as wwi began, germany invaded belgium on their way to france in belgium the allies stopped them ...
TRANSCRIPT
TRENCH WARFARE As WWI began, Germany invaded
Belgium on their way to France In Belgium the Allies stopped them Germans couldn’t continue, but Allies
couldn’t push them back. Stalemate Both side dug defensive trenches in
the ground
Early 1915, the first Canadian soldiers arrived in France as part of the British army
They dug and lived in Trenches The line of trenches went from the
North Sea to the Swiss Alps The “Western Front” Central Powers also fought Russians on
the Eastern Front
Barbed wire was placed in front of the trenches
The area between the enemy trenches was called no man’s land
TRENCH LIFE Soldiers were often
wet, cold and dirty They had to work,
eat, sleep in the water or mud
When not fighting, soldiers lived in holes in the ground called : dug out’s
TRENCH FOOT medical condition caused by prolonged exposure of the feet to
damp, unsanitary and cold conditions
TRENCH LIFE
Rats would eat the bodies of dead soldiers in no man’s land
Disease and infections were everywhere because of rats, lice and flies
Dying soldiers cried, dead & rotting bodies smelled, the guns never stopped firing on the trenches
TRENCH LIFE Soldiers had to climb out of the trench
to attack the enemy. This was called “going over the top”
Soldiers knew they were going to die Shellshock: when you become
mentally ill from fighting Christmas Day 1914 British & German
soldiers played football and spoke about peace.
Bodies of more than 11,000 Canadian soldiers were never recovered
CANADA’S CONTRIBUTION
Canada’s first major battle was at Second Battle of Ypres, Belgium
April 1915 New German surprise
weapon: Chlorine Gas
Some allies ran away, Canadians stayed!
6000 Canadians died
Battle ended in a stalemate
BATTLE OF THE SOMME
July 1st 1916 – British launched major attack near the Somme River in France
Germans were ready Terrible bloodbath for
both sides 60,000 British
casualties on the 1st day
BATTLE OF THE SOMME
First use of the tank Attack lasted 5 months 24,000 Canadians
killed 624,000 Allied soldiers
killed Gained 545 kilometres
Earl Haig
VIMY RIDGE
The Allies tried to capture the hill many times, but failed
200,000 soldiers died trying Canadians planned the attack They tunnelled under the hill + used
explosive mines. Canadians were successful! Some say we became an independent
country because of Vimy Ridge
The Canadian Government sold Victory Bonds to Canadian citizens, private corporations and various organizations in order to raise funds to pay for the war.
20,000 Canadians joined the RAF (Royal Air Force)
Airplanes were a new invention Most famous Canadian WWI pilot was:
Billy Bishop