Our record in battle demonstrates that Canadians typically are friendly, respectful and polite..........until we're not. It shouldn't have been a surprise, really. Anyone who thought that Canadians were incapable of extreme violence has clearly never been to a hockey game!
The Rolling (Creeping) Barrage, baby! "Have you tried softening them up with artillery fire?" "Well, duh!" "Have you tried firing the artillery at US as we advance?" "Wait... What?!"
@@VictorRomeo1917 I'll bet it was! I'm a retired 30 year Army vet, myself, and a bit of an amateur historian. Most important from my personal perspective, though, both of my grandfathers served with the CEF in WW1. My mom's father was a courier with the Fort Garry Horse and my dad's father was a Cpl. with the 1st Btn. PPCLI at Vimy and at Passchendaele. I had the honor of serving my first hitch with the 2nd PPCLI '77 - '80 before I was reassigned to the CAR - it made me very proud every time I saw those battle honors on our regimental flag. I envy your experience - I can easily imagine that it was, as you say, sacred.
25 years ago, I was in the British military and went to the US on a training course. Most of the others were Americans but there was also a small group of Canadians (whose first language was French). At lunch time the Canadians were back in the classroom first and as I entered the room, they were speaking in French. Immediately they noticed that I'd come in, they switched into English to avoid excluding me. I thought it was so polite and formed a very positive opinion of Canadians in my mind.
Funny you say that cause we are being taken advantage of and NOTHING is being done about it. Canada is nowadays is more like “fuck around and we’ll let you”
As a Canadian veteran, I'd just like to point out that we also have the largest French population on earth that's never surrendered to anyone ever, for any reason.
if you take a french-canadian quebecer from the gaspesie region (or many other regions) & put them just about anywhere in france, the french locals will not understand the dialect & vice versa. like putting a scotsman in alabama, or a spaniard in the yucatan.
@@johnanon6938 i believe one already exists, a scot at a drive-thru in 'bama. poor lil girl employee had to go get the manager, which didn't help at all. poor scot couldn't score his whatever... more vids like this would be nice. or an irishman in the hills of west virginia, ozzy in kentucky, etc...
@@jdbankshot 1. We are not french-canadian quebecer, we are Quebecois. 2. Canadian are American, Quebecois are European. Quebecois are descendant of French, our language changed but it's still our heritage.
@@olafsigursons tu pense tu vraiment que je connais pas la "difference"? ecoute, tete de slush, je suis un quebecois anglophone, c'est tu corek avec toi, ca? le quebec est une province au canada. tous les canadiens qui sont premiere langue francais, c'est des canadiens francais.
@@anitamackinnon7975 we are forever grateful for that. That's exactly the reason why the Netherlands is now one of the largest Investors in Europe to help Ukraine win this horrible war. Because we understand the price of freedom. Even after all these years, we are very well educated about what our liberators did for us. The Canadian war cemeteries always look clean and respected. I literally grew up close to one of them. Canadians do have a good moral compass.
My mother's uncles served in Holland, in the infantry and armour units. One uncle had enlisted with his best friend who had a leg blown off by a german grenade. My uncle crawled in open space to get his friend and pull him to safety. He was awarded a medal for that. My mother's father, my grandfather, also served as a spitfire pilot in the RCAF. I only knew them as mild mannered, polite, intelligent and thoughtful men. But my mother always reminded me that could be ruthless when they had to be.
Well, he did have 18 other guys with him when he routed two Chinese divisions and held off their attempt to re-take the hill. In Zwolle it was just him, a series of captured machine guns, and incandescent rage over the death of his friend.
Funny thing. 🇨🇦involvement was not recognized at the time. In Vietnam, 🇨🇦 was recognized AFTER the effort but never formally recognized for I t’s involvement
@@dirckdelint6391 19 vs 14k chineses (1 Ca for 736 chineses) from 4 different direction for 3 days.. no death for Leo Major group, only an injured soldier, and over 6k of casualty of chinese soldiers! and got back the montagne (hill 355) that was a strategic points (sorry for my grammar im french canadian)
Tommy Prince would have as well but his accomplishments in WWII were seen as “surpassing the range of any existing medal”, and in Korea his commanding officers refused to nominate him for any awards due to a) his ethnicity and b) the fact that he was viewed by the other men of his company as being a superior strategist and soldier, even at his not age 35. Actually I’m very surprised (and yet somehow not) that Tommy Prince was not mentioned at all in this video
Canadians are looked upon as heroes to this day in the Netherlands for liberating them in WW2. Many of them married Canadian soldiers, including my wifes grandmother. They wanted to live in Canada because they wanted to live in the land of their heroes
During WWII, the Dutch monarchy escaped to Canada, while pregnant. In order for the baby to be born on Dutch land, Canada gave the Netherlands part of Ottawa. To this day, the Netherlands has a plot of land there.
Indeed. In elementary school I had a teacher of dutch decent, Ms. Van Wyck. She still had strong connections the her family back in the netherlands, and our class became penpals with a class in her ancestral hometown. A remnant of this time in my life is that I cheer for Dutch teams in International competitions
Im in ottawa and we have a tulip festival every year where the dutch royals send the capital thousands of tulips that get planted near dows lake and around parlinent. It is a great time the festival is because we made our civic hospital temporary Netherlands conquered ground so that the queen would birth princess margriet on Netherlands soil. Then canada took back the Netherlands
When people talk about the Canadian military, I always think about actor James Doohan. Long before he was Scotty on Star Trek, World War II hero James "Jimmy" Doohan was known as the "craziest pilot in the Canadian air force." His real-world heroic exploits as one of the 14,000 Canadian soldiers who landed on the shores of Normandy during World War II. At one point, “Scotty” fired upon and took down two enemy snipers. He was shot at six times by a Canadian sentry who had confused him with an enemy defender. Most of the bullets from the offending Bren Gun hit him in the leg; one took off his right middle finger, and the last hit him in the chest . . . in the exact some spot where he carried a good-luck gift from his brother: a silver cigarette case.
In WWI the Germans feared Canadians so much they would abandon their trenches. When the British couldn't get anything done they sent in the Canadians. Canada and America created a special forces group I think called the hell jumpers, that were elite soldiers. The French Canadians were absolute beasts also, top notch soldiers. One thing that video sadly did not mention was the natives that fought in the war. They were exquisite soldiers who were also feared because of their skills
There is a story from a German officer in WW2 who said: " We knew who we were fighting when we would fire our artillery. The Britsh would dig in and wait for the shelling to end, the Americans would pull back and bring up their tanks. The Canadians would attack."
The french have given the world so much.... they invented the word surrender. French: surrender = surrendre = sur + rendre = sur (over) + rendre (deliver, hand over, yield). 😂
@@ToAsTyDoNDoN HL Mencken: "My guess is that well over eighty per cent of the human race goes through life without ever having a single original thought."
I’m French Canadian, majored in history and had never heard about him until recently. And there is a movie about him (or at the very least it’s in the making): th-cam.com/video/9G_HXt4Jbrg/w-d-xo.html
Part of the thing about our military is that it is small. The American army can afford to have soldiers who are highly specialised at doing one specific task. Our soldiers have to be able to fill in multiple rôles depending on what is needed. In turn, this makes our army extremely versatile and able to handle changing conditions.
I can say for most of us, Canadians, that we have a GREAT respect for those who died for our freedom. When war is mentioned, most of us are on the ready to defend our beautiful country, our freedoms and our rights as human beings. In short...we have NO tolerance for ignorance. Yet, we always welcome anyone with open arms.
Hahaha! Something about your very last sentence made me think... No matter how you introduce yourself to us Canadians, we're prepared to greet you with "open arms"... In one way or another
Amen brother . Those that fought and died for our freedoms will never be forgotten . We will rise up when the time comes . Blame Ontario and Quebec for tcanadas crap along with douche bag trudaue
Lots of people have written very thoughtful comments. If you’re really interested in Canadian heroes, you need to read more about General Arthur Currie (WWI). As for the ferocity of the Canadian soldier whom the Germans called Storm or Shock Troopers, perhaps it was a case of “you started it” when the Germans inflicted poisonous clouds of mustard gas primarily at us. I can’t think of any Canadian who disrespects a soldier. As for Canadians winning every war we’ve been in - some comedian cheekily suggested it was because some general told the assembled troops, okay, boys, the other side has the puck. You think you might want to live here? Go to Government of Canada Immigration - good luck navigating that site, you’ll need it.
In the war in Afghanistan in Kandahar, THE front in that war was under Canadian command for 2 years. I saw a little vid clip of an American colonel being greeted by reporters in the airport upon his return.. They asked what he thought of the experience there? He said he was glad to be home. Then they asked what he thought of serving with Canadian command and troops? He stopped...smiled and looked down. He looked back up and said "well...I wouldn't wanna fight'em."
Just a FYI - The first Special Services Force were comprised of Canadians and Americans. The Germans referred to them as The Devil's Brigade. The movie "The Devil's Brigade" is about this force.
Love that movie. Particularly when the Yanks are brawling amongst themselves at the start, and then stop when they hear the Canucks marching to the training camp gate to the wail of bagpipes. The bar-fight bonding scene against the lumberjacks also rocks.
My mother and Grandfather used tells me stories of her Uncle who served as a member of The Black Watch (part of the Devil’s Brigade). She used to say they were always the first ones in and the last left at the end of a battle. The Germans used to call them “The ladies from Hell” and “The Devils in Skirts” for a reason. I heard all sorts of stories about being run over by tanks, men springing up out a pile of corpses to slash at enemies. My great uncle was a large intimidating looking man and the PTSD he had afterwards from what he had experienced left him a shell of his former self. They always said never approach old Bill if he was sleeping and never sneak up on him or you be in danger.
My grandfather was one of those Scots that immigrated to Canada…and went back when WWII happened. He met my grandmother who was a medic, and came back to Canada to raise a family and be the best human beings I’ve ever known. RIP ❤️
My great-grandfather was 16 in 1914 and lied about his age to go, when ww2 happened he chose to go again despite have a wife and 3 kids to worry about and lived with a very proud family dying peacefully in his sleep much later at age 87, bless your grandparents❤
my mother's Dad and my great uncle Ted grew up in England... Dad's grandparents grew up in Scotland (the West Isles and North Uists actually)... ive been to "the Old Country"... my first time was in 1978 while I was 8 years old... Our relatives from there visit us in Canada on a regular basis - and me and my numerous MacDonald (and Haithwaite) families visit there on a regular basis
Canadians will go to great lengths to avoid war but if war is what someone chooses, we ( the whole population) are committed to seeing it through to its end.
For proof see The Canadian Freedom Convoy. The American convoys both failed miserably. Through over five thousand five hundred and twenty five miles, the trucks kept coming.
@@2Sugarbears The "freedom convoy" was a criminal action, and a national embarrassment. They cost the country hundreds of millions of dollars to protest US border policy. They terrorized the Ottawa population for weeks, for no reason. Everyone that participated in it was stupid, and a loser. Half of its funding came from MAGA sources in the USA .
Leo Major was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, to French Canadian Parents. With all of his wounds and injuries, he lived to be 87, dying in 2008. 2008.
@@Wirmish As a Canadian, my thought was, especially coming from Churchill - reportedly - "British officers have impeccable training in the theory of warfare... And the Canadian troops have enough sense to know when to ignore an order." Lmao
Canadian, spent my youth in Europe (kid of a diplomat). Having spent time at Normandy, Ypres, and other battle location, it really does make you appreciate what those young men and women went through, even if just a little bit. This video (Canadians change when they hear the word WAR) reminds me of our general mindset. For instance, hockey…we are friends, buds, and bros before the game, but once we hit the ice, all bets are off. We charge hard, hit, fight, and hate to lose…then, off the ice, back to normal. It’s like we have a light switch that goes off and the task to victory is set in and we will not relent. We’ll love you all and will be hospitable, nice, and welcoming, but please don’t piss us off.
I agree! If I might be so bold as to add: To me it's always been like the important distinction between a rival and an enemy. You "should" want, with your entire heart, for your rival to lose... Your competition. And you "should" EQUALLY want your enemy to lose... Everything.
