Product Description

Canada was the first Commonwealth country to send troops to Britain in 1939. During 1939-45 hundreds of thousands of Canadians - more than 40 per cent of the male population between the ages of 18 and 45, and virtually all of them volunteers - enlisted. Canadians fought with tragic courage at Hong Kong and Dieppe; with growing strength and confidence in Sicily, Italy and Normandy; and finally provided an entire Army for the liberation of NW Europe. This concise account of an extraordinary national effort in the cause of freedom is supported by data tables, photos, and eight colour plates by Canada's most knowledgeable military illustrator.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #98658 in Books
• Published on: 2001-12-15
• Released on: 2001-12-15
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 48 pages

About the Author
René Chartrand was born in Montreal and educated in Canada, the United States and the Bahamas. A senior curator with Canada's National Historic Sites for nearly three decades, he is now a freelance writer and historical consultant. He has written numerous articles and books including almost 20 Osprey titles and the first two volumes of Canadian Military Heritage. He lives in Hull, Quebec, with his wife and two sons.

Customer Reviews

Canadian military contribution during WW II
Réné Chratrand's book on the Canadian military during the last war packs a lot of information in a slender volume. It's a good 'bridge' book because it supplments Brian Jewell's companion volume on the British Battledress, on Mike Chappell's on the Canadian Army at war from the same series as well as adding another combattant nation to Osprey's reinvigorated, ever-burgeoning series on the Second World War.
Chartrand briefly summarizes the country's political and military situation during the inter-war years. He even diplomatically discusses the events that lead to the 1944 conscription crisis.
Nevertheless, the bulk of the book is on Canada's military contribution in all branches- not just the traditional services but even lesser known such as the Canadian navy's Ferry Command and the women's auxiliary services. Indeed, Chartrand reminds his readers that from the fall of France until America's entry into the war, Canada was the second largest power. Even after the latter's entry, Canada was still an important contributor both militarily and industrially despite having a population less than half of today's.
Ron Volstad's colour plates are the among the best of his career as an illustrator. The degree of detail and realism is really exceptional and esthetically very pleasing. A real tour de force
Nevertheless, I do have criticisms. I found the large table that covers every Canadian army unit of the war to be unnecessary. It takes up valuable space on subject matter on more interesting subject matter. Such questions as, how did the war radically change Canadian military training during and after the conflict? How did the war affect Canada's identity? How were the Francophones incorporated into the military? Were there any social tensions due to the language differences? What was the Canadian soldier, airman and sailor's reputation in the eyes of its allies and enemies? Chartrand missed an opportunity to delve into such interesting questions.
Surely, if Canada was such a major contributor, why give the same mini-series treatment to country's military contributions that the German, Italian, American, British and Japanese armies have with the same imprint?
In spite of some shortcomings, this book is outstanding and would make a welcome addition to any modelbuilder's, re-enactor's and militaria collector's library.
Highly recommended.