The Canadian Battles of the First World War

First Battle of Ypres:First Battle of Ypres:October-November 1914October-November 1914

German army en route to English Channel met French, British and Belgian troops near small Belgian town of Ypres.

First Battle of Ypres:First Battle of Ypres:October-November 1914October-November 1914

Losses: Losses: Belgian: 18,522Belgian: 18,522 German: 134,315 German: 134,315 French: 50,000French: 50,000 + 31,265 missing+ 31,265 missingB.E.F.: 58,155B.E.F.: 58,155 or POWor POW

Result: StalemateResult: Stalemate- Front lines drawn through BelgiumFront lines drawn through Belgium- Ypres still held by the EntenteYpres still held by the Entente- ““Kindermord von Ypren”Kindermord von Ypren”

- The Massacre of the InnocentsThe Massacre of the Innocents

Second Battle of Ypres:Second Battle of Ypres:April 22-May 27, 1915April 22-May 27, 1915

Where Canadians first see battle in WWI

German PlanGerman Plan

Break stalemate by punching hole through Break stalemate by punching hole through Allied lineAllied line

Try out poisonous chlorine gasTry out poisonous chlorine gasAround 6000 cylinders of the gas deliveredAround 6000 cylinders of the gas deliveredWeigh 90 lbs eachWeigh 90 lbs each

An 1899 treaty banned the use of gas in An 1899 treaty banned the use of gas in warwar

The AttackThe Attack

Germans shell Ypres with 2000 pound shellsGermans shell Ypres with 2000 pound shells Germans open canisters of gas, by hand, and Germans open canisters of gas, by hand, and

use wind to blow gas to French-Algerian use wind to blow gas to French-Algerian section of line.section of line.

Algerians panic, flee clutching their throatsAlgerians panic, flee clutching their throatsLeaves 4 mile wide gap in the lineLeaves 4 mile wide gap in the line

Canadians fill in the gapCanadians fill in the gapOutnumbered 5:1 (50,000 : 10,000)Outnumbered 5:1 (50,000 : 10,000)Use urine soaked cloths to neutralize the Use urine soaked cloths to neutralize the

effects of the gaseffects of the gasSomehow hold the lineSomehow hold the line

First use of poisonous gas in the

war

ResultsResultsCanada:Canada:

First major Battle of the Great WarFirst major Battle of the Great WarReputation of hard hitting “shock troops”Reputation of hard hitting “shock troops”British saw it as “Exceptionally good British saw it as “Exceptionally good

performance for raw colonial troops”performance for raw colonial troops”Contrast from first view of soldiers when Contrast from first view of soldiers when

they arrivedthey arrived

CostCost

Canada: 6037 casualties (66 officers, Canada: 6037 casualties (66 officers, 1784 killed)1784 killed)

B.E.F.: 59, 275B.E.F.: 59, 275French: 10,000French: 10,000Belgian: 1,530Belgian: 1,530German: 34,267German: 34,267

John McCraeJohn McCraeIn Flanders FieldsIn Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blowIn Flanders fields the poppies blowBetween the crosses, row on row,Between the crosses, row on row,That mark our place; and in the skyThat mark our place; and in the skyThe larks, still bravely singing, flyThe larks, still bravely singing, flyScarce heard amid the guns below.Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days agoWe are the Dead. Short days agoWe lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,Loved, and were loved, and now we lieLoved, and were loved, and now we lie      In Flanders fields.      In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:Take up our quarrel with the foe:To you from failing hands we throwTo you from failing hands we throwThe torch; be yours to hold it high.The torch; be yours to hold it high.If ye break faith with us who dieIf ye break faith with us who dieWe shall not sleep, though poppies growWe shall not sleep, though poppies grow      In Flanders fields.      In Flanders fields.

The Somme: The Somme: July-November 1916July-November 1916

British Commander in Chief, Douglas Haig, decides to go British Commander in Chief, Douglas Haig, decides to go on offensive and “smash” through enemy lines.on offensive and “smash” through enemy lines.

The offensive becomes known as the Battle of the The offensive becomes known as the Battle of the Somme.Somme.

