Canadian History for Kids: Canada goes to War

“It is our duty to let Great Britain know and to let the friends and foes of Great Britain know that there is in Canada but one mind and one heart and that all Canadians are behind the Mother Country”
-Sir Wilfrid Laurier.

August 4th, 1914, Canada goes to war against Germany, Austria/Hungary. This Canadian History for Kids, Sketches of our Canada, examines the war to end all wars.

World War 1 was a military conflict lasting from 1914 to 1918 which involved nearly all the biggest powers of the world. It involved two opposing alliances – the Allies and the Central Powers.

The countries of the Allies included Russia, France, British Empire (including Canada), Italy, United States, Japan, Rumania, Serbia, Belgium, Greece, Portugal and Montenegro.

The countries of the Central Powers included Germany, Austria-Hungary, Turkey and Bulgaria.

World War 1 was triggered on 28 June 1914 by the assassination of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his pregnant wife Sophie. Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria was the nephew of Emperor Franz Josef and heir to the throne of Austria and Hungary.

The assassination was planned by a Serbian terrorist group, called The Black Hand and the man who shot Franz Ferdinand and his wife was a Bosnian revolutionary named Gavrilo Princip. This Canadian History for Kids article looks at major events that happened after the assassination:

28 July – Austria blames the assassination on Serbia government.

29 July – Russia has promised to protect Serbia against any Austrian attack and begins to prepare its army.

1 August – Germany hears about Russia preparations and declares war on Russia.

2 August – Britain mobilises its fleet of warships.

3 August – Germany declares war on France because Germany is worried about a France attack or because the Schlieffen plans says France must be attacked before Russia.

4 August – German soldiers march into Belgium Britain and Belgium declare war on Germany

4 August – Canada goes to war against Germany, Austria/Hungary.

Over the next four years, the Canadian troops were in such battles as Vimy Ridge, Second Battle of Passchendaele, and the Battle of the Somme. These battles are still remembered today by Canadians as part of Canada’s heritage and identity. Canada’s total casualties stood at the end of the war at 67,000 killed and 173,000 wounded, out of an entire force of 620,000 people mobilized (39% of mobilized were casualties).

Next year is the 100 year anniversary of the Great War, and we at Canadian History for Kids will be running many stories and presentations celebrating the achievements of great Canadians.

And that’s this week Canadian History for Kids, Sketches of our Canada.
 

Other Canadian History for Kids Sketches of Canada