Ceremonies were held Sunday 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.

More than 2,000 Canadian Navy personnel died in the battle, along with 1,700 sailors with the Merchant Navy and 900 army and air force members.

The battle began in 1939 when a German submarine destroyed a passenger ship near Ireland. The vessel had been headed for Montreal.

Although the engagement lasted for six years, historians consider May 1943 as the turning point in the battle, when allied ships finally began to push back against the German U-boats, allowing supply vessels to reach allied forces.

Veterans Affairs Minister Greg Thompson attended a ceremony in Halifax, which marked the 65th anniversary of 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 told CTV Newsnet. "And, of course, for many of the veterans who were 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 serving members of the Canadian Forces.

In St. John's, N.L., 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, while the Merchant Navy lost more than 70.

"There were very dangerous missions (during the battle), very high risk," said Thompson. "But at the end of it all it had to be done, and they were willing to do it."

Defence Minister Peter MacKay released a statement commending the bravery of those who fought in the battle, saying they faced "conditions that many of us can't even imagine."

With files from The Canadian Press