This is the story of the Canadian First Army that fought its way from Juno Beach at D-Day in June, 1944, through Normandy, into the Netherlands to liberate that country, to the terrible battles in the Scheldt area, and finally into Germany in 1945. This is also the story of how Canada, which had no army to speak of in 1939, raised a citizen army and turned it into one of the very best fighting armies in World War II, one which helped defeat the most implacable, desperate and battle-hardened German army over the course of 11 months in ’44 and ’45. Canada has always produced astonishingly effective soldiers, and this book is about one of their finest moments.

The argument of this book is that the Canadian army changed from an amateur force in 1939–41 into the supremely skilled and formidably equipped army by late 1944 that was able to prevail against a first-class enemy. In effect, the citizen soldiers became professionals, able to organize and plan, to move and fight, and to win against the best army the world had ever seen, the Wehrmacht.

This is the astonishing story of how Canada mobilized its men, women and industrial resources to raise a military of 1.1 million from a population of only 11 million. The army trained and learned on the job, and though the losses in killed and wounded were high, they were less than in the Great War. This is a story of courage, skill and persistence.

JACK GRANATSTEIN served in the Canadian Army then taught Canadian history for thirty years. He is an Officer in the Order of Canada, is a Fellow of the Canadian Defence and Foreign Affairs Institute, was Director and CEO of the Canadian War Museum, and writes on Canadian military history, foreign and defence policy, and public policy. Among his many publications are Broken Promises: A History of Conscription in Canada, Canada 1957–67, Canada’s War, The Generals, Canada’s Army, Who Killed Canadian History?, The Oxford Companion to Canadian Military History and The Greatest Victory: Canada’s Hundred Days, 1918.

Jack Granatstein's profile page

PRAISE FOR WHO KILLED THE CANADIAN MILITARY?

“It must be read by all military professionals who care about the future of the [Canadian Forces].” —CANADIAN ARMY JOURNAL

“No one but Granatstein could have provided such a succinct analysis in a more readable format.” —MAJOR GENERAL (RET’D) LEWIS MACKENZIE

“A stunning monograph, short without being sketchy. Exactly what you’d want from a scholar who’s engaged.” —OTTAWA CITIZEN

PRAISE FOR CANADA'S ARMY: WAGING WAR AND KEEPING THE PEACE

“Canada’s Army: Waging War and Keeping the Peace is a veritable tour de force. . . . This book, which reads like a novel, belongs on all concerned citizens’ bookshelves.” —LIEUTENANT-GENERAL (RET'D) CHARLES H. BELZILE, COMMANDER OF CANADA'S ARMY

“Jack Granatstein is the dean of Canadian military history. In Canada’s Army: Waging War and Keeping the Peace, he has combined his sweeping knowledge of the subject with the easy flowing writing style that has made so many of his books best-sellers. . . . This intensely interesting and readable book will become the standard by which other histories of Canada’s army will be measured for many years to come.” —DAVID BERCUSON

PRAISE FOR WHO KILLED CANADIAN HISTORY?

NATIONAL BESTSELLER

“A classic, timely polemic about how little we know of our past.” —THE GLOBE AND MAIL

“For anyone who cares about perpetuating the Canadian experience, this is an essential book.” —PETER C. NEWMAN, THE VANCOUVER SUN

“A literary hand grenade.” —THE FINANCIAL POST