Chronology of Canadian Military History Canadian Military History, Colonial Period, New France, First Peoples, Seven Years War, French Indian War Canadian Military History, British North America, American Invasion, War of 1812, Dominion of Canada, Riel Rebellion, South African War Canadian Military History, World War 1 History, 1914-1918, Canadian Armed Forces, conscription Canadian Military History, World War 2, 1939-1945, Battle of the Atlantic, conscription, invasion, Dday, Normandy, Germany, axis, allies, Hong Kong, Dieppe 1946-today
Canada and the 
Second World War
The World Crisis
Canada goes to War
Canada at Britain's side
The Battle of the Atlantic
Canada's War at sea
The War comes to Canada
The Battle for Hong Kong
Disaster at Dieppe
The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan
Bomber Command
The Royal Canadian Air Force
The Home Front
Conscription
The Italian Campaign
Canada at D-Day
The Normandy Campaign
Liberating Northwest Europe
Victory
The War against Japan
Forced Relocation: the Japanese-Canadian Story
Going Home
Counting the Cost
A Nation Transformed

THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC

1939-1945

German strategy was to cut Britain’s ocean lifeline by a massive submarine (U-boat) offensive.

To maintain its war effort, Britain imported enormous quantities of supplies by sea. If the Germans sank Allied merchant ships transporting weapons, raw materials, and food at a faster rate than this shipping could be replaced, then Britain would slowly lose the ability to wage war. This struggle was known as the ‘Battle of the Atlantic’. Halifax was the main port on the east coast of North America where merchant ships formed into convoys, groups of merchant vessels that sailed together for the hazardous trans-Atlantic crossing.

Germany nearly won this war at sea but, in May 1943, after suffering severe losses to Allied warships and aircraft, the Germans withdrew most of their U-boats from the mid-Atlantic. Throughout the war, the Royal Canadian Navy (R.C.N.), the Canadian Merchant Navy, and the immense output of Canadian industry proved vital in the costly Allied victory.

See also :
Canadian Newspapers and the Second World War : The Battle of the Atlantic

The Battle of the Atlantic


THE 
BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC
DND/MDN 0- 8521

The Battle of the Atlantic
Canadian War Museum
1 Vimy Place
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0M8
1-800-555-5621