No Price Too High: Canadians and the Second World War

No Price Too High examines Canada's role in World War II through both military and civilian perspectives. The book covers the period from 1939 to 1945, tracking Canada's transformation from an unprepared nation to a significant Allied power. Military historian Terry Copp presents detailed accounts of major Canadian campaigns in Italy, France, and the Netherlands. The text incorporates personal letters, government documents, and military records to document the experiences of soldiers and commanders in the field. The book explores the domestic front, including wartime industry, conscription debates, and the mobilization of women in the workforce. Copp analyzes the economic and social changes that reshaped Canadian society during these years. This comprehensive study reveals the profound impact of World War II on Canada's development as a nation and its emergence onto the global stage. The text raises questions about the nature of sacrifice, duty, and the relationship between military engagement and national identity.

Readers value this book's focus on Canadian civilians' wartime experiences and sacrifices rather than just military operations. Several reviews note it fills gaps in Canadian WWII history that other texts overlook. Likes: - Clear presentation of economic and social impacts on Canadian society - Inclusion of many firsthand accounts and personal stories - Strong coverage of women's roles in wartime industries - Quality photographs and primary source documents Dislikes: - Some sections on military production statistics feel dry - A few readers wanted more details on specific battles - Price point considered high by some Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (32 ratings) Amazon.ca: 4.2/5 (6 reviews) "The human element sets this apart from typical military histories" - Goodreads review "Gives proper credit to Canada's massive industrial contribution" - Amazon.ca review Note: Limited online reviews available for this academic text compared to mainstream history books.

Fields of Fire by Terry Copp A comprehensive examination of the Canadian army's combat operations in Normandy during World War II through battle tactics, strategic decisions, and first-hand accounts.

The Guns of Victory by George Blackburn This memoir chronicles the Canadian artillery's role from D-Day through the liberation of Europe with detailed accounts of battles and military operations.

Death So Noble by Jonathan Vance An analysis of how Canadians constructed and maintained their collective memory of the First World War through monuments, literature, and social practices.

On to Victory by Mark Zuehlke A detailed account of the Canadian First Army's campaign to liberate the Netherlands in 1944-45 based on military records and veteran interviews.

The Fight for History by Tim Cook An exploration of how Canada has remembered, commemorated, and understood its Second World War experience through the decades following the conflict.

✦ Terry Copp is one of Canada's most distinguished military historians and helped pioneer the study of operational military history in Canada through his work at Wilfrid Laurier University. ✦ The book challenges the common belief that Canada was unprepared for WWII, showing how the country managed to mobilize over one million citizens into military service from a population of just 11 million. ✦ Canadian women played a crucial role during WWII, with over 50,000 serving in the armed forces and thousands more working in munitions factories - details extensively covered in the book's chapters on the home front. ✦ The book reveals that Canada produced more than 800,000 military vehicles during WWII, becoming the fourth-largest producer of war materials among the Allied nations. ✦ The Victory Loans campaigns described in the book raised over $12 billion (equivalent to about $150 billion today) from Canadian citizens to support the war effort - one of the most successful domestic financing programs of any Allied nation.