Canada's Army: Waging War and Keeping the Peace

Canada's Army tracks the evolution of Canada's military forces from pre-confederation militia through major conflicts and peacekeeping missions of the 20th century. Granatstein examines the Canadian army's operational history, institutional development, and changing relationship with Canadian society. The book covers key periods including the World Wars, Korea, Cold War commitments to NATO, and United Nations peacekeeping operations. Military policies, leadership decisions, combat experiences, and organizational changes are analyzed through extensive research and primary sources. The challenges of maintaining military capabilities and readiness during periods between major conflicts form a central focus. Particular attention is paid to civil-military relations, recruitment, training, equipment modernization, and force structure debates. This military history illuminates broader themes about Canada's national identity, international role, and the complex balance between domestic priorities and global commitments. The narrative reveals how Canada's army has shaped, and been shaped by, the nation's development.

Readers describe this book as a comprehensive military history focused on the Canadian Army's evolution from 1855 to 2002. Many reviewers note its academic tone and thorough research. Readers appreciated: - Detailed coverage of both World Wars - Clear explanations of military organization and structure - Integration of political context with military developments - Quality maps and photographs Common criticisms: - Dense academic writing style can be dry - Limited coverage of more recent operations - Focus mainly on higher command levels rather than soldiers' experiences Ratings/Reviews: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (46 ratings) Amazon.ca: 4.4/5 (5 ratings) One Amazon reviewer wrote: "Required reading for anyone interested in Canadian military history, though the writing can be a bit thick at times." A Goodreads review noted: "Strong on policy and command decisions, weaker on the human element." The book appears most popular among military history students and researchers rather than casual readers.

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🍁 J.L. Granatstein is considered one of Canada's most prominent military historians, serving as the director and CEO of the Canadian War Museum from 1998 to 2000. 🎖️ The book covers over 200 years of Canadian military history, from the War of 1812 through modern peacekeeping missions, making it one of the most comprehensive single-volume works on the subject. ⚔️ Canada's contribution to World War I was extraordinary - by war's end, around 620,000 Canadians had enlisted from a population of just 8 million, which the book examines in detail. 🛡️ Despite being published in 2002, the book sparked renewed debate about Canada's military role, particularly as Canadian Forces became more involved in Afghanistan shortly after its release. 🎗️ The author argues throughout the book that Canada's military history has been systematically undervalued and often forgotten by Canadians, despite the armed forces playing a crucial role in shaping national identity.