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The advent of nuclear weapons in the 1940s brought enormous changes to doctrines regarding the use of force in resolving disputes. American strategists have been widely credited with most of these; Canadians, most have assumed, did not conduct their own strategic analysis. Avoiding Armageddon soundly debunks this notion.

Drawing on previously classified government records, Richter reveals that Canadian defence officials did come to independent strategic understandings of the most critical issues of the nuclear age. Canadian appreciation of deterrence, arms control, and strategic stability differed conceptually from the US models. Similarly, Canadian thinking on the controversial issues of air defence and the domestic acquisition of nuclear weapons was primarily influenced by decidedly Canadian interests.

Avoiding Armageddon is a work with far-reaching implications. It illustrates Canada’s considerable latitude for independent defence thinking while providing key historical information that helps make sense of the contemporary Canadian defence debate.

Published in association with the Canadian War Museum. ... Read more

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Militia. Australian Army Reserve, Republikanischer Schutzbund, Military history of Canada, Canadian Militia, Paramilitary forces of China, Military of Cuba, Home Guard (Denmark), Milice, Freikorps, Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution, Private militias in Iraq, Home Guard (Norway), Home Guard (Sri Lanka), Home Guard (Sweden), Conscription in Switzerland, Militia (English), Posse comitatus (common law), Militia (United Kingdom), Militia (United States), Territorial Defense Forces (Yugoslavia) ... Read more

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The Battle of Vimy Ridge, the Dieppe Raid, the Italian Campaign: the Canadian military has been indispensable to many of the greatest victories-and disasters-of our time. The evolution of Canada as a military power is chronicled here by military historians Dean F. Oliver and J.L. Granatstein in this authoritative and highly readable book. Their entries include concise biographies from James Wolfe to Louis Riel to Rick Hillier; key military-political issues like the conscription crises, war finance, and Canada-US relations; lesser-known conflicts such as the Pig War and the Aroostook War; and more recent issues facing the Canadian Forces, including sexual harassment and post-traumatic stress disorder. We see Canada through an international lens as a war fighter and a peacekeeper-and as a participant in some darker moments. Rare photographic material and original wartime paintings (reproduced in full colour) illustrate the people, events, and hardware that define Canada's military history. Additional material includes a timeline chart and other historical and bibliographical reference information.An authoritative guide and compelling read, The Oxford Companion to Canadian Military History reminds us of our collective history that we must continue to investigate, understand, and now-more than ever-remember. ... Read more

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Hitsman's account of the War of 1812 is regarded by many experts as the best one-volume history of that conflict. It is an engrossing story of the causes of the war and of the campaigns and battles that raged on land and water, from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico. This new paperback edition, edited by Donald E. Graves, contains the entire text of the original edition and much new material. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

1812 War from Canadian Perspective
This book was a good overview of the War of 1812, a critical piece of American history that, in my experience, has been virtually ignored in the curriculum of American education.The war was critical in that it defined the separation of and the border of Canada and the U.S.I picked this book from among the others on this subject because it was written from the Canadian perspective, and even by a descendant of the commander of the British--Canadian forces during the war.I wanted this Canadian perspective to avoid any "glorification" bias that might be found in an American perspective.What I wanted was as much of an objective account as possible, and I do think that the author is fair in his account and (conversely) not unduly anti-American.Sometimes I felt that I got bogged down with some details, but that may have to do with my purpose in reading the book:namely, to get an overall understanding of the war.I also would have liked to have more maps throughout the text so as to better understand the described events.Overall, I liked the book and learned much from it.

Canada's First War
This is a great book about the American attempt to take Canada.This book is written from the Canadian point of view and concentrates on the War on the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence River and New York, especially the Niagara Frontier.The book is even handed in its approach to both sides.The book is well written and has good maps of the different campaign regions and many of the individual battles.The American plan for the conquest of Canada involved a four pronged assault from Detriot, Western New York across the Niagara River, and down the St Lawrence and Richelieu rivers to Montreal and Quebec.The British were able to defeat all these attempts and evened captured the area that would become Michigan.For the next two years the conflict would swing back and forth as each side gained the upper hand and lost it.Since this war was fought by both sides at the edge of the frontier, control of the Great Lakes, the easiest way to move men and material, was paramount.The biggest problem for the British Governor Prevost was how to hold this vast land with a few regements of British regulars and Canadian miltia. Pictures of many of the principles, uniformed soldiersand some of the batles also add to the narative.The author believes that the War of 1812 marked the beginning of a Canadian identity, when they came together as a people against an external foe.I would recommend this book to an serious student of the war of 1812.

Decent Canadian Account
This is a serviceable account of the war of 1812 from the British-Canadian perspective.Though lacking the color of some other books on this conflict, most noteably John Elting's "Ameteuers To Arms" the author does not suffer from national bias like many American writers do.The account is straight forward and pretty direct, providing a decent overview of the situation in British North America on the outbreak of war in 1812.

