Degree
Doctor of Philosophy
Program
History
Supervisor
Professor Brock Millman
Abstract
Abstract: “An Army of Never Ending Strength: The Reinforcement and of the Canadian Army 1944-1945”
This dissertation is a study of the Canadian Army’s ability to reconstitute battalion sized combat arms regiments (armour, infantry and artillery) during the last year of the Second World War in North West Europe. The central thesis argues that in combination with tactical and strategic strengths, the Canadian Army Overseas was effective at rebuilding units that had suffered severe personnel and equipment losses in combat. This ability to sustain the strength of its combat units was vitally important in maintaining their offensive capability. Units that had suffered catastrophic losses were rebuilt and re-equipped in a rapid manner that allowed them to be capable of any kind of operation. Without replacement resources at the ready, offensive capability within the Canadian Army would be inhibited, regardless of effective tactics or strategies. In comparison to the Germans, the Canadian Army was a phoenix, continually strengthening its operational units and maintaining their combat capability. By examining the record of Canadian replacements, losses, available resources and overall combat force deployed, a picture emerges of an Army with overpowering organizational, logistic and administrative strengths.
.
Recommended Citation
Gullachsen, Arthur Willoughby, "An Army of Never-Ending Strength: The Reinforcement of the Canadian Army 1944-1945" (2016). Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository. 3841.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/3841