BATTLE OF VIMY RIDGE WHAT WAS THE BATTLE

BATTLE OF VIMY RIDGE

WHAT WAS THE BATTLE OF VIMY RIDGE? -Canada's most celebrated military victory of the first world war - The 4 divisions of the Canadian Corps (fighting together for the first time) attacked the ridge April 9 -12, 1917 and captured it from the German army. http: //www. thecanadianencyclopedia. ca/en/article/vimy-ridge/

WHAT WAS THE BATTLE OF VIMY RIDGE • The Canadian Corps were ordered to seize Vimy Ridge in April 1917. • The largest territorial advance of any Allied force to that point in the war. • More than 10, 500 Canadians were killed and wounded in the assault. • http: //www. thecanadianencyclopedia. ca/en/article/vimy-ridge/

LOCATION • Situated in northern France, the heavilyfortified 7 km ridge held a commanding view over the Allied lines. • The Canadians would be assaulting over an open graveyard (previous French attacks failed with over 100, 000 casualties).

WHY DID THIS EVENT OCCUR? After 3 years of fruitless slaughter, the First World War had become a struggle of attrition (style of battle that slowly wore down the opponent by continuous losses). The opposing Allied and German armies were stuck in a stalemate on the Western Front. Millions of soldiers had been killed and wounded in battles that brought the war no closer to an end. http: //www. thecanadianencyclopedia. ca/en/article/vimy-ridge/

WHY DID THIS EVENT OCCUR? • Attacking the ridge would help divert German resources from the French assault. • Capturing this high ground would give the Allies an important geographic vantage point (more of the war could be seen atop Vimy Ridge than from any other place in France). http: //www. thecanadianencyclopedia. ca/en/article/vimy-ridge/

A DEFINING MOMENT FOR CANADA • The taking of the ridge was something that no other country was able to do • The Canadian Corps’ success at Vimy allowed our troops to finally emerge from Britain’s shadow. http: //www. ctvnews. ca/canada/why-the-battle-of-vimy-ridge-was-a-defining-moment-for-canada 1. 3345828

VIMY RIDGE TODAY • Today, on land granted to Canada for all time by a grateful France, the Canadian National Vimy Memorial sits atop Hill 145, rising above the now quiet countryside. • It stands as a tribute to all who served and paid a price to help ensure the peace and freedom we enjoy today. • http: //www. veterans. gc. ca/eng/remembrance/histo ry/first-world-war/fact_sheets/vimy

VIMY RIDGE TODAY • • This great monument is inscribed with the names of 11, 285 Canadian soldiers who were listed as “missing, presumed dead” in France during the First World War. http: //www. veterans. gc. ca/eng/remembranc e/history/first-world-war/fact_sheets/vimy Ghosts of Vimy Ridge, painting by Will Longstaff

FIRST WORLD WAR IN COLOUR http: //www. vimyfoundation. ca/learn/ww 1 -colourization-project/

HERITAGE MINUTE VIDEO https: //www. historicacanada. ca/content/heritage-minutes/vimy -ridge

WORKS CITED • http: //www. vimyfoundation. ca/learn/ww 1 -colourization-project/ • http: //www. warmuseum. ca/the-battle-of-vimy-ridge/ http: //www. thecanadianencyclopedia. ca/en/article/vimy-ridge/ • http: //www. ctvnews. ca/canada/why-the-battle-of-vimy-ridge-was-a-defining-moment-for-canada-1. 3345828 • http: //www. veterans. gc. ca/eng/remembrance/history/first-world-war/fact_sheets/vimy • https: //www. historicacanada. ca/content/heritage-minutes/vimy-ridge