Start of World War I (1914-1918_

World War I began with the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife on
June 28th 1914 by a Bosnian Serb World War I ended four years later after fourteen million
more deaths, out of which, 60,000 were Canadians from a country of less than 7,000, 000
people.

One month after the incident. On the 28th of July, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia.
For Germany, the murder of the Archduke provided the perfect occasion to provoke war.
Germany pressed Austria to attack Serbia – who was Russia’s ally. Germany, clearly
wanting war, insisted on full Austro-Hungary mobilization against Russia. The German
ambassador requested the end of Russian mobilization, and on August 1st, war was
declared on Russia when the request was refused. The same thing happened with France.
When French refused to declare neutrality as demanded by Germany, war was declared on
August 3rd.

Main Countries Involved in WWI and Alliences

The Triple Alliance The Triple Entente
- Germany - Britain
- Austro-Hungarian Empire - France
- Italy - Russia

Two Important battles that involved Canadians

- The battle of Vimy Ridge
- The battle of Passchendaele

Canada’s involvement in WWI

- Contribution in Air
Canada made a great contribution in this field. More than 23,000 Canadian
airmen served with British Forces and over 1,500 died. The Commonwealth's
 highest scoring airman to survive the war was a Canadian: Lieutenant
Colonel W.A. Bishop VC, with 72 victories
- Contribution on Sea
Canadian naval participation in the 1914-1918 War was limited, as its newly
formed navy possessed only two old cruisers. However, many thousands went to
serve with the Royal Navy. Fleets of Canadian trawlers and small craft carried out
mine-sweeping and anti-submarine operations in coastal waters.

End of World War I

World War I came to an end when the balance of power shifted in favour of the Allies
(Serbia, France, Great Britain, Italy, Russia, the United States, and nineteen other nations)
against the Central Powers (Austria-Hungary, Germany, Bulgaria, and the Ottoman
Empire). Although the United States had not been fully prepared to enter the war, the
American government mobilized quickly to rally troops and citizens behind the war effort.
In April 1917 the U.S. Army numbered slightly more than 100,000 men. By the end of the
war, however, the number had soared to about 5,000,000. The arrival of U.S. troops in
Europe gave the Allies the manpower they needed to win the war. In November 1918
Germany agreed to an armistice (truce), and the Central Powers finally surrendered. In
January 1919, Allied representatives gathered in Paris, France, to draft the peace
settlement. By the time the combat ended, almost 10,000,000 people were dead.
Start of World War II

World War II (1939–45) officially began when Nazi (an abbreviation for the National
Socialist German Workers's Party) Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939.
Germany had already set the stage for the war, however, by occupying the Rhineland in
1936, annexing Austria in 1938, and invading Czechoslovakia in March 1939. Poland was
soon crushed by a German war machine under the command of Chancellor (minister of the
state) and Fü hrer (leader) Adolf Hitler (1889–1945). While being attacked by the Nazis
from the west, Poland was also threatened by the Soviets from the north and east. The
events in the eastern European country would culminate in a worldwide conflict.

Main Countries Involved in WWII and Alliances

Allied Countries

- United States (America, USA)

- Soviet Union (USSR, Russia)
- France
- Canada
- Australia
- China

Axis Countries

- Germany
- Italy
- Japan

Two Important battles that involved Canadians

- Battle of Hong Kong
- Battle of Ortona
Difference of World War I and World War II for Canada
Canada chose to enter WWII independently from Great Britain partly as a display of its
sovereignty, but there were other factors that influenced this decision. Canada had
automatically entered into WWI when Great Britain declared war, as Canada was then a
dominion of the British Empire. However, since the signing of the Statute of Westminster in
1931, Canada had gained legislative independence from Great Britain. 

As a result, when Great Britain declared war on September 1, 1939, Canada was not
automatically a part of that declaration. The Canadian parliament debated the issue, and a
formal state of war was declared by Canada on September 10, 1939.

End of World War II

The World War II ended in Europe by the unconditional quit by Germany on May 7, in the
year 1945, about a week after Adolf Hitler had committed suicide.  After that the German
surrender to the Soviets on May 8, in the year 1945. Germany was conquered by the British
and Americans in the south and west; also by the Russians in the east. Japan was able to
hold out for few months and was getting prepared for a desperate and bloody defence in
the incident of an American attack of the home islands. Atomic bombs were bombarded on
Hiroshima and Nagasaki on sixth and ninth August, in the year 1945. After that the Imperial
government sought the Emperor's personal authority to admit defeat which he granted.
The surrender was signed on September 2, in the year 1945 aboard the battleship in Tokyo
Bay.