Mert, I hate to break your heart man. But I am an extremely healthy 75 year old, and I can assure you that the name of Leo Major has NEVER been uttered in any Canadian media. Not in newspapers of the old day. Not on radio new and never on TV news. To this day, Leo Major is unknown in Canada. So I thank you from the bottom of my heart for exposing Major's greatness by presenting this reaction. Much love from Alberta... and all of Canada.
I completely understand and empathize with your sentiment. It's truly eye-opening to listen to these stories from a different perspective. Many of these narratives were absent from my education and knowledge as well. I can see how gaining this understanding has deepened our pride in being a Canadian.
That's why he has a movie called "Leo Major: The One-Eyed Ghost" ? Not sure where you served, but growing up military, we knew about him. Never came across anyone who didn't.
@@Slothptimal Please sir, don't be an idiot. Nobody I know ever heard of that movie, although it exist somewhere out there on the internet. You are deliberately missing my point, and for that you get a failing grade with your dumb comment. We were never taught in schools anything about the great Leo Major. In m 70 years, I can assure you that there have never been any words about him on the main stream media. So please get off your high horse and admit that the great Leo Major is has been completely ignore in Canada... other than the video you mentioned... which nobody has even heard of until you mentioned it here. Thank you for mentioning it though, because now I can watch it and tell all my friends and family about Leo Major... a mere 80 years AFTER his great accomplishments. You are a bit of an asshole.
First heard of the name when in CEGEP (college) when I was in my early 20's, because a teacher asked a fellow student if they were related since he was a Major too. Never heard about it before as so many people around me. Unless people have an interest in war and do their own research, public quebec schools won't speak about it
Check out the film called The Devil's Brigade (1968 starring William Holden). It illustrates the elite training of Canadian soldiers. They were paired with American soldiers who had discipline issues, but were ferocious. The combination of the two made one of the most elite units in the entire European theater, and they did incredible work in the Italian campaign.
Canadians before war: we're sorry. During war: you're sorry. Also leo mqjor deserves a documentary. That needs to happen. Proud canadian, we love you here 🇨🇦
If you ever want to see the most apologetically polite people transform into your worst nightmare, make fun of Terry Fox in front of some Canadians. p.s. and people still wonder why they allow fighting in hockey 🤣
@@Sevo- ''cant be soft'' Yeah right, tell that to the millions of libtards who've infected the country. Canada isn't what it used to be and it's getting worse every single day.
@@billbennett9537 Naw, even under the "little guy from shawinagan" we were well united. It's only been since Paul Martin and FOX propaganda that things have started falling apart.
After my father died I was going through some of his things from the military. I found a poem he wrote (had no clue he did that) about the courage and fighting ability of Canadian soldiers. It was published in the military newspaper. When I read it I sat and cried. So proud of what he wrote. And what he wrote made me so proud of the Canadian military.
13:13 My grandpa was in world war 2 he was very very young he “snuck in” by lying about his age. He was on the beaches of Normandy on D day. He rarely told anyone about his war days, let alone show any of his medals. I was really blessed to have been one of his grandkids that was honoured with those stories and got to see his medals. He had 2 purple hearts. He talked about holding one of his close friends in his arms in Normandy while he died minutes after getting there. My grandpa had frozen while his friend was shot, pulled him out of the line of fire to try and save him. When his friend died, he said he felt an overwhelming rage and he told me he could barely piece together the moments after… but he armed himself and screaming in anger rushed the beach, into the fire of bullets, and (as he told me) “plucked theirs heads off the trenches with my bullets, like my dad had taught me with cans on tree limbs”. He doesn’t remember how many enemy soldiers he killed, and I understood why, but he remembered the fear, the hope, the moments of joy in victory… but what stayed with him the rest of his life… were the nightmares. My grandfather was a VERY decorated soldier, but unless he told you, or showed you, you never would have known. I feel like that’s the case with a LOT of our veterans. They’re incredibly humble and proud people. They don’t need to be out on parade for fanfare to know they did something amazing for their country. As citizens we appreciate our veterans and honour them, I wish I could say the same of our government however.
Most of the documentaries about Léo Major are in French. He never spoke about his war exploits until a short while before he passed. Even his family didn’t know about it. To him, it wasn’t about being a hero, it was about defending freedom. There’s a street that bears his name in Zwolle, the town he liberated. In an interview he explained that his buddy had just been killed by the Germans and he went nuts, deciding that he would take as many Germans as he could with him before being taken down himself (spoiler alert: he wasn’t). I wish I could tell you he is well known and celebrated here, but in fact he isn’t (except by people in the military). I myself have just learned about him recently. But the truth is, I’m pretty sure that’s how Léo himself wants things.
His family and we learn about his exploits when a delegation from Swolle came to Canada to meet him personnaly. It was in the beginning of the 2000 if I am correct. His wife asked him "why didn't you say anything?" He anwser like only Leo Major could anwser, "you would not have believe me." Also, let us not forget, he DID see horrors during the war and most of those veterans were very quiet about it. Not even sharing with their loved ones.
... idk probably bc I was just a bad history student by that point. In both languages. Was in an English secondary by gr.10, but had to study Canadian history in French from then on... Teacher wasn't really into it either. But no excuse for me now to not knowing who he was
There is a great animated video about Leo Major who did a lot more than they covered here. Many regular German soldiers who were interviewed after the war, said of all the allied forces they hated the Canadians the most.
Leo Major was an amazing person. He was even a machine in the following Korean war in the 1950s. A true Rambo, if there ever was. Canadian companies were composed of group from whole towns, some whole streets we lost in single battles. It is not hard to see how men who grew up together would want revenge when their friends and family were killed during WWI. Not that that is an excuse, but one can see how it happened. I know this changed for WWII so whole towns did not lose their men in a single fight. I live that Canada only use conscription in certain instances, and that most soldiers were volunteers. Canada was forged in War. From the war of 1812, too WWI and WWII. Canada grew in the heart of its citizens through the blood of it people shed on battle fields around the world. We will never forget, we will always remember.
My husband is a history/ international relations major from back in the 80’s. He loves vintage westerns & war movies , so many times we would be watching a Hollywood WWII movie that was based on a “true story” depicting the US as the heroes but in fact it was the Canadian forces that the movie was based upon
Thank you so much for this. As an older Canadian, my father served in the second world war. He made false teeth. No, I’m not kidding. He worked with the doctors and dentists to help heal the wounded. Canadians aren’t one for blowing their own horn. This was the first time I had heard the stories of these great soldiers. I’m glad it’s been documented🇨🇦
This is not well known. The Canadian Army performed amazingly well in Italy. Canada was given the task of breaking through all 5 German defense lines. Then headed on to liberate Rome. The Canadian Convoy was 26 miles from the city or about an hours drive. The Convoy was told to stop and let the Americans catch up. The Yanks received the credit. In mild terms, the Canadians were PISSED!
@@gedeon2696Just watched a documentary on that very thing. We wanted to keep kicking ass. We were ordered to stop 😠 Stop?! We don’t know how to do that, but I guess there’s a first time for everything.
Leo Major received a second DCM in Korea, where he led the Scout and Sniper Platoon (about 18 men) of the Royal 22e Régiment (the Vandoos). He and his men retook a hill that had been captured by the Chinese and using their sten guns and grenades, and with the support of danger close fire from the mortar platoon, held off counterattacks from 2 Chinese divisions for 3 days until they were relieved by elements of the US 3rd Infantry division.
In our military (Canadian) we are encouraged to use initiative. We don't treat our lower ranks as unthinking drones, we want them to be smart, think on their own to obtain the objectives. We also have a smaller armed forces, with minimal equipment (thankfully better now than when I started in 1986!!!.... where we used Vietnam era stuff) so we train our soldiers etc well, and to think
Much of this doctrine is taught in NATO Countries now. Cross training of different specialties is also what Canadian Armed Forces have had implemented for some time. It creates a huge advantage when having to improvise in the field of battle. Canadian Special Forces have been training Ukrainian Special Forces since 2014.
I just wish that our forces from land sea and sky were better funded. You guys get shit done with basically nothing ( like the USA army’s stuff ) this I think is why our soldiers and pilots and navy men & woman are some real fing badasses. They have my respect.
That initiative and “smart training” all the way down to the lowest grunts, was started back in WW1 and was a direct result of Canadians being fed up with the old school British top-down heirarchy of doing things. The Canada Corps (later known as the Royal Canadian Army) finally gets one of their own in charge, a car salesman and Highschool teacher by the name of Brigadier-General Sir Arthur Currie, and he proceeded to revamp the entire corps, increasing the time units were pulled off the frontlines for longer and more intensive training periods. By focusing the training on what would be advantageous for Assualts (small unit tactics, initiatives, aggression, CQC, field improvisation, etc), he turned the Canadian Corps into what the Germans would later call “the Red Devils” or “Sturmtruppen”…basically, he figured out that the British were probably going to continue to use the Canadians as expendable shocktroops like they were using other colonial armies and assests like the ANZACs and Indians, so Currie basically rebuilt and reorganized the Canadian forces to the point were they could drop the “expendable” part. If memory serves, Vimy Ridge was the first real test of Currie and the Canadian Corps efforts and ideas…3 hours to take a front that had stumped the British and French for over two years. Those ideas were expanded in WW2 with Recon Scout units within Light Infrantry platoons (like the Black Watch, Vandoos, and Princess Pat’s) which is how we end up with stories like Tommy Prince and Leo Major…and then when the States entered the war, we joined in for The Devil Dogs, aka the first joint special forces brigade. Canada, or at least the perception thereof, still seems to have a focus on Special Forces, with CANSOFCOM being the fourth branch of our military after the standard Land/Sea/Air trio, and contains things like CSOR or the (in)famously silent but effective JTF2. Basically, since we don’t really have the numbers or funding to support a large general-use force like the US Army, the idea is to focus the funding and training on where we can get the high force multiplication for the buck…Russia deals with their funding and personnel issues by mass conscription, shit pay/conditions, and cheap last-gen equipment from the “Soviet Shit” era en masse. Canada decided instead to just fight smarter and aim more precisely with its limited supply of shots… …though in fairness, being a part of NATO really helps make that idea actually work in practice, as we can provide special force units to augment the larger general armies of our NATO partners. Pathfinders to secure sites, CSOR to scout areas, JTF2 to take/takeout high value targets, etc…probably should try and find a way to increase our budget to get closer to that 2% NATO GDP military funding target regardless…
I was a Canadian soldier, 4th generation. It only takes one good soldier to take out an entire city if its planned right. My dad served WW11 at 15.5 years old and he wasnt the only minor. Thousands from Canada did, mainly farm boys. He later came home with more service than the parents back at his high school. He graduated, went to carpentry trade school, signed up for Korea legally this time, came back , got married, had 6 kids then went to Vietnam a short while before he finally retired. He worked joint with USA for a bit in Vietnam. Dont believe what politicians tell you. They only say Canada wasnt involved so they dont have to pay for wars mainly to veterans and families. We had soldiers in Iraq too. He was a busy man but died when i was 11. He had a plate in his head, and shrapnel in his bloodstream that my mom would pull out at night. Serious PTSD too and mom kicked him out of bed for some time until he settled down cos he slept with one eye open and a knife under his pillow. My one brother made a mistake one time crawling behind the couch when dad was sleeping. He got the piss scared out of him when dad jumped up with the knife. That scared mom, yes. Uncle Bernard was in WW11, both my grandpas were in WW1 and great grandpa was in Second Boer war. Canadians are badass in wars. Very much respected. Thanks bud for your videos.
We Canadians love a good fight...and we will fight anyone anywhere for the right reasons...our love for each other is what makes us tough..we dont fight for ourselves we fight for the ones beside us...fearless aggressive and relentless respectful compassionate and caring these traits is what make us Canadians the warriors we are
Love this video, especially because of our tough as nails and innovative soldiers! I am proud of our Canadian military & also the British military, which my grandfather fought in as a tank driver in italy during WW2. He was a Polish invasion survior who fled to England and joined their army. He always talked about how amazing the British & Canadian soldiers were, and that's why my grandparents eventually settled in Canada. Thank you so much for this!
