BLOOD ON THE HILLS, by David Bercuson
Although not strictly WW2, this newly-released book is a small but comprehensive work on the Canadian participation in the Korean conflict, and is well worth inclusion in this list. He is brutally honest about the shortcomings of the process which sent some 25,000 Canadians to Korea, "...improperly-armed, under-trained and ill-prepared". A very good read indeed, with much input from veterans themselves.

THE VETERANS' YEARS, by Barry Broadfoot
I just found this book, on Ebay of all places. If you want to know what it was like for your dad/uncle/whatever to come home from the war and try to reestablish themselves in Canadian society, you must read this book. Correction, you WILL read this book. Look for it on ABE... there are lots of copies available. THIS is our post-war heritage. Please read it.

ORTONA, by Mark Zuehlke
Absolutely outstanding comprehensive history of all elements of the campaign as a whole, primarily based upon personal recollections and perspectives of the men who were there. Published just this year, this book ranks amongst the best histories I have ever read!

THE PRICE OF COMMAND, by Dominick Graham
Superb biography of Canadian General Guy Simonds, arguably our best combat commander.

CANADIAN ARMOUR IN THE ITALIAN CAMPAIGN, by Don Dingwall
A privately-published pamphlet detailing the history, orders of battle and vehicles of the Canadian armoured elements in Italy 1943-1945. An excellent reference.

SOUTH ALBERTAS: A Canadian Regiment at War, by Donald E. Graves
Superb, exhaustive history of a magnificent regiment. All regimental histories should be thus. I simply can't say enough about this book. Just buy it.

THE CANADIAN ARMY 1939-1945, by Col C.P. Stacey
The "Official Historical Summary"  is still a perfect resource for the period. (A.B.)

THE STRUGGLE FOR EUROPE, by Chester Wilmot
An authoritative account of the War in North West Europe. (A.B.)

BLOODY VICTORY, by J. L. Granatstein & Desmond Morton

THE VALOUR AND THE HORROR, by Merrily Weisbord & Merilyn Simonds Mohr

GAUNTLET TO OVERLORD, by Ross Munro
A war correspondent writes about what he witnessed during the war. This book came out right after  the war and it is interesting to see when he talks about secret weapons we possessed that were still somewhat
classified at the time e.g. Crocodiles. (A.B.)

OUT OF THE SHADOWS, by W.A.B. Douglas & Brereton Greenhous
An overview of Canada's participation in WW2.

DIEPPE 1944 - THE JUBILEE DISASTER, by Ronald Atkin

THE GUNS OF NORMANDY
THE GUNS OF VICTORY
WHERE THE HELL ARE THE GUNS?, by George Blackburn
Three full volumes which constitute one of the most important chronicles of Canada's part in the war in NW Europe. If you haven't read these, there's an error in your knowledge base. Fix.

THE CANADIAN KANGAROOS OF WW2 , by Kenneth R. Ramsden
A definitive history of 1CACR from inception in Normandy to disbandment in Germany. Please see elsewhere on this site for more information. Temporarily out-of-print due to demand - email HERE for info!

DIEPPE, by Denis (& Shelagh) Whitaker
Denis Whitaker won his DSO on the beaches at Dieppe as a Captain with the RHLI. In this book he explores not the actual experiences of the battle, but the underlying motives and events which led to it.

TUG OF WAR, by Denis (& Shelagh) Whitaker
A frank, unabashed account of the Canadians in the Scheldt. Denis Whitaker commanded the RHLI at the time. He saw it all. This is a gem.

RHINELAND, by Denis (& Shelagh) Whitaker
Whitaker continues his story, following the Canadians through the Rhineland campaign in early 1945.

MAPLE LEAF UP, MAPLE LEAF DOWN, by Peter Simonds
Written in 1946 by the brother of Canadian Lt. Gen Guy Simonds, this is a brief little book outlining the history of the Canadian Army Overseas.

THE REGIMENT, by Farley Mowat
A classic, very personal history of the Hastings & Prince Edward Regiment from pre-war to victory. A must-read.

DIEPPE: THE SHAME AND THE GLORY, by Terence Robertson
IMHO, the definitive book on Dieppe. All the others stand in its shadow. The cover on my copy says the movie rights were bought, but we never saw it did we? Spielberg, where are you?

THE 85 DAYS
BATTLE FOR THE RHINE, by R.W. Thompson
Two histories governing the Scheldt and Rhineland battles. A little dry, but sound strategic and tactical analysis with reference to both British and Canadian forces.
 

SHERMAN: A HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN MEDIUM TANK, by R. Hunnicutt
The bible on the Sherman tank. Pricey but worthwhile!

STUART: A HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN LIGHT TANK, by R. Hunnicutt
The bible on the Stuart tank. Also pricey but also worthwhile!

VANGUARD OF VICTORY - The 79th Armoured Division, by David Fletcher
An overview of the vehicles known as 'Funnies', the mainstay of the British 79th Armoured Division.

