By Xinhua,
Ottawa : Ceremonies were held Sunday across Canada to mark the turning point in the Battle of the North Atlantic, a major confrontation between allied ships and German U-boats during the Second World War.
The long battle began in 1939 and reached its turning point in May 1943 when allied ships finally began to push back against the German navy, allowing supply vessels to reach allied forces.
Veterans Affairs Minister Greg Thompson attended a ceremony in the eastern port city of Halifax to mark the 65th anniversary of May 4, 1943, when allied forces gained the upper hand in the battle.
“It was very moving because the Battle of the Atlantic was the longest-running battle in the war,” he said. “And, of course, for many of the veterans who are with us today, it will probably be the last time they will be at this event because they’re aging.”
At a ceremony in Ottawa, about 600 veterans gathered at the National War Memorial, along with politicians, civilians and service members of the Canadian forces.
In St. John’s, capital of New Foundland, a bell rang out as the names of the Canadian ships that sank during the battle were read aloud. The Canadian navy lost two dozen ships in the battle.
Defense Minister Peter MacKay issued a statement commending the bravery of those who fought in the battle, saying they faced ” conditions that many of us can’t even imagine.”
More than 4,600 Canadian soldiers and sailors were killed in the battle, which started in 1939 and ran through to the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945.