The PlanThe Plan

British and French launch 1.5 million British and French launch 1.5 million rounds of ammunition.rounds of ammunition.Heavy artillery was supposed to break up Heavy artillery was supposed to break up

German barbed wire and wipe out their linesGerman barbed wire and wipe out their linesGermans just retreated to concrete reinforced Germans just retreated to concrete reinforced

bunkers, and used crater holes as machine bunkers, and used crater holes as machine gun nestsgun nests

100 machine guns ready and waiting100 machine guns ready and waiting

“When we started firing we just had to load an reload. They went down by the hundreds. You didn’t have to aim, we just fired into them.”

- German soldier on what he observed during the early attacks at the Somme

Beaumont-Hamel: July 1Beaumont-Hamel: July 1stst, 1916, 1916

Newfoundland Newfoundland RegimentRegiment

658 of 758 dead or 658 of 758 dead or injured in one dayinjured in one day

Memorial set up in Memorial set up in their honour (right)their honour (right)

Results of The SommeResults of The Somme

600,000 allied soldiers killed or wounded 600,000 allied soldiers killed or wounded in first three monthsin first three months

Over one million killed or wounded on both Over one million killed or wounded on both sidessides

Allied forces gained 12 kilometersAllied forces gained 12 kilometersGermans referred to it as “das Blutbad”Germans referred to it as “das Blutbad”

Canadians at the SommeCanadians at the Somme The Somme had cost Canada 24,029 casualties, The Somme had cost Canada 24,029 casualties,

but it was here that the Canadians confirmed but it was here that the Canadians confirmed their reputation as hard-hitting shock troops. their reputation as hard-hitting shock troops.

"The Canadians", wrote Lloyd George, "played a "The Canadians", wrote Lloyd George, "played a part of such distinction that henceforward they part of such distinction that henceforward they were marked out as storm troops; for the were marked out as storm troops; for the remainder of the war they were brought along to remainder of the war they were brought along to head the assault in one great battle after head the assault in one great battle after another. Whenever the Germans found the another. Whenever the Germans found the Canadian Corps coming into the line they Canadian Corps coming into the line they prepared for the worst."prepared for the worst."

The SommeThe Somme

Debut of the tankDebut of the tank

-2 km/h

-Easy target for artillery

Vimy Ridge, April 9Vimy Ridge, April 9thth 1917 1917

8 km stretch of high ground, occupied 8 km stretch of high ground, occupied since 1914 by Germanssince 1914 by Germans

British and French tried to take ridge at a British and French tried to take ridge at a cost of 200,000 casualtiescost of 200,000 casualties

Ridge seen as invincibleRidge seen as invincible

German AdvantageGerman Advantage

German defenses could oversee a huge German defenses could oversee a huge amount of territory – surprise was very amount of territory – surprise was very difficult and it was easier to site their difficult and it was easier to site their artilleryartillery

German troops had dug in – they had German troops had dug in – they had deep bunkers in the ridge designed to deep bunkers in the ridge designed to keep them safe from artillerykeep them safe from artillery

You and one or two other people, You and one or two other people, brainstorm and suggest – what ideas do brainstorm and suggest – what ideas do you have that might help overcome the you have that might help overcome the German advantages? German advantages?

Some hints will be given in the course of Some hints will be given in the course of your deliberations.your deliberations.

List them!List them!

Canadian Corp, 1917Canadian Corp, 1917

100,000 soldiers led by British 100,000 soldiers led by British General Julien ByngGeneral Julien Byng Meticulous planningMeticulous planning Rehearsed for weeks and monthsRehearsed for weeks and months Gave each soldier a mapGave each soldier a map Trench raids at nightTrench raids at night

Gained information and terrorizedGained information and terrorized

Dig 20 km of tunnels under the Dig 20 km of tunnels under the ridgeridge Blow out exits into no-man’s landBlow out exits into no-man’s land Blow up under German linesBlow up under German lines

Tunnels! Surprise!Tunnels! Surprise!

