Civilians at the Sharp End: First Canadian Army Civil Affairs in Northwest Europe - Couverture souple

Borys, David A.

 
9780228006497: Civilians at the Sharp End: First Canadian Army Civil Affairs in Northwest Europe
Couverture souple
ISBN 10 : 022800649X ISBN 13 : 9780228006497
Editeur : McGill-Queen's University Press, 2021

Synopsis

Mitigating the destruction and chaos wrought upon the civilian populations of northwest Europe during the latter years of the Second World War became the focus of Civil Affairs, a little-known branch of the First Canadian Army. Comprising a motley collection of civilians-turned-soldiers – too old for combat yet too valuable to remain off the front lines – the members of Civil Affairs served as liaisons between Canadian combat forces and the civilians they encountered on the ground. Civilians at the Sharp Endfollows the story of the Civil Affairs branch through France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany in 1944-45. David Borys highlights how Civil Affairs helped civilians caught in the jaws of war by delivering food and medicine, providing shelter for refugees and displaced persons, establishing law and order, dealing with resistance groups, and aiding in the reconstruction of infrastructure in damaged urban areas. Once in Germany the branch was further challenged as it transformed into a military government and became a force of occupation, rehabilitating a war-torn Germany and purging the state of its Nazi leadership, while at times having to protect German civilians from the recently liberated prisoners of the Nazi state. Borys demonstrates that while the Canadian Army was indeed concerned for the welfare of civilians, military operations took priority over civilian needs. Civil Affairs was forced to negotiate this complex terrain, assisting civilian populations while ensuring that they never impeded the work of the Canadian military and the ultimate defeat of Nazi Germany.

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À propos de l?auteur

David A. Borys is an historian at Langara College and the University of British Columbia and host of the popular podcast Curious Canadian History.

Les informations fournies dans la section « A propos du livre » peuvent faire référence à une autre édition de ce titre.

Éditeur
McGill-Queen's University Press
Date d'édition
2021
Langue
anglais
ISBN 10 
022800649X
ISBN 13 
9780228006497
Reliure
Broché
Nombre de pages
277
Coordonnées du fabricant
non disponible
Personne responsable
non disponible

Autres éditions populaires du même titre

9780228005476: Civilians at the Sharp End: First Canadian Army Civil Affairs in Northwest Europe

Edition présentée

ISBN 10 :  0228005477 ISBN 13 :  9780228005476
Editeur : McGill-Queen's University Press, 2021
Couverture rigide