canadian battles

Canadian Battles

CEF arrived in France February 1915 during the stalemate.

John MaCrae was one of the first to arrive.

Spring 1915 April 1915 Italy entered the war against the

Central Powers.

High casualties on both sides throughout the spring.

Start of chemical warfare.

Ypres Belgian city of

Ypres strategically located with roads leading to ports was the scene of many battles since the 16th century.

Second Battle of Ypres German forces were concentrating

their efforts on the Eastern front in April.

April 22nd Germans tested the use of chlorine gas first use of chemical warfare.

"For seventeen days and seventeen nights none of us have had our clothes off, nor our boots even, except occasionally. In all that time while I was awake, gunfire and rifle fire never ceased for sixty seconds ..... And behind it all was the constant background of the sights of the dead, the wounded, the maimed, and a terrible anxiety lest the line should give way.”

- McRae

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IDXtP8Pk94

Battle of Somme July 1916

Somme River in France

Lasted 5 months little gained

German’s refer to this battle as: das Blutbad

Why? July 1st: over 57,000 British soldiers

killed, wounded or missing.

Both sides 1.25 million casualties

Over 24,000 Canadians.

Significance?PM George of Britain: "The Canadians played a part of such distinction that henceforward they were marked out as storm troops; for the remainder of the war they were brought along to head the assault in one great battle after another. Whenever the Germans found the Canadian Corps coming into the line they prepared for the worst.”

- Archives Canada

1917 Feb. 1, 1917

Germany reinstitutes in unrestricted submarine warfare.

Mar. 1, 1917 Zimmerman Telegram

Apr. 6, 1917 U.S. declares war.