My son has been in the Canadian army for 22 years and now a Master Warrant officer. He keeps saying 'we do not got to war for selfish reasons and certainly not to make friends'. The famous we're sorry in peace time becomes You are going to be sorry.
Don't want to be an ass but every single conflict we've taken part in in the last 22 years have been to serve the interest of the US army. You have every right to be proud of your kid but all we have to show for our current military is young ones being sent back in coffins and a pat on the back from NATO.
@@BrandonPoirierBlair My son was the spotter for the US air force bombing in Syria. MY son was the lead man in Afghanistan for the US military. My son was in Angola as the tracker for the US military. Just for your info. We just do not get involved with useless conflicts. Remember what Churchill and the 'German desert Fox, in Africa said. " I wish our soldiers would be like the Canadian soldier and the war would be over.
I'm from Canada and it blows my mind that some one is so interested in Canada. I always thought that people thought we were silly. Its nice to see some one feel so passionate about us
We Canadians feel a kinship with Scotland too! Many of us have Scottish heritage, particularly in the Maritime provinces. And of course we're always happy to hear from other parts of the Commonwealth. Awesome vid about our boys in WW2! As I like to explain it: Canadians don't start wars, we end them.
Lest we forget. Good reaction man, it gave me chills and the respect you gave us at the end had me emotional. Canadians don't get as much credit as I know we deserve. So thank you.
My dad's family is originally irish from Britain and he was in the British Air force during ww2. He lied about his age in order to sign up because he was too young. He and my grandmother moved to Ontario as young parents and spent the rest of their lives here in Canada. My grandfather was always welcome at the local legion and was often celebrated and given medals by the British govt and Canadian govt.
Actually, we don't do nearly enough to learn about Canadian participation in the wars. How do I say this? Canada is often the silent partner. We don't tout our own horn loud enough. It wasn't till my seventh grade in school that I learned about several Canadians often killed in the second world war, and not till grade 10 in history did we begin to touch on the Canadians fighting in the first world war. we too often allow our neighbours to the south to take so much of the credit in wars. As I said, we are the silent partners.
Yeah true, but it's also not in our nature to need a ton of recognition. We just do what needs to be done & then get on with life. However it would be nice if movies would stop making stories about Canadians & changing the characters into Americans. Like in Argo for instance.
We were also invaluable training partners. The Air Training Plan churned out pilots and crew for the RAF and allies. The area where I currently live had a major ATP school. We also have training trenches near where I live where we taught trench warfare. This is just in one little pocket of the prairies. Both my grandfather's served WW2, one in France and the other as ground crew on the ATP.
@@loriburnipwas that the one where Canadians risked life and limb to help the yanks escape Iran(I think it was Iran)? But anyways Hollywood used Ben affleck as the American hero! Lol it’s quite sad they gotta do that shit to tout their own horn or something! Lol
Francis Pegahmagabow One of Canada's most decorated Indigenous soldiers, Francis Pegahmagabow was awarded the Military Medal with two bars during the First World War.
There is also William Stephenson who worked in wartime intelligence. He worked as the go between for the British and American war secrets and helped set up Camp X which trained spies. He is also viewed as one of the possible inspirations for James Bond. Funny enough, his father was Scottish.
Crazy! I was in a movie about camp X. It was filmed in southwestern ontario. The filming I was in, was done in Kitchener and st Jacobs. The part I did was cut, but I'm in the background of a couple other scenes. My ex brother in law was with me. He's in the scene where they are playing cards on a train. I believe its at the end of the movie.
Canada lead and was victorious in one of the last great Battles ( Battle of Vimy Ridge) leading to the end of WW1, where four divisions of the Canadian Corps in the First Army, against three divisions of the German 6th Army. Side note third last soldier and last Commonwealth Soldier overall to die in Combat in WW1 was a Canadian, Private George Lawrence Price.
Leo Major was very quiet about his war exploits. His family didn’t even know about it. When he died his family was surprised when a bunch of dignitaries showed up. The city has named a street after him and remember him every Armistice Day to this very day.
Years ago I belonged to a unit 'the Royal Westminster Regiment' and we took great pride that this unit has never retreated one inch in combat since its inception.
My Great Grandpa fought in both world wars. I would ask him about it as a kid and he would just tell be grateful we won and be grateful for your freedoms❤ He would never talk about him actually fighting he was too humble for that❤😊
Yeah, large portions of the Geneva Convention are basically "Canada did what? You can't do that!" Also, when you mention at the end about hoping these deeds are remembered? Every year Netherlands sends a gift of 10,000 tulips to Canada and we hold a festival in Ottawa (The Capital) centered around tulips.
Since Canada was a major signatory and contributor to the language of the Geneva Conventions and the protocol updates that followed, I’d like to think the process went like… Britain: “Huh…what if someone did X…would that count as a war crime?” Canada: “Oh, hell yes. It definitely should. Trust us, we field-tested X, extensively.” America: “You did what now?” France: “Ah…so zat is what all ze loud screaming in German vas.” West Germany: *just rocking back and forth, in the fetal position, in a corner, having a quiet panic attack* Canada: “…can I just add ‘Sorry, eh?’ In brackets at the end of this line? I feel like I should…”
@@sklaWlivE Britain: "Well I guess... he did say sorry" Canada: *silence intensifies* America: "Canada what are you doing!" France: "Canada stop they surrendered!" West Germany *prisoner getting Drowned in a bucket of maple syrup* Canada: "Boss... I may have found something else to add to that stupid list you started making"
We are polite, nice, friendly people- who WILL kick ass, when an ass-kicking is required. We don't go looking for a fight, but won't back down if a fight is the only remaining option.
My American brother-in-law was astounded when these truths started coming to light. He so wished to tAlk it all though with me as my grandfather was part of the Italy campaign . He was speechless ( dumbfounded)astonished and purely amazed. 🇨🇦
My dad was a member of the 1st. Canadian Parachute Battalion in WWII. He had a good war. They all did. He came home in one piece. A lot of them didn't. You might want to look into that particular combat unit, of which even most Canadians never heard until the 1970s.
Canadians have always been there. We volunteer. We are the wolves in sheep’s clothing. Outwardly we have always been polite. Put a hockey stick in our hands and you’ll see what we can do. 😅
If you ever get the chance, look up James Doohan's wartime experiences. He was Canadian, and fought in WW2, notably landing at Juno Beach on D-Day. He is more well-known as the actor who Played Montgomery Scott (Chief Engineer Scottie) from the original Star Trek series.
Leo Major is THE hero. This mans story is absolutely insane. He survived 2 plane crash, had most of his body injured in different conflicts permanently loosing an eye in one of them, refused to be deported back home each times, leaded a small squad of his best friends and brother in arms on suicide missions, which he successfuly completed with no casualties asking only for bourbon or rum, liberated a city alone, refused two medals to generals he deemed unworthy of leading and much more. His last known words were ''i miss war''.
We don't celebrate individuals very much. As my mother said, it's the accomplishment that matters, not who did it. It's in contrast to Americans, who celebrate individuals almost to the point of deification, and often at the expense of remembering what was actually done and why.
We do have a few though, and those few have a status unlike any of those dieties the US celebrates, only the greatest of men can earn that status for us
@@tomykong2915 Yes, and they almost invariably earn that status by being magnificent to or for other people. Not for killing, for saving. Not for conquest, but for peace.
My Father and Grandfather who were from Scotland, fought in the two world wars. In Military circles the Canadian Military are always appreciated, respected and known for punching way above their weight class.⚔🇨🇦🏒🛶❄🦫🍁🦢⛷🥓🍺🥍🥌🎶🎬📹⚖🩺☮⚜ 🇬🇧 🎉
My dad fought in France, Belgium, the Netherlands and in Germany...he met my mom in the Netherlands and they married at the end of WW2 before returning back to Canada.
I'm a Canadian and although I am aware of our huge contribution to the world wars, I have never heard of these incredible men. I wish there was more recognition of our soldiers who fought so bravely for freedom. Canadians are very humble and sadly we forget our heroic people because of it.
As a Canadian I learned from other videos like this that during war times, we are some of the most ... vicious and commit quite a bit of war crimes that shock our allies. But ... thinking back on it, yeah ... sounds about right. you step on our toes and we apologize but tick us off and they 'won't ever find the body'.
Leo Major died in 2008. He had a long life. He was also in the Korean war. You should look up some of his exploits in that war too. They're incredible. There actually is a movie about him. It's called "Léo Major, le fantome borgne". It's not a big hollywood production though. Just a local film.
Glad to see your interest. My dear Father lied his age at 16 to enter the army and landed on the beaches of Normandy on D Day. He never ever talked about it. He didn't relive it. My Mom always said we had to understand the horrors he always saw as such as a young age. We carry on very British traditions.🇨🇦
Fun fact WE WERE IN BOTH WORLD WARS BEFORE CANADA AND WAS THE LAST PROVINCE TO JOIN CANADA IN 1949 ,NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR AND ALSO TWICE THE SOLDIERS IN CANADA AT THE TIME. THANKS
One of the more interesting stories about the Canadian military is that they had outdated weaponry going into the second world war. The Lee Enfield rifle was first adopted by the Canadian military during a stand off between the UK and Venezuela just before the second Boer war (also called the South African war) where it saw greater adoption. From 1896 to 1955 (a couple years after the Korean War), we used the Lee Enfield. In contrast, Americans used semi-automatic M1 Carbine firearms in the second world war and Korean war. Individual Canadian soldiers would often trade in barter with the Americans to get their hands on the superior semi-automatic weapons.
My father was stationed in Europe during WWII and was in Holland afterward. He was only 21. I’m always amazed (and frustrated) when war movies (made in the US for the most part) never represent Canadians--you’d think we sat home and ate poutine and ketchup chips while the war raged on. (PS. I love your accent!)
I’ve heard some yanks say that all Canadian troops did in ww2 was guard the royal family, n they were serious! I just laughed and said ya, for 2 years while the US was selling oil to Germany, profiteering off of both sides, we sent about 20 soldiers to guard the royals, hey they didn’t die did they??? lol then I called him some names and that was that!! But I couldn’t freakin believe it, wtf are they teaching our southern neighbours?
You should also look into the Dieppe raid from WWII, carried out by mostly Canadians. Although the Canadian force was killed, captured or retreated, and the lives lost spent uselessly, it came to be seen as an important example of conducting an amphibious landing & the lessons learned there helped the Normandy landings 2 years later to succeed.
The truth about Dieppe was not revealed until 72 years later when the government report about it could finally be opened. It wasn’t about a test landing. It was about sending Royal Marines in to capture an Enigma machine in a headquarters 5 blocks from the port. They were supposed to be in the final landing craft, but their arrival was quite delayed due to weather and channel currents. By that time the Nazis were prepared to “welcome” them. The Royal Marines couldn’t get to the headquarters because of that. They had to retreat. No one knew anything about the Royal Marines being part of the landing. They were “regular” soldiers. Interestingly enough, there was a British ship off shore waiting for the Enigma machine to be delivered by the Marines. On the ship was a man who helped plan the raid. The man was Ian Fleming. A very detailed book has been written all about this by a very distinguished Canadian historian. It’s called One Day In August.
Note the sense of community within Canada, they work very well together in tough and hard situations no matter the battle is in front of them, from saving people, to helping people in need, to obliterating the enemy in the path that seeks to destroy our way of life.
Leo Major only started to get mainstream recognition in canada by the late 2000s. The first parc named in his honour was dedicated in 2018. Meanwhile in Netherlands they have had streets named after him for years. After the Korean war he tried a carer in the military but very few is know... he kept getting demoted and getting disciplined. He did not go well with authority, he was a true loner. That explains part of why here in Canada he he was mostly unknown, until after his death in 2008. After the military he became a plumber but struggled heavily with PTSD and alcoholism. But the las decades of his life were a lot more peaceful and with his children and grandchildren.
