Battles of World Battles of World War IWar I

Battle of Ypres - Spring Battle of Ypres - Spring of 1915of 1915

Canadians were Canadians were honored to defend honored to defend the last bit of the last bit of Belgian land held Belgian land held by the Allied by the Allied forces.forces.

Canadians fought Canadians fought alongside the alongside the French-Algerian French-Algerian troopstroops

Ypres continued Ypres continued

Allied trenches Allied trenches were surrounded were surrounded on three sides by on three sides by German trenchesGerman trenches

Ypres - GasYpres - Gas

Germans Germans unleashed the first unleashed the first chlorine gas. The chlorine gas. The French-Algerian French-Algerian troops ran. The troops ran. The Canadians held for Canadians held for four days.four days.

Ypres Cont.Ypres Cont. Canada lost 6037 menCanada lost 6037 men Canada won high praise as a courageous nationCanada won high praise as a courageous nation The standing soldier exemplifies the courage and The standing soldier exemplifies the courage and

resolve of the inexperienced Canadians in their resolve of the inexperienced Canadians in their first major battle. British Field Marshal Sir John first major battle. British Field Marshal Sir John French declared that the Canadians “saved the French declared that the Canadians “saved the situation.” situation.”

The Battle of the Somme:The Battle of the Somme: July, 1 1916- November July, 1 1916- November

19161916 British commander, British commander,

Douglas Haig wanted to Douglas Haig wanted to smash through German smash through German lineslines

His strategy was to His strategy was to bomb the German lines bomb the German lines in hope that the shelling in hope that the shelling would wipe out the front would wipe out the front lineslines

After the bombing, the After the bombing, the allied infantry would be allied infantry would be able to break through able to break through these front linesthese front lines

It was said the bombing It was said the bombing could be heard as far could be heard as far away as Londonaway as London

Haig’s explanationHaig’s explanation (3) (3) Sir Douglas Sir Douglas HaigHaig explained the importance of explained the importance of

using using heavy artilleryheavy artillery at the Battle of the Somme in at the Battle of the Somme in his book his book DispatchesDispatches, that was published after the , that was published after the war. war.

The enemy's position to be attacked was of a very The enemy's position to be attacked was of a very formidable character, situated on a high, undulating formidable character, situated on a high, undulating tract of ground. The first and second systems each tract of ground. The first and second systems each consisted of several lines of deep trenches, well consisted of several lines of deep trenches, well provided with bomb-proof shelters and with numerous provided with bomb-proof shelters and with numerous communication trenches connecting them. The front of communication trenches connecting them. The front of the trenches in each system was protected by wire the trenches in each system was protected by wire entanglements, many of them in two belts forty yards entanglements, many of them in two belts forty yards broad, built of iron stakes, interlaced with barbed-wire, broad, built of iron stakes, interlaced with barbed-wire, often almost as thick as a man's finger. Defences of this often almost as thick as a man's finger. Defences of this nature could only be attacked with the prospect of nature could only be attacked with the prospect of success after careful artillery preparation. success after careful artillery preparation.

Somme cont.Somme cont. Haig’s strategy was Haig’s strategy was

badly outdated. badly outdated. Germans hid in massive Germans hid in massive

concrete trenches and concrete trenches and knew that when the knew that when the shelling stopped the shelling stopped the allied troops would be allied troops would be on their wayon their way

German machine German machine gunners easily stopped gunners easily stopped all allied troops who all allied troops who went “over the top”went “over the top”

Somme Cont.Somme Cont. 1.25 million men were killed or wounded at the 1.25 million men were killed or wounded at the

Somme and Britain had advanced less than 12 Somme and Britain had advanced less than 12 km.km.

German machine-gunner at the Somme.German machine-gunner at the Somme.

“The officers were in the front. I noticed “The officers were in the front. I noticed one of them walking calmly carrying a one of them walking calmly carrying a walking stick. When we started firing we walking stick. When we started firing we just had to load and reload. They went just had to load and reload. They went down in their hundreds. You didn't have down in their hundreds. You didn't have to aim, we just fired into them. “to aim, we just fired into them. “

The Battle of Vimy RidgeThe Battle of Vimy RidgeApril 9, 1917April 9, 1917

The Germans had held this 60 meter The Germans had held this 60 meter high ridge since the beginning of the high ridge since the beginning of the war. It gave the Germans a war. It gave the Germans a commanding view of the British commanding view of the British army and protected a vital area of army and protected a vital area of occupied France that produced occupied France that produced supplies for Germanysupplies for Germany

Topo Map of VimyTopo Map of Vimy

Vimy Ridge Vimy Ridge

Thus the Ridge was heavily fortified . Britain Thus the Ridge was heavily fortified . Britain and France had tried many times to take Vimy and France had tried many times to take Vimy Ridge with no success. Germany was confident Ridge with no success. Germany was confident it could not be taken. it could not be taken.