CANADIAN MILITARY VEHICLE PROFILES, by W.A. Gregg
Profiles Canadian vehicles in WW2, but I've never seen a complete copy, so can't comment. If you find more than one copy, I want the second!

CANADA'S FIGHTING VEHICLES, by W.A. Gregg
A compendium of technical and statistical information on Canadian vehicles in WW2, based on a 1944 recognition manual, but including many B&W photos culled from the Archives.

BLUEPRINT FOR VICTORY, by W.A. Gregg
The story of military vehicle design and production in Canada from 1937-1945. A well-done large-format book with a lot of background information and pics.
 

DESTINED TO SURVIVE: A DIEPPE VETERAN'S STORY, by Jayne Poolton-Turvey ,  Jack A. Poolton
A small but significant work by a man who was captured at Dieppe. This "...is his tale of courage and strength from his training and capture to his experiences as a prisoner of war. Follow Poolton through three escape attempts and subsequent punishments to the day American soldiers liberate him and his fellow prisoners.

NOT ALL OF US WERE BRAVE, by Stanley Scislowski
An important and exhaustive account of life as an OR in the Perth Regiment in Italy. Full of unique insights into the mindset of the times.

THE LONG ROAD HOME, by Fred Cederberg
A well-done, embellished account of life in a couple of 1st Infantry Division regiments from Canada in 1939 to Italy in 1945.

AND NO BIRDS SANG, by Farley Mowat
Farley's personal story as a young subaltern with the Hasty Pees from pre-war to emotional crisis in the mud of Italy in December '43. Sobering and important.

MY FATHER'S SON, by Farley Mowat
The rest of Farley's story, told this time through the perspective of the letters exchanged between he and his father. Ever wonder where CWM and Borden got all their armour? I'm not telling... read this... (big brass ones!)

BRAVELY INTO BATTLE, by Strome Galloway
The author's personal story as LCol commanding the Royal Canadian Regiment in Italy. Well done.

BATTLE DIARY, by Charles C. Martin, DCM, MM, CM
A personal history of the Queen's Own Rifles of Canada from D-Day to Holland, by the CSM of A-Coy.  RIP, Sarn't Major, we'll miss you.

ELEVEN MEN AND A SCALPEL, by John Hillsman, MD
An old, short but significant look into the world of casualty treatment by a Canadian surgeon who commanded a mobile field hospital throughout the war.

ONCE UPON A WARTIME, by Peter Cottingham
Life with the joint U.S. - Canadian Special Service Force in Italy and France.

FLAME THROWER, by Andrew Wilson
A vivid and poignant account of the war from the perspective of a Churchill Crocodile commander.

ACCIDENTAL WARRIOR, by Geoffrey Picot
Capt Picot was a Jersey Islander who served both as mortar platoon commander and infantry platoon commander with the 7th Hampshires in Europe. Good book.

FROM THE CITY, FROM THE PLOUGH, by Alexander Baron
The author was with the British 5th Wessex throughout. Some very good stuff on Normandy.
 

THE KILLING GROUND, by Elleston Trevor
A memorable novel about a British Churchill tank squadron, which captures the fear and confusion of the Normandy battles very well. A classic for both history and armour fans.

HELL HAS NO HEROES, by Wayne Robinson
Now don't bite my head off here, but this is about an American Sherman crew in NW Europe. It has some good stuff on Shermans. End of story.

THE RIGHT KIND OF WAR, by John McCormick
Another Yank book, this is really good. It's loosely described as a novel, but it's based on the author's wartime spent with the Marine Raiders. Poignant, with a lot of insights into the business of infantry in the front lines.
 

HERBIE! by Bing Couglin
The infamous WW2 cartoonist. (B.P.)

LOVE, SEX & WAR - CHANGING VALUES 1939-1945, by John Costello
A very good book that talks about the sexual and personal relationships (however brief) of the period. Also has alot of information on venereal disease and the effects on the war itself.  (A.B.)

THEY'RE STILL WOMEN AFTER ALL, by Ruth Pierson
A very source of information on female involvement in WW2.  (A.B.)

BROADCAST FROM THE FRONT, by A.E. Powley

WHEN THE BOYS CAME MARCHING HOME, by Ben Wicks

NOT IN VAIN, by Ken Bell
A selection of remarkable photographs past and present.

CAMP X, by David Stafford
The top secret agent training facility located near Oshawa, Ontario throughout the war.

A MAN CALLED INTREPID, by William Stevenson
More secret agent stuff...sometimes truth IS stanger than fiction.

GREEN BEACH, by James Leasor
Another view of Dieppe.

MAN OF WAR
THE ROAD PAST MANDALAY, by John Masters
Both simply excellent.

THE LONGEST DAY
THE LAST BATTLE
A BRIDGE TOO FAR, by Cornelius Ryan
Three volumes by what could have been the premier historian of our times, had he lived.

Any novel by Alan White starting with "The Long..."
Any WWII novel by John Harris