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

GOING HOME

1945-1946

Following the German surrender, Canadian troops demobilized as rapidly as possible.

More than one million Canadians served full-time in the armed forces during the Second World War, approximately 731,000 in the army, 106,000 in the navy, and 250,000 in the air force. These figures include nearly 50,000 women. Those overseas were anxious to return to loved ones and get on with their lives. While repatriation was sometimes frustratingly slow, especially for men who had been overseas 5 years or longer, most were back in Canada by early 1946. They brought with them some 48,000 ‘war brides’, mainly British, and more than 22,000 children.

Another 17,000 Canadian troops served in the Allied occupation force in Germany. They returned to Canada by mid-1946.

Going Home


GOING HOME
NAC-PA- 154976


Canadian War Museum
1 Vimy Place
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0M8
1-800-555-5621