Scale Trenches for Vimy AttackScale Trenches for Vimy Attack

Artillery bombardment – a million shells Artillery bombardment – a million shells kept the German in their bunkers (and kept the German in their bunkers (and awake and hungry) for two weeksawake and hungry) for two weeks

Deadly night time raids gained intelligenceDeadly night time raids gained intelligence

Silence the German GunsSilence the German Guns

Used audio Used audio equipment and equipment and triangulation to triangulation to discover and silence discover and silence the German guns on the German guns on the day of the attackthe day of the attack

Vimy: The Attack, April 9thVimy: The Attack, April 9th

Heaviest barrage of war so farHeaviest barrage of war so far983 artillery pieces, 150 machine guns983 artillery pieces, 150 machine guns In 100 minutes, ¼ million shells and 7 million In 100 minutes, ¼ million shells and 7 million

bullets fall onto ridgebullets fall onto ridgeCreeping Barrage (next slide)Creeping Barrage (next slide)Everything was timed. No stopping for Everything was timed. No stopping for

injuredinjured In eight hours, all objectives completeIn eight hours, all objectives complete

Creeping BarrageCreeping Barrage Guns fire at one spot Guns fire at one spot

for 5 minutes, and for 5 minutes, and then fire 100 m then fire 100 m furtherfurther

Troops follow 100 Troops follow 100 meters behindmeters behind

Do this until troops Do this until troops reach destinationreach destination

Destroys barbed Destroys barbed wire and enemy wire and enemy lineslines

Vimy: CanadaVimy: Canada Accomplished what French and British could notAccomplished what French and British could not National PrideNational Pride First and last time all 4 Canadian Divisions fight togetherFirst and last time all 4 Canadian Divisions fight together Byng promoted, Arthur Currie commands Canadian Byng promoted, Arthur Currie commands Canadian

CorpsCorps First Canadian to do soFirst Canadian to do so

CostCost Casualties: 10, 602Casualties: 10, 602 Killed: 3, 598Killed: 3, 598 Germans said Canadians “Could go home in a Row Boat”???Germans said Canadians “Could go home in a Row Boat”???

Historical Significance?Historical Significance?

An example of the value of preparation – learn An example of the value of preparation – learn lessons of the war and attempt to spend shells, lessons of the war and attempt to spend shells, money, time rather than menmoney, time rather than men

A Nationalist FIRST – what had been a number A Nationalist FIRST – what had been a number of Canadian battalions attached to the British of Canadian battalions attached to the British army was becoming a Canadian Army – soldiers army was becoming a Canadian Army – soldiers from coast to coast in Canada fought for a single from coast to coast in Canada fought for a single objective, and won, although at great cost in objective, and won, although at great cost in liveslives

Legacy: Canadian National Vimy MemorialLegacy: Canadian National Vimy Memorial

1917: Passchendaele1917: Passchendaele(July - November 1917)(July - November 1917)

•Canadians move here after VimyCanadians move here after Vimy•Currie argued that it was too muddy Currie argued that it was too muddy but was ignored by Haigbut was ignored by Haig•Currie says attack will cost 16,000 Currie says attack will cost 16,000 casualtiescasualties

Passchendaele: ResultsPasschendaele: Results

15, 654 casualties: worst battle for Canada15, 654 casualties: worst battle for Canada Attack left little support for British tanks in Attack left little support for British tanks in

CambraiCambrai By end of November, Germans regained groundBy end of November, Germans regained ground

June, 1918, Borden furious at British Generals June, 1918, Borden furious at British Generals for their incompetencefor their incompetence

Stormed at Lloyd George, who made his Stormed at Lloyd George, who made his generals listengenerals listen

Empire leaders sat down and mapped out, Empire leaders sat down and mapped out, together, strategy to end war.together, strategy to end war.

CHC2P Read 26-29CHC2P Read 26-29Question 1 and 2 pg 29Question 1 and 2 pg 29

CHC2D Read pages 71-75 question 1CHC2D Read pages 71-75 question 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzceNGU-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzceNGU-9Vw9Vw King and Empire Vimy ridge King and Empire Vimy ridge