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Vimy
- 1. The Battle ofVimy RidgeThe Battle of Vimy Ridge
- 2. Vimy before theCanadians ArrivedVimy before the Canadians Arrived ► April 1917- The Canadian forces are charged withApril 1917- The Canadian forces are charged with capturing Vimy Ridge (110 meters at its highestcapturing Vimy Ridge (110 meters at its highest point)point) ► Germans had unrestricted view of Allied positionsGermans had unrestricted view of Allied positions ► The ridge is 7km long, heavily defendedThe ridge is 7km long, heavily defended (considered impregnable)(considered impregnable) ► 4 strong fortifications: Hill 135, Hill 145, La Folie4 strong fortifications: Hill 135, Hill 145, La Folie Farm, and the “Pimple”Farm, and the “Pimple” ► Under the Ridge were large undergroundUnder the Ridge were large underground chambers with lights and deep dug-outs protectedchambers with lights and deep dug-outs protected the defendersthe defenders
- 3. ► From 1914-1916the British and French had launched 3From 1914-1916 the British and French had launched 3 massive attacks on the Ridgemassive attacks on the Ridge ► They had lost 150,000 menThey had lost 150,000 men
- 4. Canadians said theycould take the Hill Said they could do it only losing 10,000 And could do it in a weekend of fighting The British and French had yet to have a major victory in the war
- 5. What Actually HappenedWhatActually Happened
- 6. The PreparationThe Preparation ►Allies use aerial photographs to plan the assaultAllies use aerial photographs to plan the assault ► Canadian troops rehearse the assault and their various rolesCanadian troops rehearse the assault and their various roles ► Every Canadian troop knew what they had to do. (this wasEvery Canadian troop knew what they had to do. (this was new)new)
- 7. The PreparationThe Preparation ►PlatoonTactics:Platoon Tactics: ►Canadian Corps were reorganized toCanadian Corps were reorganized to include: Rifles, Rifle-gernade, Machineinclude: Rifles, Rifle-gernade, Machine guns, bombing sections.guns, bombing sections. ►They were to move in loose formation andThey were to move in loose formation and give each other cover firegive each other cover fire ►Machine Guns:Machine Guns: ►They were used for indirect fire, not used asThey were used for indirect fire, not used as a defensea defense
- 8. ►Artillery:Artillery: ►850 guns wereassembled850 guns were assembled ►Bombardment of the Ridge began on MarchBombardment of the Ridge began on March 2020thth , 1917 (3 weeks before the attack), 1917 (3 weeks before the attack) ►2,500 tons of ammunition were expended2,500 tons of ammunition were expended each dayeach day ►April 2, “The week of suffering” beganApril 2, “The week of suffering” began Artillery was intensified before the battleArtillery was intensified before the battle ►German defences were the focus. TheyGerman defences were the focus. They were able to target these areas because ofwere able to target these areas because of reconnaissance and airplanesreconnaissance and airplanes
- 9. ►Raiding and Rehearsing:Raidingand Rehearsing: ►Raids to learn about enemy and hurt moraleRaids to learn about enemy and hurt morale ►Far behind the allied line infantry wereFar behind the allied line infantry were rehearsing exactly each objectiverehearsing exactly each objective ►Practiced on a model of the RidgePracticed on a model of the Ridge ►Other Preparations:Other Preparations: ►Miners dug tunnels to the frontMiners dug tunnels to the front ►Dug Mines under German defensesDug Mines under German defenses
- 12. The View fromthe German PositionThe View from the German Position
- 13. ►Engineers digEngineers dig deeptunnels fromdeep tunnels from the rear to thethe rear to the front to bringfront to bring troops forwardtroops forward
- 14. A model reproductionof the German linesA model reproduction of the German lines
- 15. The PlanThe Plan ►Allied artillery will shell the German trenchesAllied artillery will shell the German trenches heavily as Canadian forces advance behind aheavily as Canadian forces advance behind a “Creeping Barrage or Rolling Barrage”“Creeping Barrage or Rolling Barrage” ► The Germans will hopefully be taking cover in theirThe Germans will hopefully be taking cover in their bunkers and the Canadians will be able to capturebunkers and the Canadians will be able to capture the ridgethe ridge ► "Chaps, you shall go over exactly like a railroad train, on time, or you"Chaps, you shall go over exactly like a railroad train, on time, or you shall be annihilated,"shall be annihilated," ► Canadian Corps commander Sir Julian Byng.Canadian Corps commander Sir Julian Byng.
