media/69ecfe75-961a-4009-a764-73c141114400.jpg)
![Nursing Sisters at the Royal Canadian Naval Hospital Nursing Sisters at the Royal Canadian Naval Hospital](https://d2ttikhf7xbzbs.cloudfront.net/media/media/c3864fce-f1dc-46b2-ae55-58418c39a1ef.jpg)
![Canadian Women's Army Corps Canadian Women's Army Corps](https://d2ttikhf7xbzbs.cloudfront.net/media/media/ec5e5580-dff7-487c-bb43-afdf7b0b8543.jpg)
![Women's Royal Canadian Naval Service (WRCNS) Women's Royal Canadian Naval Service (WRCNS)](https://d2ttikhf7xbzbs.cloudfront.net/media/media/a8cc3a53-a1e2-4a3b-af86-9224843f1bee.jpg)
![Canadian Prisoners of War Canadian Prisoners of War](https://d2ttikhf7xbzbs.cloudfront.net/media/media/5be6fdf8-a437-4dbf-9898-d96aa6cd17eb.jpg)
![The Bren Gun Girl The Bren Gun Girl](https://d2ttikhf7xbzbs.cloudfront.net/media/media/b1f0dd61-03a1-4095-b223-c8112ffc585f.jpg)
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![Celebration, Netherlands 1945 Celebration, Netherlands 1945](https://d2ttikhf7xbzbs.cloudfront.net/media/media/40a4467c-74c8-4257-9bc6-1ee7de0c6394.jpg)
![Battle of the Atlantic Battle of the Atlantic](https://d2ttikhf7xbzbs.cloudfront.net/media/media/8cb80cb6-7ee5-4b1d-b742-922466dbc5f3.jpg)
![Nurses Arrive Overseas Nurses Arrive Overseas](https://d2ttikhf7xbzbs.cloudfront.net/media/media/6c14215f-fcdf-40f6-8934-c77072c307ec.jpg)
![Wartime Leaders Wartime Leaders](https://d2ttikhf7xbzbs.cloudfront.net/media/media/a2a61e66-3911-46c2-9f28-67599d9d98aa.jpg)
![En route to Hong Kong En route to Hong Kong](https://d2ttikhf7xbzbs.cloudfront.net/media/media/e51f7ad1-590d-4abd-b57c-f78a50f6929f.png)
![Snipers in Liri Valley, Italy Snipers in Liri Valley, Italy](https://d2ttikhf7xbzbs.cloudfront.net/media/media/f048a099-284a-41cd-ac36-7210a35d3ace.jpg)
![War Brides War Brides](https://d2ttikhf7xbzbs.cloudfront.net/media/media/398e8ba8-53e8-4f87-b127-b5020c4969b1.jpg)
![Farewell Farewell](https://d2ttikhf7xbzbs.cloudfront.net/media/media/e06cd521-88ae-4f9d-8950-02a0c45141f9.jpg)
![Canadian Infantry Going Ashore Canadian Infantry Going Ashore](https://d2ttikhf7xbzbs.cloudfront.net/media/media/6ff9b875-3192-4915-bfc6-520c82f398dc.jpg)
![D.D. Martin D.D. Martin](https://d2ttikhf7xbzbs.cloudfront.net/media/media/101b0055-4ab9-4444-b85d-e8f0f096d260.jpg)
![Régiment de la Chaudière Régiment de la Chaudière](https://d2ttikhf7xbzbs.cloudfront.net/media/media/9371c00e-25d4-4f4c-bc21-aa055ab5e1c6.jpg)
![Lance-Corporal W.J. Curtis of the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps Lance-Corporal W.J. Curtis of the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps](https://d2ttikhf7xbzbs.cloudfront.net/media/media/549dc441-56af-484f-b0b3-ae5b32f51d42.jpg)
Videos
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