During WWII, the battle at Juno Beach was lead by the Lincoln and Welland Regiment, also known as the Lincs and Winks. My maternal grandfather was a sniper scout in the Lincoln and Welland regiment and helped secure the beach, the Lincs went on to liberate many small towns through Europe. Their route took them up to Bergen Op Zoom, Canada and Holland have a close relationship now. Canadians are very passionate about our contributions to WWI and WWII.
@@lynnroney1234 thank you! I wish I could tell my grandfather how thankful I am for his service in the war. He never talked about his years spent overseas, and we didn’t find out about his role at Normandy until a few years ago. I’m so very proud of him, his brothers and my paternal grandfather risking their lives for our freedom. I wish I could be at Juno Beach for the 80th anniversary on June 6th and stand where he may have been standing.
@@Wytch1 His generation just didn’t talk about things. I think because it was so horrible the only way to a future was to box it up, put it on a shelf and get on with life. I understand about wanting to be at Juno Beach too. I want to stand on that sand. The house you can see in the very famous footage of our landing is still there and is a museum to those who landed. I want to go to Juno Beach Museum. You can buy a Memorial Brick that is put on a kiosk you can go see. For the first Christmas after my dad died, I found out about this and bought one. He was in the Canadian military, so I put his rank and Regiment on it. You can also get a carved wooden replica to have. I have one. It’s what mom opened up as her present. I explained what is and she just sat and cried. That brick is the only place in the world that says my father was here. You should look into it. Just go on the site for the Juno Beach Museum. I’m sure they would have it there.
@@lynnroney1234 I will definitely look into the brick and the wooden replica, thank you! I can give the replica to my mom, she’ll love it. Yeah, my mom and I talked about how when the men came back from the war, they never talked about it. It was too horrific and most if not all of them were just kids at that time. We also know it as ptsd now but back then it was shell shock and they were told to buck up. I think that’s why here the Royal Canadian Legion was created, a place for our veterans to go, have a few beers, play darts and talk to each other. They all understood what they went through so it was as close to therapy as they got.
One more fun fact about Leo Major: he was the inspiration behind Marvel's Nick Fury, right down to the eyepatch and the rest of his appearance (Before Samuel L. Jackson...)
It should be noted the amount of war medals the native people had achieved during the wars Canada was involved in! Canada had buried alot of our involvement and significance in most battles! One story from Vietnam illustrates our contributions! There was a sniper on the bushland, very well dug in like a spider! None of the Americans or Canadians soldier couldn't locate this Vietcong! 5 native americans requested to make lacrosse sticks for themselves! The authorities thought it was foolish to be playing a game! A captain took the native boys aside and asked for a lacrosse sticks, which the boys quickly made! Of course the native boys had their beloved sticks! Anyways the sniper was back in place in the evening! The native boys were in place as well! The sniper took a shot and the next moment a series of explosions hit where the Vietcong sniper had been! The native american soldiers had place grenades and other ordances in their lacrosse sticks and threw them at the sniper! End of story! Stories of such are many and saved many peoples lives! We honor our veterans/soldiers at every powwow we have including Hawaii! Come join us on any given weekend at any powwow, in North America! Dance with us, all are welcome, we offer no racism just smiles! Hoka!
Other countries refer to the Geneva Conventions. Canadians refer to the Geneva Checklist. Remember, it isn’t a war crime the first time it is ever done.😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Canadian of Scottish decent chiming in. I'm envious of your accent. I realize that' it's rarely a bonus among a mixed group of English speakers, but I don't care. It is the accent I practiced most as a kid. It still wanders into assorted Irish, Cockney etc, never did nail it. Still, my heritage is a source of pride for me. Both the Romans and the English failed to take Scotland through force of arms. Our ancestors kicked the snot out of two of the biggest D-bag empires known to history. I've even attempted to learn Scottish Gaelic. Granted I only learned that Iron Brew is a thing there, but I still haven't quit on the idea. Stubborn AF and proudly so! Have a great day brother 👍
Once WW2 started, many Canadians volunteered. I only learned during my dad's funeral that he needed his father's written permission to volunteer as he was 17 years old. They don't make them like that anymore.
Don't know if you are aware but we also have our own Ceremonial Guard that perform the changing of the guard who are affiliated with the the Grenadier Guards and Coldstream guards. Something that is offend not mentioned is that the Canadian soldiers a lot were farmers and were used to the hard work and cold especially in WWI
Appreciate the love and respect. Canada doesn't get a lot of that these days on this platform or anywhere else for that matter.. We are a relatively friendly and polite people for the most part, but we're also endlessly patriotic, will defend our country and eachother, and we endure 6-7 months of frigid wasteland together each year. lol..its a life which breeds a very particular type of people, community, and mindset..... Anyways, great video man. I love military history, have family that fought in both world wars and even I didn't know some of these stories. Cheers! 🇨🇦🇬🇧🫡
Great video. I knew of the amazing courage in was, my Dad is 93 and tells of his uncle who was in world war 2 got injured came home, healed and went back. You just got a new subscriber. Thanks for choosing a subject that encourages us especially at this time.
No, cause we don't go for flash. Canadians know that we don't have the numbers to simply over-power our enemies, so we have to fight smarter, and harder.
Thank you for your reaction videos to Canada, my grandfather and my father-in-law both fought in WW 2. I am surprised that the video did not specifically mention some of the significant action the Canadian military were in during WW: Battle of Ypres, Battle of Somme, Battle of Hill 70, Battle of Combra (the first effective tank attack in history), Battle of Vimy Ridge, Battle of Passenchendale, Battle of Sorrel, Canada’s Hundred Days + many others. During WW2, other interesting facts include: Canada established 40 prisoner of war camps, Camp 30 in Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada housed high ranking Third Reichts German officers POW’s and resisted the Nazi’s efforts to release them. Camp X on the shore of Lake Ontario between Oshawa and Whitby. This was a joint initiative between the British and Canadian governments and was a secret special training school for covert agents/spy’s. This facility also housed Hydra (watch The Many Heads of Hydra), a significant telecommunications relay station, tape cypher, coding/decoding machine/operation. Camp X was the place that inspired Ian Fleming to write the James Bond series of books. Also Canada played a significant role in WW2 with the Canadian Code Breakers. Video ‘The Untold Story of the Canadian Code Talker’ or the inspiration for the movie ‘The Imitation Game’. Canada has also successfully fought two USA invasions - the Invasion of Canada 1775 and again in the War of 1812. Also a Canadian, Ken Taylor, was instrumental in coordinating the release of six American diplomatic hostages in Tehran. (not as Ben Affleck would have you believe in his misleading film Argo).
Not really known but Canadian Army was gonna be the first Allied Force to enter and liberate Rome. American General Clark ordered them to halt so America was first. Canadian troops we're livid, not only for the halt, but the show put on gave the Germans time to retreat get ready for the next push
Just like in hockey we are the same in war...we won't start it but we will come to the defence of our team mates and allies and fight until the end and we will win!!
Side note on Leo Major's story Apparently there is no official documentation of his actual actions in Zwolle and many of the stories we hear about today are disputed - even by Major himself
Don't mistake kindness for weakness is a good way to describe us Canadians.
Those who can't admit they made a mistake are the weak. Mercy is brave. Justice is divine. Even Leo Major preferred taking prisoners over killing.
Well said
"Being capable of violence and deciding against it is being peaceful. Being incapable of violence is being weak."
Our record in battle demonstrates that Canadians typically are friendly, respectful and polite..........until we're not. It shouldn't have been a surprise, really. Anyone who thought that Canadians were incapable of extreme violence has clearly never been to a hockey game!
@@mikeb2586 As I told my sister once, I'm very easy to get along with, just don't piss me off. I think a lot of Canadians are like that.
One story of WW1 is the Battle of Vimy Ridge, in which Canada secured it in 3 days whereas the UK and France failed for over two years
The Rolling (Creeping) Barrage, baby!
"Have you tried softening them up with artillery fire?"
"Well, duh!"
"Have you tried firing the artillery at US as we advance?"
"Wait... What?!"
Stood on it on the 100th anniversary. I was in tears.
@@VictorRomeo1917 That's fantastic!
@@mikeb2586 it was a sacred experience
@@VictorRomeo1917 I'll bet it was! I'm a retired 30 year Army vet, myself, and a bit of an amateur historian. Most important from my personal perspective, though, both of my grandfathers served with the CEF in WW1. My mom's father was a courier with the Fort Garry Horse and my dad's father was a Cpl. with the 1st Btn. PPCLI at Vimy and at Passchendaele. I had the honor of serving my first hitch with the 2nd PPCLI '77 - '80 before I was reassigned to the CAR - it made me very proud every time I saw those battle honors on our regimental flag.
I envy your experience - I can easily imagine that it was, as you say, sacred.
25 years ago, I was in the British military and went to the US on a training course. Most of the others were Americans but there was also a small group of Canadians (whose first language was French). At lunch time the Canadians were back in the classroom first and as I entered the room, they were speaking in French. Immediately they noticed that I'd come in, they switched into English to avoid excluding me. I thought it was so polite and formed a very positive opinion of Canadians in my mind.
Were they van doos?
@@shartazokhan1043 A LOT of Van Doos (R22R) trained at Ft. Bragg and other US bases for various purposes.
Those were probably Quebec soldiers from ValCartier
Well, Canadian are polite but not friendly. Quebecois are not polite but they are friendly.
@@olafsigursons You should try coming down east, where we're both.
If the Canadians say "I have an idea" during war, they call it a Geneva Suggestion, it may later be added to the Geneva Convention.
😂
Sorry bud, over here in Canada it's called the Geneva Checklist.
@@iGhostx0123I just refer to it as “our military pride” to foreign friends 😂
Fuck yea brother!!! Geneva suggestions 😂
True
As a canadian, were the most patient and nice people, but we are the definition of "fuck around and find out"
our government has been fucking around for a while so idk about that
We are Vikings at heart, glory is found only in death, when the toques come off we will make it a good one!
"Sorry, did that hurt? Do you need a medic?"
Funny you say that cause we are being taken advantage of and NOTHING is being done about it. Canada is nowadays is more like “fuck around and we’ll let you”
@@MinibossMakaque Like Max Richard says, You don't have to be nice to be kind 👍
As a Canadian veteran, I'd just like to point out that we also have the largest French population on earth that's never surrendered to anyone ever, for any reason.
French not so much Quebecers yes
if you take a french-canadian quebecer from the gaspesie region (or many other regions) & put them just about anywhere in france, the french locals will not understand the dialect & vice versa. like putting a scotsman in alabama, or a spaniard in the yucatan.
@@johnanon6938 i believe one already exists, a scot at a drive-thru in 'bama. poor lil girl employee had to go get the manager, which didn't help at all. poor scot couldn't score his whatever... more vids like this would be nice. or an irishman in the hills of west virginia, ozzy in kentucky, etc...
@@jdbankshot
1. We are not french-canadian quebecer, we are Quebecois.
2. Canadian are American, Quebecois are European. Quebecois are descendant of French, our language changed but it's still our heritage.
@@olafsigursons tu pense tu vraiment que je connais pas la "difference"? ecoute, tete de slush, je suis un quebecois anglophone, c'est tu corek avec toi, ca? le quebec est une province au canada. tous les canadiens qui sont premiere langue francais, c'est des canadiens francais.
The Canadians gave us our freedom back. Living in freedom is the most precious thing a human can own. Never take it for granted.
My uncle was there! Most proud moment for the Canadians to make a difference!❤️🇨🇦
@@anitamackinnon7975 we are forever grateful for that. That's exactly the reason why the Netherlands is now one of the largest Investors in Europe to help Ukraine win this horrible war. Because we understand the price of freedom. Even after all these years, we are very well educated about what our liberators did for us. The Canadian war cemeteries always look clean and respected. I literally grew up close to one of them. Canadians do have a good moral compass.
yea, real freedom being locked down for nothing.
My mother's uncles served in Holland, in the infantry and armour units. One uncle had enlisted with his best friend who had a leg blown off by a german grenade. My uncle crawled in open space to get his friend and pull him to safety. He was awarded a medal for that. My mother's father, my grandfather, also served as a spitfire pilot in the RCAF. I only knew them as mild mannered, polite, intelligent and thoughtful men. But my mother always reminded me that could be ruthless when they had to be.
