First Canadian Army: Victory in Europe 1944-45

by Simon Forty, Leo Marriott

"It's rare for a book to capture your attention from the very first sentence, but kudos to the authors of First Canadian Army for doing just that... I, too, feel that Canada's contributions to victory in both world wars have unfortunately been downplayed or ignored over the decades by the country's allies."
-- Canada's History Magazine A pictorial history of the decisive role played by Canada in the final year of World War II. After Dunkirk, as the tattered remnants of Britain's best troops returned home without their heavy weapons, Canadian troops moved in to defend northwest Europe, sending in virtually all of its disposable weapon resources and 368,000 soldiers. The majority of these were to be part of the First Canadian Army, which would play a key role leading to the unconditional surrender by Nazi Germany on May 9, 1945. This book is a pictorial history of the First Canadian Army in northwest Europe during the final year of the war. It concentrates not just on the events of 75 years ago but also what can be seen on the ground today. The illustrations, over 350 of them, include battle, landing and assault maps; photographs of soldiers in action and resting, aerial photographs of key sites of action then and now; battlefield survivors such as Sherman tanks; memorials to individuals and units; and, of course, the cemeteries of Canadian, Polish and British soldiers. In 10 parts and 60 chapters featuring 350 illustrations and maps, the book Military history buffs will enjoy this book for its focus on a specific battalion and its actions at a decisive moment in the war. The archival photographs are important records and reminders of this watershed moment in World War II's European theater.

Genres: World War II

160 pages, Hardcover

Published October 29, 2020

About the author

Simon Forty was educated in Dorset and the north of England before reading history at London University’s School of Slavonic and East European Studies. He has been involved in publishing since the mid-1970s, first as editor and latterly as author. Son of author and RAC Tank Museum curator George Forty, he has continued in the family tradition writing mainly on historical and military subjects including books on the Napoleonic Wars and the two world wars. Recently he has produced a range of highly illustrated books on the Normandy battlefields, the Atlantic Wall and the liberation of the Low Countries with co-author Leo Marriott.

Reviews

[Joe Corrigan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and detailed examination of the role played by the 1st Canadian Army in the campaign in Europe from D-Day to VE Day. Very interesting perspective on our nation's contribution tot he liberation of France, Belgium and the Netherlands. Traditionally the least prominent of the western allies military formations in the defeat of Hitler's Germany. Lots of pictures, maps and unit summaries. A great gift for the Canadian military history buff.

[Cam Mcneil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Usually I don’t spend that much time pouring over maps in books but this time I did especially the Normandy ones. It was interesting to see the blow by blow breakdown.