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Canada D-Day Essay

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Canada’s Defining Moment: D-Day Canada played an important role in World War I as they showed great perseverance, courage, and gained decisive victories as shown in the Battle of Vimy Ridge. In World War II, Canada failed to disappoint once again in their contribution to the Battle of Normandy. During that time, Germany had invaded northwestern France and the Allies, which includes Canada, planned on liberating them. The Allies prepared a plan to mislead the Germans into thinking they were not going to invade through the coast of Normandy. Fortunately, the operation to deceive them was a success and the members of the Allied Forces landed on their designated areas. After a long, hard fought battle, the Allies’ plan to liberate France was …show more content…

Getting to the beach was half the battle because according to Pierre Landry from Juno Beach Centre, “The [English] Channel was rough. Waves, some two metres high, made sailing difficult even at reduced speed” (Landry). In addition to the dreadful weather conditions, the enemy mines and water obstacles caused trouble for the Canadians, which forced the them to heavily rely on their minesweepers and bombardment vessels. The Allies were forced to push their way through Hitler’s defenses on the northern coast of France known as, “ the Atlantic Wall, a 2400-mile fortification of bunkers, landmines, and beach and water obstacles” (D-Day). As a result of the difficulties with the weather and mines, the operation was delayed, which bought more time for the Nazis to regroup and prepare. The German gun positions were not aimed towards the sea, but coastline. However, they had Hitler’s Atlantic Wall to rely on. As they were approaching the shore, the Canadians were bombarded with weapons and heavy artillery, which was more deadly when the troops landed. Despite the circumstances of the Canadians, they were able to successfully land on Juno Beach, prepared to free France. D-Day was a defining moment for the Canadians not only because of this, but due to the fact that the troops’ had strong mental fortitudes regardless of the other factors that caused the

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