😊@@anitamackinnon7975
Leo Major also fought in the Korean War, he’s the only Canadian to win a distinguished conduct medal in two separate wars, pure badass.
Well, he did have 18 other guys with him when he routed two Chinese divisions and held off their attempt to re-take the hill. In Zwolle it was just him, a series of captured machine guns, and incandescent rage over the death of his friend.
Funny thing. 🇨🇦involvement was not recognized at the time. In Vietnam, 🇨🇦 was recognized AFTER the effort but never formally recognized for I t’s involvement
He was a real life Rambo
@@dirckdelint6391 19 vs 14k chineses (1 Ca for 736 chineses) from 4 different direction for 3 days.. no death for Leo Major group, only an injured soldier, and over 6k of casualty of chinese soldiers! and got back the montagne (hill 355) that was a strategic points (sorry for my grammar im french canadian)
Tommy Prince would have as well but his accomplishments in WWII were seen as “surpassing the range of any existing medal”, and in Korea his commanding officers refused to nominate him for any awards due to a) his ethnicity and b) the fact that he was viewed by the other men of his company as being a superior strategist and soldier, even at his not age 35.
Actually I’m very surprised (and yet somehow not) that Tommy Prince was not mentioned at all in this video
Canadians are looked upon as heroes to this day in the Netherlands for liberating them in WW2. Many of them married Canadian soldiers, including my wifes grandmother. They wanted to live in Canada because they wanted to live in the land of their heroes
I believe we still receive a shit load of tulips to this day as a thank you!!
They did show appreciation for being liberated from the nazi's.
During WWII, the Dutch monarchy escaped to Canada, while pregnant. In order for the baby to be born on Dutch land, Canada gave the Netherlands part of Ottawa. To this day, the Netherlands has a plot of land there.
Indeed. In elementary school I had a teacher of dutch decent, Ms. Van Wyck. She still had strong connections the her family back in the netherlands, and our class became penpals with a class in her ancestral hometown. A remnant of this time in my life is that I cheer for Dutch teams in International competitions
Im in ottawa and we have a tulip festival every year where the dutch royals send the capital thousands of tulips that get planted near dows lake and around parlinent. It is a great time the festival is because we made our civic hospital temporary Netherlands conquered ground so that the queen would birth princess margriet on Netherlands soil. Then canada took back the Netherlands
When people talk about the Canadian military, I always think about actor James Doohan. Long before he was Scotty on Star Trek, World War II hero James "Jimmy" Doohan was known as the "craziest pilot in the Canadian air force." His real-world heroic exploits as one of the 14,000 Canadian soldiers who landed on the shores of Normandy during World War II. At one point, “Scotty” fired upon and took down two enemy snipers. He was shot at six times by a Canadian sentry who had confused him with an enemy defender. Most of the bullets from the offending Bren Gun hit him in the leg; one took off his right middle finger, and the last hit him in the chest . . . in the exact some spot where he carried a good-luck gift from his brother: a silver cigarette case.
In WWI the Germans feared Canadians so much they would abandon their trenches. When the British couldn't get anything done they sent in the Canadians. Canada and America created a special forces group I think called the hell jumpers, that were elite soldiers. The French Canadians were absolute beasts also, top notch soldiers. One thing that video sadly did not mention was the natives that fought in the war. They were exquisite soldiers who were also feared because of their skills
The GREAT majority of canadians and Newfoundlanders (NOT part of Canada yet) were volunteers - same in WW2.
Tommy Prince? I think that’s who Mom spoke of one day when she was clear.
@@ThundaStrack Yep, that's one. There is also Francis Pegahmagabow, the Ghost of the Trenches, in the First World War.
Yes, read up on what Tommy Price did, was amazing
The first special forces unit was a combined unit of half Canadian, half American, and they were called the “Devils Brigade “!! ✊🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦
There is a story from a German officer in WW2 who said: " We knew who we were fighting when we would fire our artillery. The Britsh would dig in and wait for the shelling to end, the Americans would pull back and bring up their tanks. The Canadians would attack."
Operation maple shield eh
The Canadians invented counter-battery artillery fire in WW1
The shock troops were often a cohesive group french canadians from northern ontario, québec, new brunswick, manitoba
The french have given the world so much.... they invented the word surrender.
French: surrender = surrendre = sur + rendre = sur (over) + rendre (deliver, hand over, yield). 😂
@@ToAsTyDoNDoN HL Mencken: "My guess is that well over eighty per cent of the human race goes through life without ever having a single original thought."
Most Canadians know the heroics of Leo Major. He was an army of his own. There should be a movie about him. 👍
I’m French Canadian, majored in history and had never heard about him until recently. And there is a movie about him (or at the very least it’s in the making): th-cam.com/video/9G_HXt4Jbrg/w-d-xo.html
I second that!
Knowing Hollywood, any blockbuster movie about him would turn him into an American and make a bumbling sidekick Canadian. See: Argo.
@@Leafsdude Ain’t that the truth…
There should be a movie, but audiences would say it was to far-fetched to be factual. 93 POW's sinlge-handed? Pshhhh - he's just getting warmed up.
Just remember that the Geneva convention is in good part because of what Canadians did during WWII, the Germans called us red devils.
Nice 👍
And sturmtroopen, or stormtroopers, which was the inspiration for the intimidating stormtroopers from star wars
That was ww1
You mean the Geneva suggestions? (I'm Canadian)
Part of the thing about our military is that it is small. The American army can afford to have soldiers who are highly specialised at doing one specific task. Our soldiers have to be able to fill in multiple rôles depending on what is needed. In turn, this makes our army extremely versatile and able to handle changing conditions.
Plus Canada is very frugal with military equipment, so when we need to move, we move fast. Nothing much for junk to hold us up. LOL
It's why they say, Canadian Soldiers, American Technology, British officers I'd rule the world
We can also maintain a higher standard at every level.
Look at the requirements to become a marine and they're item for item basic infantry in Canada
I can say for most of us, Canadians, that we have a GREAT respect for those who died for our freedom. When war is mentioned, most of us are on the ready to defend our beautiful country, our freedoms and our rights as human beings. In short...we have NO tolerance for ignorance. Yet, we always welcome anyone with open arms.
Hahaha! Something about your very last sentence made me think...
No matter how you introduce yourself to us Canadians, we're prepared to greet you with "open arms"... In one way or another
@@TheDylls Pretty much, it's all up to the group or individuals.
yet we keep electing the same muppets
Amen brother . Those that fought and died for our freedoms will never be forgotten . We will rise up when the time comes . Blame Ontario and Quebec for tcanadas crap along with douche bag trudaue
Lots of people have written very thoughtful comments. If you’re really interested in Canadian heroes, you need to read more about General Arthur Currie (WWI). As for the ferocity of the Canadian soldier whom the Germans called Storm or Shock Troopers, perhaps it was a case of “you started it” when the Germans inflicted poisonous clouds of mustard gas primarily at us. I can’t think of any Canadian who disrespects a soldier. As for Canadians winning every war we’ve been in - some comedian cheekily suggested it was because some general told the assembled troops, okay, boys, the other side has the puck. You think you might want to live here? Go to Government of Canada Immigration - good luck navigating that site, you’ll need it.
In the war in Afghanistan in Kandahar, THE front in that war was under Canadian command for 2 years. I saw a little vid clip of an American colonel being greeted by reporters in the airport upon his return.. They asked what he thought of the experience there? He said he was glad to be home. Then they asked what he thought of serving with Canadian command and troops? He stopped...smiled and looked down. He looked back up and said "well...I wouldn't wanna fight'em."
I would like to see that interview
@@martinrf20 I’m sure it’s on the internet, look it up
Just a FYI - The first Special Services Force were comprised of Canadians and Americans. The Germans referred to them as The Devil's Brigade. The movie "The Devil's Brigade" is about this force.
Love that movie. Particularly when the Yanks are brawling amongst themselves at the start, and then stop when they hear the Canucks marching to the training camp gate to the wail of bagpipes. The bar-fight bonding scene against the lumberjacks also rocks.
There's a TH-cam video about them floating around somewhere too.
My mother and Grandfather used tells me stories of her Uncle who served as a member of The Black Watch (part of the Devil’s Brigade). She used to say they were always the first ones in and the last left at the end of a battle. The Germans used to call them “The ladies from Hell” and “The Devils in Skirts” for a reason. I heard all sorts of stories about being run over by tanks, men springing up out a pile of corpses to slash at enemies. My great uncle was a large intimidating looking man and the PTSD he had afterwards from what he had experienced left him a shell of his former self. They always said never approach old Bill if he was sleeping and never sneak up on him or you be in danger.
Canadians are the definition of "its the quiet ones you gotta watch"
that was a long time ago. doesn't apply to todays "canadians". Most "canadians" today hate Canada
^ Canada nowadays is the definition of “it’s the quiet ones that’ll do nothing”
@@ScottPittman-jc7ph Most "Canadians" today aren't Canadian, they're invaders.
@@ScottPittman-jc7phnah bud if the right event triggers it... you'll see.
As the proud son of a Canadian vet thanks for this
Canadian soldiers never retreated. The officers fought side be side with these men. - a history teacher
And if you killed or captured one of our officers you were very very fucked
My grandfather was one of those Scots that immigrated to Canada…and went back when WWII happened. He met my grandmother who was a medic, and came back to Canada to raise a family and be the best human beings I’ve ever known. RIP ❤️
My great-grandfather was 16 in 1914 and lied about his age to go, when ww2 happened he chose to go again despite have a wife and 3 kids to worry about and lived with a very proud family dying peacefully in his sleep much later at age 87, bless your grandparents❤
As a Brit, I'm glad we have Canada as our ally 🇬🇧🏴🏴🏴🇬🇮🇻🇬🇹🇦🇹🇻🇦🇮🇧🇲🇫🇯🇳🇺🇸🇭🇵🇳🇫🇰🇦🇨❤️🇨🇦
@@wudip6306 me too mate
my mother's Dad and my great uncle Ted grew up in England... Dad's grandparents grew up in Scotland (the West Isles and North Uists actually)... ive been to "the Old Country"... my first time was in 1978 while I was 8 years old... Our relatives from there visit us in Canada on a regular basis - and me and my numerous MacDonald (and Haithwaite) families visit there on a regular basis
@@glenmcdonald375 I've never been to Canada but I'd love to go some day
@@oliversherman2414 i recommend it. its a great and beautiful nation. very welcoming
@@glenmcdonald375 Yeah, I'm sure. I've heard nothing but good things about our Canadian cousins
Canadians will go to great lengths to avoid war but if war is what someone chooses, we ( the whole population) are committed to seeing it through to its end.
For proof see The Canadian Freedom Convoy. The American convoys both failed miserably. Through over five thousand five hundred and twenty five miles, the trucks kept coming.
@@2Sugarbearsdon’t use those clowns as an example of Canadas military might. They were a laughing stock to us
@@2Sugarbears The "freedom convoy" was a criminal action, and a national embarrassment. They cost the country hundreds of millions of dollars to protest US border policy. They terrorized the Ottawa population for weeks, for no reason. Everyone that participated in it was stupid, and a loser. Half of its funding came from MAGA sources in the USA .
Leo Major was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, to French Canadian Parents. With all of his wounds and injuries, he lived to be 87, dying in 2008. 2008.
‘’ Give me American technology , British officers & Canadian soldiers and I’ll win any war “ - Sir Winston Churchill
Apparently that’s a misquote…
@@Mielououou Could be Rommel, but mentioned by military or state leader at the time
British officers? Seriously?
@@eddyd3298 You do know Rommel was a Nazi officer, right?
@@Wirmish As a Canadian, my thought was, especially coming from Churchill - reportedly - "British officers have impeccable training in the theory of warfare... And the Canadian troops have enough sense to know when to ignore an order." Lmao
Canadian, spent my youth in Europe (kid of a diplomat). Having spent time at Normandy, Ypres, and other battle location, it really does make you appreciate what those young men and women went through, even if just a little bit.
