In a world darkened by ethnic conflicts that tear nations apart, Canada stands as a model of how people of different cultures can live and work together in peace, prosperity, and mutual respect.
U.S. President Bill Clinton 

The story of Canada at War is a dramatic and heroic tale. This section deals with the history of warfare in Canada and Canadians at war or peacekeeping abroad.

Storm Clouds | Mobilization | Fall of France | Battle of Britain |  Pacific War | Hong Kong | Conscription | Dieppe | Spartan | Battle of the Atlantic | Sicily | Italy | Overlord | Falaise |  France 44 | Holland | Germany 45 | VE | VJ

The Battle of the Reichswald

In early February 1945 the Allied forces were at least ready for the thrust into Germany and Brian Horrocks, commanding the British and Canadian forces was charged with driving into the Reichswald Forest in Germany as the initial phase of what was hoped would be an easy drive to Berlin. The drive was not easy and the discoveries were horrific.

The Germans were collapsing and the Russian were driving to Berlin for the last stand of Hitler in his Bunker. Canadian units, like the British and American's knew the war would soon be over and no one wanted to be one of the last killed but the fighting and policing still had to be carried out.

As the Germans fell apart the number of refugees, prisoners, civilians, survivors from the concentration camps and allied POW's released became more of a problem then the actual fighting. German had fired it's last bullet during the battle of the Bulge but many fanatic Nazi's would rather die then give up and that was just one of the dangers which the Canadian troops had to be aware of. Finally the last campaign drew to a close and the Canadian's, Americans and British meet the Russians coming form the east and the fighting ceased. The European war was over.

 

Battle:	Battle of the Reichswald	Feb 8 - March 11, 1945
Campaign:	Germany
War:	World War II	1939 - 1945
Where:	Reichwald Forest
	Western Front
	Germany
		Opponents
Belligerents:	Canada	Germany
	Britain
Commanders:	Bernard Montgomery - Br Harry Crerar - Cdn Brian Horrocks - Br	Alfred Schlemm
Forces:	200,000 Men	90,000 Men
Result:	Decisive Allied Victory
Casualties:	Casualties - 23,000	Opponents
	Killed - 1,470	Casualties - 38,000
	Canada Others - 5,500	Captured - 52,000