- 16. The BattleThe Battle ►The battle begins at 5:30 am on April 9The battle begins at 5:30 am on April 9thth (delayed(delayed one day) Easter Mondayone day) Easter Monday ► Machine guns open firedMachine guns open fired ► Mines were explodedMines were exploded ► Artillery Barrage BeganArtillery Barrage Began ► Gas shells into rear German areas (cut offGas shells into rear German areas (cut off supplies)supplies) ► Attackers went behind the Rolling Barrage (100Attackers went behind the Rolling Barrage (100 yards every 3 minutes)yards every 3 minutes)
- 17. ►Canadians advance upthe ridge (inCanadians advance up the ridge (in snow and sleet)snow and sleet) ►Were into enemy trenches beforeWere into enemy trenches before defenders could emerge from the dug-defenders could emerge from the dug- outs.outs. ►capture three lines of enemy trenchescapture three lines of enemy trenches ► "A wonderful success. The grandest day the Corps"A wonderful success. The grandest day the Corps has ever had. The attack was carried out exactlyhas ever had. The attack was carried out exactly as planned. The sight was awful and wonderful."as planned. The sight was awful and wonderful." General Arthur CurrieGeneral Arthur Currie
- 22. Victory!Victory! ► Hill 145,the highest point, is captured by a frontalHill 145, the highest point, is captured by a frontal bayonet charge against machine gunsbayonet charge against machine guns ► The Canadian victory comes after 3 days ofThe Canadian victory comes after 3 days of fighting, on April 12 1917fighting, on April 12 1917 ► Canadian forces suffered over 10,000 causalitiesCanadian forces suffered over 10,000 causalities including 3,598 killedincluding 3,598 killed
- 23. Canadians after capturinga German trenchCanadians after capturing a German trench
- 26. Canada’s Shining MomentCanada’sShining Moment ►This battle was the first time the 4 CanadianThis battle was the first time the 4 Canadian divisions fought together as one forcedivisions fought together as one force ►Canadians show incredible bravery andCanadians show incredible bravery and discipline and continue to attack even afterdiscipline and continue to attack even after their officers are killedtheir officers are killed ►Canadians single handedly captureCanadians single handedly capture machine gun nests and German bunkersmachine gun nests and German bunkers
- 27. To The Victors…ToThe Victors… ► Canadians captured more land, prisoners andCanadians captured more land, prisoners and guns than any previous British offensiveguns than any previous British offensive ► "in those few minutes I witnessed the birth of a nation.""in those few minutes I witnessed the birth of a nation." Brigadier-General A.E. RossBrigadier-General A.E. Ross ► 19221922 France cedes Vimy Ridge and the areaFrance cedes Vimy Ridge and the area around it to Canadaaround it to Canada
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- 31. Arthur CurrieArthur Currie ►Arthur Currie is knighted, made commander of theArthur Currie is knighted, made commander of the Canadian forcesCanadian forces ► For the first time Canada’s forces will be led by aFor the first time Canada’s forces will be led by a CanadianCanadian ► Canadians had begun the war as colonials, butCanadians had begun the war as colonials, but were now Allieswere now Allies
- 33. The Glorious SuccessTheGlorious Success ► Vimy Ridge becomes a symbol for CanadianVimy Ridge becomes a symbol for Canadian sacrifice and pridesacrifice and pride ► Canadians from every province fought side byCanadians from every province fought side by side, making Vimy a symbol of Canada’s unitedside, making Vimy a symbol of Canada’s united identityidentity ► 19361936 The Vimy Ridge memorial is unveiledThe Vimy Ridge memorial is unveiled
- 34. The Canadian NationalVimyThe Canadian National Vimy MemorialMemorial
- 35. The Canadian NationalVimyThe Canadian National Vimy MemorialMemorial ► The two pillars represent the nations of CanadaThe two pillars represent the nations of Canada and Franceand France ► One of the main figures is,One of the main figures is, Canada MourningCanada Mourning: a: a woman, hooded and cloaked. This grieving figurewoman, hooded and cloaked. This grieving figure represents Canada — a young nation mourningrepresents Canada — a young nation mourning her fallen sons.her fallen sons. ► The names of the 11,285 Canadian soldiers whoThe names of the 11,285 Canadian soldiers who died in France whose bodies weren’t recovereddied in France whose bodies weren’t recovered are carved on the memorialare carved on the memorial
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- 37. The Vimy MemorialTheVimy Memorial ► ““Vimy was not a war memorial which was devoted to triumph or theVimy was not a war memorial which was devoted to triumph or the glory of a great military leader, but rather to a profound sense of dutyglory of a great military leader, but rather to a profound sense of duty towards the legions of men who filled the ranks of the dead. "There aretowards the legions of men who filled the ranks of the dead. "There are no signs of victory there at all...It expresses our obligation to the dead,no signs of victory there at all...It expresses our obligation to the dead, and the grief of the living — sentiments of sacrifice that you do not seeand the grief of the living — sentiments of sacrifice that you do not see in war memorials until this time.”in war memorials until this time.” Jacqueline HuckerJacqueline Hucker Art historian,Art historian,