This video (Canadians change when they hear the word WAR) reminds me of our general mindset. For instance, hockey…we are friends, buds, and bros before the game, but once we hit the ice, all bets are off. We charge hard, hit, fight, and hate to lose…then, off the ice, back to normal. It’s like we have a light switch that goes off and the task to victory is set in and we will not relent.
We’ll love you all and will be hospitable, nice, and welcoming, but please don’t piss us off.
I agree!
If I might be so bold as to add:
To me it's always been like the important distinction between a rival and an enemy.
You "should" want, with your entire heart, for your rival to lose... Your competition.
And you "should" EQUALLY want your enemy to lose... Everything.
Absolutely! A lot of people mistake our kindness for weakness. That's a mistake people shouldn't make 😂.
@@loriburnip its us observing and being quiet and not saying stuff
then ....WHOOSH INTO ACTION
@@chronosschiron Then we Jersey you & its OVER! 🤣
like rugby
Leo Major is the real Rambo!!! He is one of the reasons that I’m so proud to be Québécoise!!!! 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻❤️❤️
Here, also proud Canadian.
hell yeah je suis fier detre quebecois vive la population canadienne
Mert, I hate to break your heart man. But I am an extremely healthy 75 year old, and I can assure you that the name of Leo Major has NEVER been uttered in any Canadian media. Not in newspapers of the old day. Not on radio new and never on TV news. To this day, Leo Major is unknown in Canada. So I thank you from the bottom of my heart for exposing Major's greatness by presenting this reaction.
Much love from Alberta... and all of Canada.
I completely understand and empathize with your sentiment. It's truly eye-opening to listen to these stories from a different perspective. Many of these narratives were absent from my education and knowledge as well. I can see how gaining this understanding has deepened our pride in being a Canadian.
That's why he has a movie called "Leo Major: The One-Eyed Ghost" ?
Not sure where you served, but growing up military, we knew about him. Never came across anyone who didn't.
@@Slothptimal Please sir, don't be an idiot. Nobody I know ever heard of that movie, although it exist somewhere out there on the internet. You are deliberately missing my point, and for that you get a failing grade with your dumb comment.
We were never taught in schools anything about the great Leo Major. In m 70 years, I can assure you that there have never been any words about him on the main stream media. So please get off your high horse and admit that the great Leo Major is has been completely ignore in Canada... other than the video you mentioned... which nobody has even heard of until you mentioned it here.
Thank you for mentioning it though, because now I can watch it and tell all my friends and family about Leo Major... a mere 80 years AFTER his great accomplishments. You are a bit of an asshole.
First heard of the name when in CEGEP (college) when I was in my early 20's, because a teacher asked a fellow student if they were related since he was a Major too. Never heard about it before as so many people around me.
Unless people have an interest in war and do their own research, public quebec schools won't speak about it
We know about him. It’s just that we’ve got so many insane badasses that he kind of gets lost among them.
Check out the film called The Devil's Brigade (1968 starring William Holden). It illustrates the elite training of Canadian soldiers. They were paired with American soldiers who had discipline issues, but were ferocious. The combination of the two made one of the most elite units in the entire European theater, and they did incredible work in the Italian campaign.
Canadians before war: we're sorry. During war: you're sorry. Also leo mqjor deserves a documentary. That needs to happen. Proud canadian, we love you here 🇨🇦
If you ever want to see the most apologetically polite people transform into your worst nightmare, make fun of Terry Fox in front of some Canadians.
p.s. and people still wonder why they allow fighting in hockey 🤣
That Sir, would be suicide.
@@MrPeterharold Really? Who raised you?
Dont fuck with Terry bro
Why would anyone make fun of Terry Fox?
Actually, why would we allow hockey in fighting? 🤔
I'm very proud that Canada represent kindness and empathy but I believe we're also naturally quite tough and loyal to each other.
We were until the first Prime Minister with the name of trudeau. Things have gone rapidly downhill since.
Cant be soft if you want to live up here. The cold will eat you for dinner.
@@Sevo- ''cant be soft'' Yeah right, tell that to the millions of libtards who've infected the country. Canada isn't what it used to be and it's getting worse every single day.
@@billbennett9537 Naw, even under the "little guy from shawinagan" we were well united. It's only been since Paul Martin and FOX propaganda that things have started falling apart.
@@agilemind6241 United under cretin you say....are you forgetting the whole Quebec separation referendum? United my arse!
After my father died I was going through some of his things from the military. I found a poem he wrote (had no clue he did that) about the courage and fighting ability of Canadian soldiers. It was published in the military newspaper. When I read it I sat and cried. So proud of what he wrote. And what he wrote made me so proud of the Canadian military.
13:13 My grandpa was in world war 2 he was very very young he “snuck in” by lying about his age. He was on the beaches of Normandy on D day. He rarely told anyone about his war days, let alone show any of his medals. I was really blessed to have been one of his grandkids that was honoured with those stories and got to see his medals. He had 2 purple hearts. He talked about holding one of his close friends in his arms in Normandy while he died minutes after getting there. My grandpa had frozen while his friend was shot, pulled him out of the line of fire to try and save him. When his friend died, he said he felt an overwhelming rage and he told me he could barely piece together the moments after… but he armed himself and screaming in anger rushed the beach, into the fire of bullets, and (as he told me) “plucked theirs heads off the trenches with my bullets, like my dad had taught me with cans on tree limbs”. He doesn’t remember how many enemy soldiers he killed, and I understood why, but he remembered the fear, the hope, the moments of joy in victory… but what stayed with him the rest of his life… were the nightmares. My grandfather was a VERY decorated soldier, but unless he told you, or showed you, you never would have known. I feel like that’s the case with a LOT of our veterans. They’re incredibly humble and proud people. They don’t need to be out on parade for fanfare to know they did something amazing for their country. As citizens we appreciate our veterans and honour them, I wish I could say the same of our government however.
Most of the documentaries about Léo Major are in French. He never spoke about his war exploits until a short while before he passed. Even his family didn’t know about it. To him, it wasn’t about being a hero, it was about defending freedom. There’s a street that bears his name in Zwolle, the town he liberated. In an interview he explained that his buddy had just been killed by the Germans and he went nuts, deciding that he would take as many Germans as he could with him before being taken down himself (spoiler alert: he wasn’t). I wish I could tell you he is well known and celebrated here, but in fact he isn’t (except by people in the military). I myself have just learned about him recently. But the truth is, I’m pretty sure that’s how Léo himself wants things.
The I will take as many down as I can just... you never go down and next thing you know the Germans are fleeing a city because of one dude.
@@evandugas7888 Yet that’s exactly what happened. That man was definitely something special.
His family and we learn about his exploits when a delegation from Swolle came to Canada to meet him personnaly. It was in the beginning of the 2000 if I am correct.
His wife asked him "why didn't you say anything?" He anwser like only Leo Major could anwser, "you would not have believe me."
Also, let us not forget, he DID see horrors during the war and most of those veterans were very quiet about it. Not even sharing with their loved ones.
In French? But... but I don't remember ever hearing about him. And I'm from Quebec
... idk probably bc I was just a bad history student by that point. In both languages. Was in an English secondary by gr.10, but had to study Canadian history in French from then on... Teacher wasn't really into it either. But no excuse for me now to not knowing who he was
There is a great animated video about Leo Major who did a lot more than they covered here. Many regular German soldiers who were interviewed after the war, said of all the allied forces they hated the Canadians the most.
A sentiment that makes me smile to this day.
Is it an NFB film?
@@djdissi I don’t believe it is from the NFB.
Leo Major was an amazing person. He was even a machine in the following Korean war in the 1950s. A true Rambo, if there ever was. Canadian companies were composed of group from whole towns, some whole streets we lost in single battles. It is not hard to see how men who grew up together would want revenge when their friends and family were killed during WWI. Not that that is an excuse, but one can see how it happened. I know this changed for WWII so whole towns did not lose their men in a single fight. I live that Canada only use conscription in certain instances, and that most soldiers were volunteers. Canada was forged in War. From the war of 1812, too WWI and WWII. Canada grew in the heart of its citizens through the blood of it people shed on battle fields around the world. We will never forget, we will always remember.
My husband is a history/ international relations major from back in the 80’s. He loves vintage westerns & war movies , so many times we would be watching a Hollywood WWII movie that was based on a “true story” depicting the US as the heroes but in fact it was the Canadian forces that the movie was based upon
Thank you so much for this. As an older Canadian, my father served in the second world war. He made false teeth. No, I’m not kidding. He worked with the doctors and dentists to help heal the wounded.
Canadians aren’t one for blowing their own horn. This was the first time I had heard the stories of these great soldiers. I’m glad it’s been documented🇨🇦
This is not well known. The Canadian Army performed amazingly well in Italy. Canada was given the task of breaking through all 5 German defense lines. Then headed on to liberate Rome. The Canadian Convoy was 26 miles from the city or about an hours drive. The Convoy was told to stop and let the Americans catch up. The Yanks received the credit. In mild terms, the Canadians were PISSED!
And also advanced the farthest on D-Day, had to stop to let the brits catch up.
So were the Poles who were with the Canadians at the time.
Now in 2024 our pantywaist liberal government is doing its weak ass best to discredit and weaken our military.
Typical yank tho right!! Obviously not all of them but I find that type of shit just so pathetic, like spoiled prepubescent children!!
@@gedeon2696Just watched a documentary on that very thing. We wanted to keep kicking ass. We were ordered to stop 😠 Stop?! We don’t know how to do that, but I guess there’s a first time for everything.
Leo Major received a second DCM in Korea, where he led the Scout and Sniper Platoon (about 18 men) of the Royal 22e Régiment (the Vandoos). He and his men retook a hill that had been captured by the Chinese and using their sten guns and grenades, and with the support of danger close fire from the mortar platoon, held off counterattacks from 2 Chinese divisions for 3 days until they were relieved by elements of the US 3rd Infantry division.
In our military (Canadian) we are encouraged to use initiative. We don't treat our lower ranks as unthinking drones, we want them to be smart, think on their own to obtain the objectives.
We also have a smaller armed forces, with minimal equipment (thankfully better now than when I started in 1986!!!.... where we used Vietnam era stuff) so we train our soldiers etc well, and to think
Much of this doctrine is taught in NATO Countries now. Cross training of different specialties is also what Canadian Armed Forces have had implemented for some time. It creates a huge advantage when having to improvise in the field of battle. Canadian Special Forces have been training Ukrainian Special Forces since 2014.
I just wish that our forces from land sea and sky were better funded. You guys get shit done with basically nothing ( like the USA army’s stuff ) this I think is why our soldiers and pilots and navy men & woman are some real fing badasses. They have my respect.
That initiative and “smart training” all the way down to the lowest grunts, was started back in WW1 and was a direct result of Canadians being fed up with the old school British top-down heirarchy of doing things. The Canada Corps (later known as the Royal Canadian Army) finally gets one of their own in charge, a car salesman and Highschool teacher by the name of Brigadier-General Sir Arthur Currie, and he proceeded to revamp the entire corps, increasing the time units were pulled off the frontlines for longer and more intensive training periods.
By focusing the training on what would be advantageous for Assualts (small unit tactics, initiatives, aggression, CQC, field improvisation, etc), he turned the Canadian Corps into what the Germans would later call “the Red Devils” or “Sturmtruppen”…basically, he figured out that the British were probably going to continue to use the Canadians as expendable shocktroops like they were using other colonial armies and assests like the ANZACs and Indians, so Currie basically rebuilt and reorganized the Canadian forces to the point were they could drop the “expendable” part.
If memory serves, Vimy Ridge was the first real test of Currie and the Canadian Corps efforts and ideas…3 hours to take a front that had stumped the British and French for over two years.
Those ideas were expanded in WW2 with Recon Scout units within Light Infrantry platoons (like the Black Watch, Vandoos, and Princess Pat’s) which is how we end up with stories like Tommy Prince and Leo Major…and then when the States entered the war, we joined in for The Devil Dogs, aka the first joint special forces brigade.
