World War II: when fact meets fiction
X Company tells the heartbreaking and courageous story of what went on behind the scenes during World War II, leading up to D-Day. The invasion would not have been successful were it not for the combined efforts of allied agents who were responsible for deceiving the Germans as to when and where the invasion would take place.
THE WAR AT HOME
While the fighting raged along the front lines in Europe, the effort to stop the war was being fought in a different way in Canada. In factories, bases, and secret locations such as Casa Loma, Canadian women worked tirelessly to fabricate exact copies of enemy uniforms and currency, decipher enemy communications, monitor our coast for any signs of German U-Boats, and many other crucial tasks.
SPY TRAINING
On December 6, 1941, Camp X was established up in Whitby, Ontario. Run by Sir William Stephenson - Canada's top spymaster - the camp trained Allied agents in close combat, sabotage, intelligence, and forgery. Camp X was decommissioned at the end of 1944.
Espionage has always played a key role in war and politics, and World War II was no different. New technology meant new challenges and approaches, and Canada was a key player in training Allied agents to handle those challenges.
COMBAT COMMUNICATIONS
The need to quickly, effectively, and secretly communicate among Allied troops and agents was crucial. When an Enigma Device was finally captured, keeping that fact hidden - along with misleading the Nazis - became a a key factor in turning the tide of World War II.
SAVING PARIS
A month after the Allies took Normandy, their armoured divisions were advancing on Paris, a hotbed of resistance and spy activity. Hitler had sent directions to destroy the city, but Paris was spared by an unlikely saviour.
TRAINS AND TRANSPORTATION
Germany had an extensive rail system well before World War II, and with the occupation of France their network extended throughout Western Europe. After D-Day, the Allies sought a way to move their troops independently of the rail lines, and the result was the Red Ball Express: a truck convoy mostly staffed with African American soldiers.
WHAT TO WATCH: FACT
On Thursday, Adrienne Arsenault will host CBC's D-Day 75th coverage from the Juno Beach Centre in France with special guest, historian Margaret MacMillan.
The special airs at 5 a.m. ET on CBC-TV and CBC News Network.
Additionally, you can watch the coverage online on cbcnews.ca, CBC Gem or on CBC News YouTube, Facebook and Twitter.
On radio, Nil Köksal will host an hour-long broadcast featuring highlights from the day. Programming starts at 2 p.m. locally across the country, and can be heard on CBC Radio One or the CBC Radio app.
WHAT TO WATCH: FICTION
World War II is raging, and a new team of agents is trained in espionage in an attempt to influence the war. The spymaster of Camp X - a training ground in Ontario - tries to convince a young man with synesthesia to join X Company.
Watch their story play out over three seasons, all available for free on CBC Gem.