Сформирована 11 февраля 1941 г. в Кемп-Бордене (Camp Borden), как 1-я канадская бронетанковая дивизия [1st Canadian Armoured Division].
5 июня 1941 г. переименована в 5-ю бронетанковую дивизию. В конце ноября 1941 г. одним большим конвоем дивизия переброшена в Великобританию. Два года дивизия находилась на территории Великобритании.
5 ноября 1943 г. дивизия была переброшена в Италию, где вместе с 1-й канадской пехотной дивизией вошла в состав 1-го канадского корпуса.
The 5th Armoured spent two years of the war uneventfully in the UK, finally transferring to the Mediterranean in November 1943 to join I Canadian Corps. The division moved without its tanks and vehicles, inheriting heavily used equipment as a legacy from the British 7th Armoured Division who they relieved in Italy. The 5th Armoured took part in the Italian Campaign until the end of 1944 seeing notable action on the Hitler Line after the Allied breakthrough at Cassino in May 1944 and also during Operation Olive on the Gothic Line in August 1944. As with other Allied armoured divisions in the Mediterranean, local resources were used to establish an additional infantry brigade, the 12th Canadian Infantry Brigade.
In January 1945, the division moved by truck, train, and naval transport to Belgium via Livorno and Marseille. After arriving, it disbanded the 12th Brigade, and re-equipped to join the First Canadian Army in time to participate in the final offensives across the Rhine.
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