Canada and the Korean War: Histories and Legacies of a Cold War Conflict

Larry Ostola speaks with Andrew Burtch about his book, Canada and the Korean War: Histories and Legacies of a Cold War Conflict. The Korean War was the first major conflict of the Cold War and Canada’s most significant military engagement after the two world wars. Canada and the Korean War brings together leading scholars to examine key battles and themes of this pivotal yet often overlooked conflict. Before 1950, Canada had little interest in Korea, but the war’s threat to postwar stability compelled its involvement. Between 1950 and 1953, over 30,000 Canadian military personnel served in Korea, and “peacetime” defence spending reached record levels. Fighting alongside U.S., local, and Commonwealth forces, Canadians faced a resourceful enemy across land, sea, and air. The eventual armistice left Korea divided and tensions unresolved. This timely collection blends Canadian and international perspectives, highlighting the war’s impact on Canada’s military and its evolving relationship with Korea. It also explores how the war has been remembered over time. Essential reading for scholars of military history, the Cold War, and Canadian foreign policy, this volume will also appeal to veterans, their families, and general readers interested in Canada’s military past. Andrew Burtch is the Canadian War Museum’s historian for the post-1945 period and an adjunct research professor in the Department of History at Carleton University. Tim Cook, CM, FRSC, is the chief historian and director of research at the Canadian War Museum. Image Credit: UBC Press If you like our work, please consider supporting it: bit.ly/support_WTY. Your support contributes to the Champlain Society’s mission of opening new windows to directly explore and experience Canada’s past.