World War II

World War II (often abbreviated to WWII or WW2), also known as the Second World War, was a global war that lasted from 1939 to 1945, although related conflicts began earlier. The vast majority of the world’s countries—including all of the great powers—eventually formed two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis. It was the most global war in history; it directly involved more than 100 million people from over 30 countries. In a state of total war, the major participants threw their entire economic, industrial, and scientific capabilities behind the war effort, blurring the distinction between civilian and military resources. World War II was the deadliest conflict in human history, marked by 50 to 85 million fatalities, most of which were civilians in the Soviet Union and China. It included massacres, the genocide of the Holocaust, strategic bombing, starvation, disease, and the only use of nuclear weapons in warfare.

• Canadian Casualties: 45,400
• Allied Casualties: 18,587,000
• Opposition Casualties: 5,930,000
• Outcome: Victory

Engagements

• 1939
  Battle of the Atlantic
• 1940
  Battle of Britain
• 1941
  Battle of Hong Kong
• 1942
  Dieppe Raid
• 1943
  Italian Campaign
  • Battle of Ortona
  • 1944
    Battle of Monte Cassino
• Battle of Normandy
  • Battle of Caen
  • D-Day

Resources

Official Records

• Arms, Men and Governments: The War Policies of Canada, 1939-1945 National Defence and the Canadian Forces
• Official History of the Canadian Army in the Second World War Volume I National Defence and the Canadian Forces
• Official History of the Canadian Army in the Second World War Volume II National Defence and the Canadian Forces
• Official History of the Canadian Army in the Second World War Volume III National Defence and the Canadian Forces
• The Canadian Army, 1939-1945 : An Official Historical Summary National Defence and the Canadian Forces
• The R.C.A.F. Overseas Volume 1: The First Four Years National Defence and the Canadian Forces
• The R.C.A.F. Overseas Volume 2: The Fifth Year National Defence and the Canadian Forces
• The R.C.A.F. Overseas Volume 3: The Sixth Year National Defence and the Canadian Forces

Personal Records

• Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps History 1939 – 1945, R.C.A.M.C Medical Officer in the Field Overseas

Documents

• 2nd Tactical Air Force Order of Battle D-Day
• 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade – Op Order No 1 – Neptune Overlord
• 8th Canadian Infantry Brigade Landing Tables
• 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade Landing Tables
• Bridge and Assault Crossing Equipment
• Canada and The Battle of Britain Friends of The Canadian War Museum
• Canadian Forces Organization in WW2 Lt (Ret'd) Barry N Miller, CD, CME
• D-Day Marshalling and Embarkation Areas
• Operation Neptune Force J Naval Operation Orders
• UK D-Day Airfields

Articles

• Applications of unit serial numbers on vehicles of the Canadian Army Overseas, 1943-45 MilArt
• Canadian Casualties at Dieppe
• Dirty Deeds on D-Day HistoryNet.com

Websites

• Battle of Britain – The Canadians Vintage Wings of Canada
• D-Day Overlord
• History of the Battle of Britain Royal Canadian Air Force
• Operation Overlord: D-Day Remembered Royal Canadian Air Force
• The 117 Canadians who fought in the Battle of Britain RCAF Association
• The Battle of Ortona War History Online
• The Invasion Threat to Britain and the Battle of Britain Canadian War Museum