Canada, or at least the perception thereof, still seems to have a focus on Special Forces, with CANSOFCOM being the fourth branch of our military after the standard Land/Sea/Air trio, and contains things like CSOR or the (in)famously silent but effective JTF2. Basically, since we don’t really have the numbers or funding to support a large general-use force like the US Army, the idea is to focus the funding and training on where we can get the high force multiplication for the buck…Russia deals with their funding and personnel issues by mass conscription, shit pay/conditions, and cheap last-gen equipment from the “Soviet Shit” era en masse. Canada decided instead to just fight smarter and aim more precisely with its limited supply of shots…
…though in fairness, being a part of NATO really helps make that idea actually work in practice, as we can provide special force units to augment the larger general armies of our NATO partners. Pathfinders to secure sites, CSOR to scout areas, JTF2 to take/takeout high value targets, etc…probably should try and find a way to increase our budget to get closer to that 2% NATO GDP military funding target regardless…
I was a Canadian soldier, 4th generation. It only takes one good soldier to take out an entire city if its planned right. My dad served WW11 at 15.5 years old and he wasnt the only minor. Thousands from Canada did, mainly farm boys. He later came home with more service than the parents back at his high school. He graduated, went to carpentry trade school, signed up for Korea legally this time, came back , got married, had 6 kids then went to Vietnam a short while before he finally retired. He worked joint with USA for a bit in Vietnam. Dont believe what politicians tell you. They only say Canada wasnt involved so they dont have to pay for wars mainly to veterans and families. We had soldiers in Iraq too.
He was a busy man but died when i was 11. He had a plate in his head, and shrapnel in his bloodstream that my mom would pull out at night. Serious PTSD too and mom kicked him out of bed for some time until he settled down cos he slept with one eye open and a knife under his pillow. My one brother made a mistake one time crawling behind the couch when dad was sleeping. He got the piss scared out of him when dad jumped up with the knife. That scared mom, yes.
Uncle Bernard was in WW11, both my grandpas were in WW1 and great grandpa was in Second Boer war.
Canadians are badass in wars. Very much respected. Thanks bud for your videos.
Thank you for you and your family's service.
We Canadians love a good fight...and we will fight anyone anywhere for the right reasons...our love for each other is what makes us tough..we dont fight for ourselves we fight for the ones beside us...fearless aggressive and relentless respectful compassionate and caring these traits is what make us Canadians the warriors we are
Love this video, especially because of our tough as nails and innovative soldiers! I am proud of our Canadian military & also the British military, which my grandfather fought in as a tank driver in italy during WW2. He was a Polish invasion survior who fled to England and joined their army. He always talked about how amazing the British & Canadian soldiers were, and that's why my grandparents eventually settled in Canada. Thank you so much for this!
My son has been in the Canadian army for 22 years and now a Master Warrant officer. He keeps saying 'we do not got to war for selfish reasons and certainly not to make friends'. The famous we're sorry in peace time becomes You are going to be sorry.
Don't want to be an ass but every single conflict we've taken part in in the last 22 years have been to serve the interest of the US army. You have every right to be proud of your kid but all we have to show for our current military is young ones being sent back in coffins and a pat on the back from NATO.
@@BrandonPoirierBlair My son was the spotter for the US air force bombing in Syria. MY son was the lead man in Afghanistan for the US military. My son was in Angola as the tracker for the US military. Just for your info. We just do not get involved with useless conflicts. Remember what Churchill and the 'German desert Fox, in Africa said. " I wish our soldiers would be like the Canadian soldier and the war would be over.
@@fredspina1757 Give your son a thank-you on my behalf ... respect from a fellow Canadian.
I am enjoying the strong interest that you have shown in Canada and our history. top marks mate.
I'm from Canada and it blows my mind that some one is so interested in Canada. I always thought that people thought we were silly. Its nice to see some one feel so passionate about us
We Canadians feel a kinship with Scotland too! Many of us have Scottish heritage, particularly in the Maritime provinces. And of course we're always happy to hear from other parts of the Commonwealth. Awesome vid about our boys in WW2! As I like to explain it: Canadians don't start wars, we end them.
Lest we forget. Good reaction man, it gave me chills and the respect you gave us at the end had me emotional. Canadians don't get as much credit as I know we deserve. So thank you.
My dad's family is originally irish from Britain and he was in the British Air force during ww2. He lied about his age in order to sign up because he was too young. He and my grandmother moved to Ontario as young parents and spent the rest of their lives here in Canada. My grandfather was always welcome at the local legion and was often celebrated and given medals by the British govt and Canadian govt.
Actually, we don't do nearly enough to learn about Canadian participation in the wars. How do I say this? Canada is often the silent partner. We don't tout our own horn loud enough. It wasn't till my seventh grade in school that I learned about several Canadians often killed in the second world war, and not till grade 10 in history did we begin to touch on the Canadians fighting in the first world war. we too often allow our neighbours to the south to take so much of the credit in wars. As I said, we are the silent partners.
^^^
Yeah true, but it's also not in our nature to need a ton of recognition. We just do what needs to be done & then get on with life. However it would be nice if movies would stop making stories about Canadians & changing the characters into Americans. Like in Argo for instance.
We were also invaluable training partners. The Air Training Plan churned out pilots and crew for the RAF and allies. The area where I currently live had a major ATP school. We also have training trenches near where I live where we taught trench warfare. This is just in one little pocket of the prairies. Both my grandfather's served WW2, one in France and the other as ground crew on the ATP.
@@loriburnipwas that the one where Canadians risked life and limb to help the yanks escape Iran(I think it was Iran)? But anyways Hollywood used Ben affleck as the American hero! Lol it’s quite sad they gotta do that shit to tout their own horn or something! Lol
Canada actively repress Canadian history like we are some kind of super secret plan. It's wierd.
As a Canadian with 100% Scottish heritage, we're damn proud of it.
Francis Pegahmagabow
One of Canada's most decorated Indigenous soldiers, Francis Pegahmagabow was awarded the Military Medal with two bars during the First World War.
Also the 3rd most lethal sniper in history with 378 confirmed kills.
unfortunately, there are very few of those brave canadians left
There is also William Stephenson who worked in wartime intelligence. He worked as the go between for the British and American war secrets and helped set up Camp X which trained spies. He is also viewed as one of the possible inspirations for James Bond. Funny enough, his father was Scottish.
Crazy! I was in a movie about camp X. It was filmed in southwestern ontario. The filming I was in, was done in Kitchener and st Jacobs. The part I did was cut, but I'm in the background of a couple other scenes. My ex brother in law was with me. He's in the scene where they are playing cards on a train. I believe its at the end of the movie.
The man called Intrepid. He also helped Crack the German "Enigma Code".
He’s a hero. We should know far more about him.
William Stephenson from Manitoba. The man called Intrepid. He cracked the German codes.
Did he not go to the States and teach them hand to hand combat?
Canada lead and was victorious in one of the last great Battles ( Battle of Vimy Ridge) leading to the end of WW1, where four divisions of the Canadian Corps in the First Army, against three divisions of the German 6th Army. Side note third last soldier and last Commonwealth Soldier overall to die in Combat in WW1 was a Canadian, Private George Lawrence Price.
Leo Major was very quiet about his war exploits. His family didn’t even know about it. When he died his family was surprised when a bunch of dignitaries showed up. The city has named a street after him and remember him every Armistice Day to this very day.
I think that seems to be normal with our veterans. My great great uncle fought in ww1 and my grandfather said he absolutely refused to talk about it.
That’s classic old school catholic French Canadians.
They just do their little things and don’t brag about their personal life.
Years ago I belonged to a unit 'the Royal Westminster Regiment' and we took great pride that this unit has never retreated one inch in combat since its inception.
My Great Grandpa fought in both world wars. I would ask him about it as a kid and he would just tell be grateful we won and be grateful for your freedoms❤ He would never talk about him actually fighting he was too humble for that❤😊
It's a saying in Canada "It's all fun and games until the sticks come out."
Yeah, large portions of the Geneva Convention are basically "Canada did what? You can't do that!" Also, when you mention at the end about hoping these deeds are remembered? Every year Netherlands sends a gift of 10,000 tulips to Canada and we hold a festival in Ottawa (The Capital) centered around tulips.
There are tulip festivals all over the country. Chilliwack in BC has a particularly well known festival.
Since Canada was a major signatory and contributor to the language of the Geneva Conventions and the protocol updates that followed, I’d like to think the process went like…
Britain: “Huh…what if someone did X…would that count as a war crime?”
Canada: “Oh, hell yes. It definitely should. Trust us, we field-tested X, extensively.”
America: “You did what now?”
France: “Ah…so zat is what all ze loud screaming in German vas.”
West Germany: *just rocking back and forth, in the fetal position, in a corner, having a quiet panic attack*
Canada: “…can I just add ‘Sorry, eh?’ In brackets at the end of this line? I feel like I should…”
@@sklaWlivE
Britain: "Well I guess... he did say sorry"
Canada: *silence intensifies*
America: "Canada what are you doing!"
France: "Canada stop they surrendered!"
West Germany *prisoner getting Drowned in a bucket of maple syrup*
Canada: "Boss... I may have found something else to add to that stupid list you started making"
We are polite, nice, friendly people- who WILL kick ass, when an ass-kicking is required.
We don't go looking for a fight, but won't back down if a fight is the only remaining option.
My American brother-in-law was astounded when these truths started coming to light. He so wished to tAlk it all though with me as my grandfather was part of the Italy campaign . He was speechless ( dumbfounded)astonished and purely amazed. 🇨🇦
My dad was a member of the 1st. Canadian Parachute Battalion in WWII.
He had a good war. They all did.
He came home in one piece. A lot of them didn't.
You might want to look into that particular combat unit, of which even most Canadians never heard until the 1970s.
It's so great to see a non-Canadian appreciate our contribution. My fathers father was a sniper who served in Belgium and the Netherlands.
There are some documentaries on Leo Major. In 2020, Canada Post issued a Leo Major stamp in his honour.
Canadians have always been there. We volunteer. We are the wolves in sheep’s clothing. Outwardly we have always been polite. Put a hockey stick in our hands and you’ll see what we can do. 😅
If you ever get the chance, look up James Doohan's wartime experiences. He was Canadian, and fought in WW2, notably landing at Juno Beach on D-Day. He is more well-known as the actor who Played Montgomery Scott (Chief Engineer Scottie) from the original Star Trek series.
Leo Major is THE hero. This mans story is absolutely insane. He survived 2 plane crash, had most of his body injured in different conflicts permanently loosing an eye in one of them, refused to be deported back home each times, leaded a small squad of his best friends and brother in arms on suicide missions, which he successfuly completed with no casualties asking only for bourbon or rum, liberated a city alone, refused two medals to generals he deemed unworthy of leading and much more. His last known words were ''i miss war''.
check out Smokey Smith ,he has an amazing story also,from Vancouver i think.yeah check it out.
@@scottshorten9962 Sure!
If they made a movie about him today people would think it’s fiction. Definition of beast
Man was berserk.
We don't celebrate individuals very much. As my mother said, it's the accomplishment that matters, not who did it. It's in contrast to Americans, who celebrate individuals almost to the point of deification, and often at the expense of remembering what was actually done and why.
We do have a few though, and those few have a status unlike any of those dieties the US celebrates, only the greatest of men can earn that status for us
@@tomykong2915 Yes, and they almost invariably earn that status by being magnificent to or for other people. Not for killing, for saving. Not for conquest, but for peace.
My Father and Grandfather who were from Scotland, fought in the two world wars. In Military circles the Canadian Military are always appreciated, respected and known for punching way above their weight class.⚔🇨🇦🏒🛶❄🦫🍁🦢⛷🥓🍺🥍🥌🎶🎬📹⚖🩺☮⚜ 🇬🇧 🎉
My dad fought in France, Belgium, the Netherlands and in Germany...he met my mom in the Netherlands and they married at the end of WW2 before returning back to Canada.
I'm a Canadian and although I am aware of our huge contribution to the world wars, I have never heard of these incredible men. I wish there was more recognition of our soldiers who fought so bravely for freedom. Canadians are very humble and sadly we forget our heroic people because of it.
