|
European Tensions |
War |
Mobilization | Poland -
France | Battle of
Britain | Dieppe |
North Atlantic |
Training the Empire |
The Pacific |
Quebec Conference |
Hong Kong |
Home Front |
Sicily |
Italy | Conscription
|
Normandy | France
| Netherlands |
Germany
By the spring of 1944 the war had shifted drastically in
the allies favour and the second front in France seemed
to be on the brink of reality. Germany was retreating on
most fronts the home front was waiting for word that the
sacrifice of Dieppe had not been in vain and that those
lessons would be well used for the invasion of Nazi
occupied France.
England had become a
floating arsenal of millions of English, American and
Canadian troops just waiting for the word to go. The
Germans expected the attempted invasion and were quickly
building up the Atlantic Wall and re-enforcing the
troops stationed on the shores of France.
Finally on June 6th, 1944 word came that the invasion
had begun, the destination was Normandy and the troops
had landed. Whether the invasion would be successful of
not would take a few days to determine but they had made
it ashore.
Canada played a vital role in the
invasion with forces landing on Juno beach. The
resistance varied but Canadian troops moved quickly to
secure their objectives and start to move inland. By the
end of the first day, they had made more progress then
any of the other beachheads and looked well positioned
to keep going.
 |
|
Globe and Mail
staff on D-Day |
Although the fighting was fierce the
fact that the foothold in France had been established
and was expanding lent a confidence to Canada and the
allies. as Churchill would have said - it was the
beginning of the end for Germany.
|
