Important Canadian Battles in WWI 2 nd Battle
Important Canadian Battles in WWI
2 nd Battle of Ypes 1915 • April 1915, the 1 st Canadian Division fought the grim Battle of Ypres, in Belgium • Germans introduced poison gas to the Western Front. (Chlorine gas) • Gas was launched at the centre of line (French) and they retreated • Canadians filled gap, urinated on handkerchiefs and stopped German push • 5, 200 Canadian deaths • John Mc. Crae writes “In Flander’s Field”
Battle of the Somme 1916 • Canadians fought under grueling conditions to advance only 8 km on the Somme front • By October 1916, the Canadian Corps had grown to four infantry divisions supported by strong artillery, cavalry, engineers, and auxiliary forces, a total of more than 80, 000 men. • Turning point in strategies of WWI
Battle of the Somme Cont’d • The Newfoundland Regiment was wiped out before it crossed the front line, and it suffered 92% casualty rate- 24, 000 Canadian deaths • Battle of the Somme was one of the largest battles of the First World War, with more than one million casualties • Highest one day death toll- British lost 60, 000 men in an afternoon • The battle is remembered today as the debut of the tank. • Canada was awarded a seat on the War Cabinet
Vimy Ridge- April 1917 • Many historians consider the Canadian victory at Vimy a defining moment for Canada • The Canadian Corps was ordered to seize Vimy Ridge in April 1917. • The Canadians would be assaulting over an open graveyard, previous French attacks had failed with over 100, 000 casualties.
Vimy Cont’d • Canadian troops earned a reputation as formidable, effective troops because of the stunning success • four Canadian divisions stormed the ridge at 5: 30 am on 9 April 1917. More than 15, 000 Canadian infantry overran the Germans all along the front • Artillery and preparation key in this battle
• Leap-frogging- keeps troops fresh during battle • Creeping Barragebombardment just in front of soldiers to protect them from machine gun fire • Individual soldiers trained on their role in the attack. • A coordinated attack- air, sea, soldiers artillery • 3, 598 Canadians were killed another 7, 000 wounded CANADIAN MEMORIAL AT VIMY RIDGE
VICTORIA CROSS GENERALS PLANNING FOR ATTACK ON VIMY RIDGE
FAMOUS PICTURE OF CANADIAN SOLDIERS AFTER VICTORY AT VIMY RIDGE
Battle of Vimy Ridge • You will watch the following documentary (23: 00) and fill in the question sheet as you watch. • http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=hvv. Xd. Lo Debk
Passchendaele • June 1917, Lieutenant-General Sir Arthur Currie became the first Canadian to command the Canadian Corps. That October-November, fighting on horrific battlefields in waist-deep mud, the Corps captured Passchendaele, in Belgium, but suffered 16, 000 killed or wounded in last two weeks of battle. • Little to no strategic value
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