what was Canada`s role in world war two, how did it differ from our role in world war one ?

The 20th century saw a significant increase in the number of conflicts around the world . More people were killed in wars and other conflicts in the 20th century than in the last 19 centuries combined . Two of the most severe conflicts during that time period were World War I and World War II . In both those cases , Canada played pivotal roles , which was so highly needed and appreciated , yet has not been given the necessary recognition that Canada deserved . Canada suffered disproportioned losses in WWI and WWII as well as a disproportionate level

of service by a country that , at the time , had less than 12 million people . However , not only did Canada offer its services to the Allied Forces through the men and women that it supplied but also in the high number of tanks and other essential supplies that the Allied forces needed to continue to fight . What also serves as a testament to the fighting will of the Canadian people , at the onset of WWII , unlike with WWI , Canada was not legally obligated to enter the war on the side of the Allied Forces Canada 's involvement in WWI had created a serious gap between the English and French speaking people of the country a gap which had only grown wider since the end of WWI . Also , there was no treaty and Canada was , to a greater extent than ever before , a free country . However Canada , despite not existing high on Hitler 's list of priorities declared war on Germany only nine days after England . As a result of the above mentioned , Canada 's role in both WWI and WWII , though different in some ways , each speak as a collective voice to the high degree of loyalty and respect that Canada had for England , The United States and the cause of freedom

World War I is still to many historians , a chapter in history which cannot fully be explained . The names of the countries and the number of casualties are well known and documented . However , many have come to see World War I as a war of attrition in which millions lost their lives for no specific reason . Frenzy followed the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand on June 26 , 1914 and by the end of the summer , with each country coming to the aid of another country , the world was at war www .canadiansoldiers .com Downloaded August 2 , 2007

Canada was no different in the sense that it was obligated to involve herself in the Great War because of England 's involvement in the conflict . Sir Wilfred Laurier stated on the eve of Canada 's involvement in the war : It is our duty to let Great Britain know and to let the friends and foes of Great Britain that there is in Canada but one mind and one heart and that all Canadians are behind the mother country This was true in a sense . Canada 's population , which consisted of citizens of Irish , Scottish and English descent...