As a Canadian I learned from other videos like this that during war times, we are some of the most ... vicious and commit quite a bit of war crimes that shock our allies. But ... thinking back on it, yeah ... sounds about right. you step on our toes and we apologize but tick us off and they 'won't ever find the body'.
Leo Major died in 2008. He had a long life. He was also in the Korean war. You should look up some of his exploits in that war too. They're incredible. There actually is a movie about him. It's called "Léo Major, le fantome borgne". It's not a big hollywood production though. Just a local film.
Glad to see your interest.
My dear Father lied his age at 16 to enter the army and landed on the beaches of Normandy on D Day.
He never ever talked about it. He didn't relive it. My Mom always said we had to understand the horrors he always saw as such as a young age.
We carry on very British traditions.🇨🇦
Canadians accomplished jobs that everyone was either untrained for or downright afraid of.
When my father wasn't navigator/observer on his Ventura (anti-submarine patrol) out of Halifax in WW2, his job around the base was cleaning toilets.
Fun fact WE WERE IN BOTH WORLD WARS BEFORE CANADA AND WAS THE LAST PROVINCE TO JOIN CANADA IN 1949 ,NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR AND ALSO TWICE THE SOLDIERS IN CANADA AT THE TIME. THANKS
Unfortunately, in WWl the Brits used the Newfoundland Regiment as cannon fodder and about 75% of them never came home.
One of the more interesting stories about the Canadian military is that they had outdated weaponry going into the second world war. The Lee Enfield rifle was first adopted by the Canadian military during a stand off between the UK and Venezuela just before the second Boer war (also called the South African war) where it saw greater adoption. From 1896 to 1955 (a couple years after the Korean War), we used the Lee Enfield. In contrast, Americans used semi-automatic M1 Carbine firearms in the second world war and Korean war. Individual Canadian soldiers would often trade in barter with the Americans to get their hands on the superior semi-automatic weapons.
My father was stationed in Europe during WWII and was in Holland afterward. He was only 21. I’m always amazed (and frustrated) when war movies (made in the US for the most part) never represent Canadians--you’d think we sat home and ate poutine and ketchup chips while the war raged on. (PS. I love your accent!)
I’ve heard some yanks say that all Canadian troops did in ww2 was guard the royal family, n they were serious! I just laughed and said ya, for 2 years while the US was selling oil to Germany, profiteering off of both sides, we sent about 20 soldiers to guard the royals, hey they didn’t die did they??? lol then I called him some names and that was that!! But I couldn’t freakin believe it, wtf are they teaching our southern neighbours?
You should also look into the Dieppe raid from WWII, carried out by mostly Canadians. Although the Canadian force was killed, captured or retreated, and the lives lost spent uselessly, it came to be seen as an important example of conducting an amphibious landing & the lessons learned there helped the Normandy landings 2 years later to succeed.
The truth about Dieppe was not revealed until 72 years later when the government report about it could finally be opened. It wasn’t about a test landing. It was about sending Royal Marines in to capture an Enigma machine in a headquarters 5 blocks from the port. They were supposed to be in the final landing craft, but their arrival was quite delayed due to weather and channel currents. By that time the Nazis were prepared to “welcome” them. The Royal Marines couldn’t get to the headquarters because of that. They had to retreat. No one knew anything about the Royal Marines being part of the landing. They were “regular” soldiers. Interestingly enough, there was a British ship off shore waiting for the Enigma machine to be delivered by the Marines. On the ship was a man who helped plan the raid. The man was Ian Fleming. A very detailed book has been written all about this by a very distinguished Canadian historian. It’s called One Day In August.
I am from Canada. We remember all our great people.
Note the sense of community within Canada, they work very well together in tough and hard situations no matter the battle is in front of them, from saving people, to helping people in need, to obliterating the enemy in the path that seeks to destroy our way of life.
Leo Major only started to get mainstream recognition in canada by the late 2000s. The first parc named in his honour was dedicated in 2018. Meanwhile in Netherlands they have had streets named after him for years.
After the Korean war he tried a carer in the military but very few is know... he kept getting demoted and getting disciplined. He did not go well with authority, he was a true loner. That explains part of why here in Canada he he was mostly unknown, until after his death in 2008. After the military he became a plumber but struggled heavily with PTSD and alcoholism. But the las decades of his life were a lot more peaceful and with his children and grandchildren.
During WWII, the battle at Juno Beach was lead by the Lincoln and Welland Regiment, also known as the Lincs and Winks. My maternal grandfather was a sniper scout in the Lincoln and Welland regiment and helped secure the beach, the Lincs went on to liberate many small towns through Europe. Their route took them up to Bergen Op Zoom, Canada and Holland have a close relationship now. Canadians are very passionate about our contributions to WWI and WWII.
Incredible respect.
@@lynnroney1234 thank you! I wish I could tell my grandfather how thankful I am for his service in the war. He never talked about his years spent overseas, and we didn’t find out about his role at Normandy until a few years ago. I’m so very proud of him, his brothers and my paternal grandfather risking their lives for our freedom.
I wish I could be at Juno Beach for the 80th anniversary on June 6th and stand where he may have been standing.
@@Wytch1 His generation just didn’t talk about things. I think because it was so horrible the only way to a future was to box it up, put it on a shelf and get on with life.
I understand about wanting to be at Juno Beach too. I want to stand on that sand. The house you can see in the very famous footage of our landing is still there and is a museum to those who landed.
I want to go to Juno Beach Museum. You can buy a Memorial Brick that is put on a kiosk you can go see. For the first Christmas after my dad died, I found out about this and bought one. He was in the Canadian military, so I put his rank and Regiment on it. You can also get a carved wooden replica to have. I have one. It’s what mom opened up as her present. I explained what is and she just sat and cried. That brick is the only place in the world that says my father was here. You should look into it. Just go on the site for the Juno Beach Museum. I’m sure they would have it there.
@@lynnroney1234 I will definitely look into the brick and the wooden replica, thank you! I can give the replica to my mom, she’ll love it.
Yeah, my mom and I talked about how when the men came back from the war, they never talked about it. It was too horrific and most if not all of them were just kids at that time. We also know it as ptsd now but back then it was shell shock and they were told to buck up. I think that’s why here the Royal Canadian Legion was created, a place for our veterans to go, have a few beers, play darts and talk to each other. They all understood what they went through so it was as close to therapy as they got.
@@Wytch1 😌🩷
One more fun fact about Leo Major: he was the inspiration behind Marvel's Nick Fury, right down to the eyepatch and the rest of his appearance (Before Samuel L. Jackson...)
I'm Canadian. Thank you for making videos about our Country.
It should be noted the amount of war medals the native people had achieved during the wars Canada was involved in! Canada had buried alot of our involvement and significance in most battles! One story from Vietnam illustrates our contributions! There was a sniper on the bushland, very well dug in like a spider! None of the Americans or Canadians soldier couldn't locate this Vietcong! 5 native americans requested to make lacrosse sticks for themselves! The authorities thought it was foolish to be playing a game! A captain took the native boys aside and asked for a lacrosse sticks, which the boys quickly made! Of course the native boys had their beloved sticks! Anyways the sniper was back in place in the evening! The native boys were in place as well! The sniper took a shot and the next moment a series of explosions hit where the Vietcong sniper had been! The native american soldiers had place grenades and other ordances in their lacrosse sticks and threw them at the sniper! End of story! Stories of such are many and saved many peoples lives! We honor our veterans/soldiers at every powwow we have including Hawaii! Come join us on any given weekend at any powwow, in North America! Dance with us, all are welcome, we offer no racism just smiles! Hoka!
Other countries refer to the Geneva Conventions. Canadians refer to the Geneva Checklist. Remember, it isn’t a war crime the first time it is ever done.😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Canadian of Scottish decent chiming in. I'm envious of your accent. I realize that' it's rarely a bonus among a mixed group of English speakers, but I don't care. It is the accent I practiced most as a kid. It still wanders into assorted Irish, Cockney etc, never did nail it. Still, my heritage is a source of pride for me. Both the Romans and the English failed to take Scotland through force of arms.
Our ancestors kicked the snot out of two of the biggest D-bag empires known to history.
I've even attempted to learn Scottish Gaelic. Granted I only learned that Iron Brew is a thing there, but I still haven't quit on the idea. Stubborn AF and proudly so!
Have a great day brother 👍
Once WW2 started, many Canadians volunteered. I only learned during my dad's funeral that he needed his father's written permission to volunteer as he was 17 years old. They don't make them like that anymore.
My father was also a volunteer in ww2. He was a member of the North Shore regiment.
Don't know if you are aware but we also have our own Ceremonial Guard that perform the changing of the guard who are affiliated with the the Grenadier Guards and Coldstream guards.
Something that is offend not mentioned is that the Canadian soldiers a lot were farmers and were used to the hard work and cold especially in WWI
Appreciate the love and respect. Canada doesn't get a lot of that these days on this platform or anywhere else for that matter.. We are a relatively friendly and polite people for the most part, but we're also endlessly patriotic, will defend our country and eachother, and we endure 6-7 months of frigid wasteland together each year. lol..its a life which breeds a very particular type of people, community, and mindset..... Anyways, great video man. I love military history, have family that fought in both world wars and even I didn't know some of these stories. Cheers! 🇨🇦🇬🇧🫡
Great video. I knew of the amazing courage in was, my Dad is 93 and tells of his uncle who was in world war 2 got injured came home, healed and went back. You just got a new subscriber. Thanks for choosing a subject that encourages us especially at this time.
Canadians know that the best tactic in war is terrifying your enemy. It's hard to fight when you're shitting your pants😂
No, cause we don't go for flash. Canadians know that we don't have the numbers to simply over-power our enemies, so we have to fight smarter, and harder.
@@agilemind6241 Candians army forces are small but we over come large forces buy use our minds an we fight much harder
Thank you for your reaction videos to Canada, my grandfather and my father-in-law both fought in WW 2.
I am surprised that the video did not specifically mention some of the significant action the Canadian military were in during WW:
Battle of Ypres, Battle of Somme, Battle of Hill 70, Battle of Combra (the first effective tank attack in history), Battle of Vimy Ridge, Battle of Passenchendale, Battle of Sorrel, Canada’s Hundred Days + many others.
During WW2, other interesting facts include:
Canada established 40 prisoner of war camps, Camp 30 in Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada housed high ranking Third Reichts German officers POW’s and resisted the Nazi’s efforts to release them.
Camp X on the shore of Lake Ontario between Oshawa and Whitby. This was a joint initiative between the British and Canadian governments and was a secret special training school for covert agents/spy’s. This facility also housed Hydra (watch The Many Heads of Hydra), a significant telecommunications relay station, tape cypher, coding/decoding machine/operation. Camp X was the place that inspired Ian Fleming to write the James Bond series of books.
Also Canada played a significant role in WW2 with the Canadian Code Breakers. Video ‘The Untold Story of the Canadian Code Talker’ or the inspiration for the movie ‘The Imitation Game’.
Canada has also successfully fought two USA invasions - the Invasion of Canada 1775 and again in the War of 1812.
Also a Canadian, Ken Taylor, was instrumental in coordinating the release of six American diplomatic hostages in Tehran. (not as Ben Affleck would have you believe in his misleading film Argo).
Not really known but Canadian Army was gonna be the first Allied Force to enter and liberate Rome. American General Clark ordered them to halt so America was first. Canadian troops we're livid, not only for the halt, but the show put on gave the Germans time to retreat get ready for the next push
@@danbazinet7620they should’ve told him to go fuck himself honestly, that’s such a chicken shit move!!
Just like in hockey we are the same in war...we won't start it but we will come to the defence of our team mates and allies and fight until the end and we will win!!
I think you hit the nail on the head with the hockey analogy
I have heard man for man, pound per pound Canadian fighters were highly appreciated and very brave and humanitarian.
Side note on Leo Major's story
Apparently there is no official documentation of his actual actions in Zwolle and many of the stories we hear about today are disputed - even by Major himself