““German occupying troops controlled the ridge German occupying troops controlled the ridge using a network of trenches that snaked along using a network of trenches that snaked along the crest and down into the valley, connecting the crest and down into the valley, connecting with another network of natural caves. with another network of natural caves. 150,000 French and British soldiers had died 150,000 French and British soldiers had died trying to take it back. Allied commanders trying to take it back. Allied commanders believed the ridge to be impregnable.”believed the ridge to be impregnable.”

Vimy Ridge cont.Vimy Ridge cont. The Canadian Corps, The Canadian Corps,

under General Julian under General Julian Byng and Canadian Byng and Canadian Major General Arthur Major General Arthur Currie, were assigned Currie, were assigned the task to take Vimy the task to take Vimy RidgeRidge

Following the capture Following the capture of Vimy, Arthur Currie of Vimy, Arthur Currie was promoted to was promoted to commander of the commander of the Canadian Corps.Canadian Corps.

Vimy cont.Vimy cont.

The Canadians used thorough research, The Canadians used thorough research, preparation, practice, a surprise attack preparation, practice, a surprise attack and great discipline and courage to win and great discipline and courage to win Vimy RidgeVimy Ridge

The Preparations and The Preparations and PlanningPlanning

This is UNIQUE as This is UNIQUE as this map (sketch this map (sketch of what appears to of what appears to be the attack plan be the attack plan on the trench on the trench map) could hardly map) could hardly be seen on the be seen on the original document. original document. Scanning the Scanning the document made it document made it clearly visible!clearly visible!

Preparation and Preparation and Planning cont.Planning cont.

At zero hours we leave our At zero hours we leave our assembly trenches and push assembly trenches and push forward as soon as possible.  forward as soon as possible.  The whole idea being to get The whole idea being to get into "No Mans Land" before into "No Mans Land" before Hun barrage starts.  24th & Hun barrage starts.  24th & 25th take first two german 25th take first two german lines.  Short yards at first lines.  Short yards at first line.  Barrage works back until line.  Barrage works back until it reaches Black Line. At 0+34 it reaches Black Line. At 0+34 barrage lifts and 20th B takes barrage lifts and 20th B takes Black line. Meanwhile we lie Black line. Meanwhile we lie at N front line trench.  Each at N front line trench.  Each cmp then move up without cmp then move up without orders to German 3rd line and orders to German 3rd line and try and re-organize.  Do not try and re-organize.  Do not bother about straightness of bother about straightness of line but follow the barrage.line but follow the barrage.

Below Vimy Below Vimy

Vimy: Birth of a NationVimy: Birth of a Nation Although 3500 Canadians died, Canada Although 3500 Canadians died, Canada

successfully captured Vimy in one daysuccessfully captured Vimy in one day This was a turning point that has been called This was a turning point that has been called

“The Birth of a Nation”“The Birth of a Nation” For the first time Canadians attacked and For the first time Canadians attacked and

triumphed together.triumphed together. It was one of the swiftest and most complete It was one of the swiftest and most complete

victories of the entire warvictories of the entire war It united Canadians and brought Honour and It united Canadians and brought Honour and

pride to the young Nationpride to the young Nation From this point forward, Canadian troops were From this point forward, Canadian troops were

commanded by their own generalscommanded by their own generals

Vimy memorialVimy memorial

The Battle of The Battle of Passchendaele Passchendaele October, 1917October, 1917

British general Douglas British general Douglas Haig, against all advice, Haig, against all advice, still wanted to break still wanted to break through the German through the German frontfront

As part of the attack, As part of the attack, Canadian corps were to Canadian corps were to attack Passchendaeleattack Passchendaele

The battlefield was a The battlefield was a nightmare of marshes nightmare of marshes and swamps, and the and swamps, and the Germans held the high Germans held the high ground above the ground above the battlefieldbattlefield

Passchendaele cont.Passchendaele cont.

Canada took Canada took Passchendaele, but Passchendaele, but at a cost of 15,654 at a cost of 15,654 menmen

9 Canadians 9 Canadians received Victorian received Victorian Cross, Britain’s Cross, Britain’s highest military highest military honourhonour