When we think of the Second World War, the story is so often told through an Anglo-American lens: Britain holding out alone in 1940, the United States joining the fight in 1941, and the combined Allied effort that followed. But this perspective tends to overshadow the contributions of other nations, particularly Canada.

Canada was not usually regarded as a global military power, yet its role in the war was both significant and far-reaching. From the skies over Europe to the convoys crossing the Atlantic and the soldiers who landed on D-Day, Canadian forces made an impact far greater than their country’s population might suggest.

In this episode of the WW2 Podcast, I am joined by historian David Borys to look more closely at Canada’s military in the Second World War. We discuss how Canada approached the conflict, the part it played within the wider Allied war effort, and how its contribution is remembered today.

David is a Canadian academic, author of Punching Above Our Weight: The Canadian Military at War Since 1867, and host of Curious Canadian History. His new podcast, Conflict and Culture, explores the intersections of war and society, and we’ll touch on that later in our conversation.

 

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