BATTLE OF VIMY RIDGE

1
BATTLE OF VIMY RIDGE

• April 9, 1917

2
(No Transcript)
3
Background

• Vimy Ridge was the high ground in the Arras
  region of northern France.
• On one side of the ridge were the industrial
  towns of Vimy, Givenchy-en-Gohelle and Farbus and
  on the other was the Douai Plain.
• The Germans had controlled the ridge, and the
  towns behind it for 3 years.

4
Background

• For three years the French and the British
  attempted to take this area, but the German
  position only became stronger.
• In early 1917 the Canadians were given the task
  of trying to take the ridge once again
• Although Julian Byng was in command of the corps,
  the responsibility of planning and commanding
  this battle would go to Arthur Currie, Byngs
  second-in-command.

5
The Preparations

• Currie insisted on massive preparations
• Rehearsed their movements and tactics
• Officers were given maps of the battlefield
• All the men were told the plan
• New technology was employed
• sonar
• new gun mechanisms
• subways
• New tactics were developed
• Rolling barrage
• Squadrons

6
The Plan

• In the week prior to the attack, the Canadians
  shelled the German lines 24/7 (the week of
  suffering)
• On Easter Monday, April 9 the Canadian assault
  began.
• The new rolling barrage was employed
• Subways allowed thousands of men to cross
  no-mans land in greater safety
• Squadrons (now sections) were first used
• Vimy Glide
• By the time the Germans knew what was happening,
  the Canadians were upon them.
• Fierce hand-to hand combat

7
(No Transcript)
8

• Within three hours the Canadians held main ridge.
• Capture of the Pimple
• Capture of Hill 145
• The Canadians held the whole region within a few
  days

9
(No Transcript)
10
The Cost

• 10,500 casualties 3,598 dead Canadians

11
The Outcome

• After this it was no longer enough to call
  ourselves British subjects. From this point
  forward we were Canadians.

12
(No Transcript)