As part of the British Empire, Canada entered the war when Great Britain declared war on Germany in August 1914. In October 1914, 33,000 Canadian troops sailed for Europe, with other divisions to follow. These troops would find their way to the Western Front, where casualties were great. In total, over 400,000 troops would be sent overseas, 60,000 of whom would die and over 80,000 of whom would return home sick, wounded, or crippled. Canadian Prime Minister Robert Borden, after travelling to Europe, was convinced that conscription would be necessary due to these huge losses, a move that alienated French Canada. Borden also ensured that Canada signed the Treaty of Versailles in its own right in 1919.