This updated version by Donald Graves, a noted Canadian expert on many of the battles of the war, provides many good maps, pictures, and detailed addenda.In particular the addenda concerning the contemporary and current names of the various British and Canadian regiments that fought in the war provides good supporting background.While the author writes pretty much free of national bias, his main point is that the war in Canada was largely fought and won by British regulars.Popular Canadian perceptions have the militia getting all the credit for repelling the various inept US invasions.This is simply not so.To the British 8th, 41st and 49th regiments of foot, who virtually alone stood on the frontier in 1812 against the Americans, must go the lionshare of credit in preventing Canada's conquest.The author points out that most Canadian militia did little or no fighting, the exception being some of the good fencible units that were raised.

Since this is an older work we don't have all the eulogies for the plight of the Indians under Tecumseh.When Hitsman was writing political correctness had not crept into works like this yet.Tecumseh and his warriors certainly get their mention, but we are not subjected to the great praise that most current works seem required to give.Yes, the great Shawnee Chief was important in defending Canada as well, but it was the daring of Isaac Brock with a handful of British regulars that humbled inept and grandiose American plans in the pivotal first few weeks of the war. The US was fortunate that Brock was lost to the Anglo-Canadians early in the conflict, had he lived longer no dout he would have inflicted other great defeats on the Americans.

Hitsman provides a good general overview of the war, and while his emphasis is Anglo-Canadian we are not left in the dark as to American plans and operations.Where this book differs from most American accounts is in the importance of mentioning the battles of 1814 around Washington and the British defeat at New Orleans.These get some attention, but not as much as one might be accustomed to in most American books on the war.Overall a decent work, and a good starting point from the Anglo-Canadian perspective.Readers might wish to get more of the American side from the numerous other books in print, but in the end they were still come to appreciate this concise work from the opposite side.

Excellent history!!
One of if not the best book I have read about the War of 1812.I would recommend this book to anyone.

Which side?
This is an excellent, if a bit dry, source for the Canadian (or British Canada as it was then) view of the War of 1812. You will have trouble finding very much about the conflict from the American viewpoint.In fact, execpt for a few references, all of the battles are seen from the Canadian prospective. ... Read more

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Canada. History of Canada, Territorial evolution of Canada, Name of Canada, Government of Canada, Politics of Canada, List of political parties in Canada, Law of Canada, Foreign relations of Canada, Canadian Forces, Military history of Canada, Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian federalism, Geography of Canada, Temperature in Canada, Economy of Canada, Economic history of Canada, Agriculture in Canada, List of cities in Canada, Ethnic groups in Canada, Immigration to Canada, Religion in Canada, Culture of Canada, National symbols of Canada, Sport in Canada, Music of Canada, Spoken languages of Canada, Official bilingualism in Canada, Canadian English, Canadian French, Outline of Canada ... Read more

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Military history of Canada. Seven Years' War, War of 1812, History of the Canadian Army, Military history of Canada during the First World War, Military history of Canada during the Second World War, Canada's role in the invasion of Afghanistan, Canada and the Iraq War ... Read more

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Recounts more than a century of women's service in the Canadian military, from the Northwest Rebellion in 1885 to today's professional female soldiers. ... Read more

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In this book, John A. English presents a detailed examination of the role of the Canadian Army in Normandy from the D-Day landings in June 1944 through the closing of the Falaise Gap in August. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

History of the Canadian Army.
Anyone who is interested in reading or writing about the Canadian Army, its history, doctrine, training practices and its cooperation with the British Army will want to read this book. It covers from before WWI to the close of WWII. A little more than half of the book is devoted to this venue. The author is almost obsessional about the topic. The author, a veteran, believes the Canadian performance in Normandy was disappointing but didn't believe the traditional explanation that inexperienced soldiers and mid level officers were the only reason for that performance. To get answers and a better understanding of the past, Mr English makes an exhaustive study of the political and military aspects of Canadian history. This book is the result of that study. Just like the deterioration of the US Army after WWII, the author believes this same laxness of regulations and abhorrence of war after WWI was the main cause of a lackluster Army by 1939.
Added to this extensive narrative is an impressive 68 page Notes section which will add to your reading experience.
The tactical coverage of post D-Day landings in Normandy is actually ancillary to the above history. This Normandy coverage is 90 pages and between 10 and 20 pages is givern to Operation Atlantic, Goodwood, Spring, Totalize / Tractable. Operations Axehead, Charnwood, Epsom, Pintail, Tallulah, Trousers and Windsor are given one or two pages. On the key battles, particularly Totalize, the author briefly describes the planning, battle results and analysis. While this is interesting, the lack of greater tactical details of these key battles was disappointing.
There are 18 black and white maps which are simple but helpful to follow the action. The author also provides a decentBibliopgrapy, Appendix and Index.

I rated this book 4 stars for if you're looking for this type of information the book will be invaluable. From my perspective and interest, this book would be rated lower. I was looking to read about the tactical / operational aspects of the campaigns the Canadians were in, especially Operation Totalize /Tractable but the coverage detail didn't go far enough. If your interest is similar to mine then there may be some disappointment; if your interest is more academic than tactical then you will probably like this book. ... Read more