Vimy Ridge

April 9-12, 1917

Wednesday, 7 March, 12

Wednesday, 7 March, 12

The British were planning a massive campaign at Arras (which would result in another terrible battle of attrition), and Currie was asked to secure Vimy
Ridge to prevent the Germans from shelling the British flank.

The plan called for a massive movement across no-mans land by British forces on either side of the ridge while the pressure of capturing the ridge fell to the Canadians. Should this high ground stay in enemy hands, it would ensure failure on the battle front generally and cost countless lives in another failed push to break the German line.

The battle of Vimy Ridge was part of the bigger battle of Arras

Wednesday, 7 March, 12

The British were planning a massive campaign at Arras (which would result in another terrible battle of attrition), and Currie was asked to secure Vimy
Ridge to prevent the Germans from shelling the British flank.

The plan called for a massive movement across no-mans land by British forces on either side of the ridge while the pressure of capturing the ridge fell to the Canadians. Should this high ground stay in enemy hands, it would ensure failure on the battle front generally and cost countless lives in another failed push to break the German line.

Wednesday, 7 March, 12

 For the rst time in the war, all four divisions of the Canadian Expeditionary Force fought together

Wednesday, 7 March, 12

 For the rst time in the war, all four divisions of the Canadian Expeditionary Force fought together their effort has become a symbol of Canadian sacrice and achievement.

Wednesday, 7 March, 12

 For the rst time in the war, all four divisions of the Canadian Expeditionary Force fought together their effort has become a symbol of Canadian sacrice and achievement. Some historians believe that Vimy Ridge is a landmark on the road to Canadian nationhood
Wednesday, 7 March, 12

Reasons for success

Wednesday, 7 March, 12

Reasons for success

a mixture of:

Wednesday, 7 March, 12

Reasons for success

a mixture of: tactical innovation

Wednesday, 7 March, 12

Reasons for success

a mixture of: tactical innovation meticulous planning

Wednesday, 7 March, 12

Reasons for success

a mixture of: tactical innovation meticulous planning powerful artillery support

Wednesday, 7 March, 12

Reasons for success

a mixture of: tactical innovation meticulous planning powerful artillery support extensive training

Wednesday, 7 March, 12

Importance of the ridge

Wednesday, 7 March, 12

The taking of Vimy Ridge was very important offensively as it was a key position of the German line in Northern France but it was even more important for the Germans to NOT lose Vimy Ridge. Their position in the entire region would be destabilized should the ridge fall into allied hands. The Ridge held a commanding view of the entire Douai Plain. Loss of the ridge would expose vast territory of German held positions to allied sight and allied guns.

Importance of the ridge

the Germans controlled Vimy Ridge

Wednesday, 7 March, 12

The taking of Vimy Ridge was very important offensively as it was a key position of the German line in Northern France but it was even more important for the Germans to NOT lose Vimy Ridge. Their position in the entire region would be destabilized should the ridge fall into allied hands. The Ridge held a commanding view of the entire Douai Plain. Loss of the ridge would expose vast territory of German held positions to allied sight and allied guns.

Importance of the ridge

the Germans controlled Vimy Ridge if the allies could take the ridge they would be able to see a huge amount of German-held territory

Wednesday, 7 March, 12

The taking of Vimy Ridge was very important offensively as it was a key position of the German line in Northern France but it was even more important for the Germans to NOT lose Vimy Ridge. Their position in the entire region would be destabilized should the ridge fall into allied hands. The Ridge held a commanding view of the entire Douai Plain. Loss of the ridge would expose vast territory of German held positions to allied sight and allied guns.

Wednesday, 7 March, 12

Vimy Ridge was the hinge of the German line as it protected the newly constructed Hindenburg line and also the length of the western front as it traveled north-west into Flanders and on to the channel. It is also important to note that upwards of 150,000 British and French casualties had been inicted between 1914 and 1916 with no positive results.

Difficulty

Wednesday, 7 March, 12

Vimy Ridge itself stands about 110 metres at the high point and runs for 8 10 kilometres in length. The allied side of the ridge was a long gradual slope which made its way to the crest where a sharp drop fell into the expansive Douai Plain. The reality of the geography gave the Germans a clear and uninterrupted sight line of all enemy advances while the Allies could only use aircraft to see beyond the crest and into enemy held territory.

Difficulty
The ridge was heavily fortied:

Wednesday, 7 March, 12

Vimy Ridge itself stands about 110 metres at the high point and runs for 8 10 kilometres in length. The allied side of the ridge was a long gradual slope which made its way to the crest where a sharp drop fell into the expansive Douai Plain. The reality of the geography gave the Germans a clear and uninterrupted sight line of all enemy advances while the Allies could only use aircraft to see beyond the crest and into enemy held territory.

Difficulty
The ridge was heavily fortied: the Germans had constructed a maze of tunnels under the ridge

Wednesday, 7 March, 12

Vimy Ridge itself stands about 110 metres at the high point and runs for 8 10 kilometres in length. The allied side of the ridge was a long gradual slope which made its way to the crest where a sharp drop fell into the expansive Douai Plain. The reality of the geography gave the Germans a clear and uninterrupted sight line of all enemy advances while the Allies could only use aircraft to see beyond the crest and into enemy held territory.

Difficulty
The ridge was heavily fortied: the Germans had constructed a maze of tunnels under the ridge in these tunnels were living quarters with electricity and medical facilities

Wednesday, 7 March, 12

Vimy Ridge itself stands about 110 metres at the high point and runs for 8 10 kilometres in length. The allied side of the ridge was a long gradual slope which made its way to the crest where a sharp drop fell into the expansive Douai Plain. The reality of the geography gave the Germans a clear and uninterrupted sight line of all enemy advances while the Allies could only use aircraft to see beyond the crest and into enemy held territory.

Innovation

Wednesday, 7 March, 12

Officers would stay more closely with their platoons, able to adapt and direct actions much more effectively and quickly. The
men would also be fully briefed as to their objectives. Maps and rehearsals would be provided to each man. This would end confusion in the attack and bring the men more fully into the over-all objective of the attack. Should officers be killed, the attack could continue as planned. By the time the attack had begun, 21 miles of signal cable and 66 miles of telephone wire had been buried on the battlefront. The corps had dug 11 underground tunnel-ways to aid in the movement and protection of the troops. These underground roads were equipped with electricity, medical stations, supplies and rest stations. Portable bridges were built to assist in the movement of artillery pieces over the more difficult terrain and trenches.

Innovation
Ofcers stayed with their platoons

Wednesday, 7 March, 12

Officers would stay more closely with their platoons, able to adapt and direct actions much more effectively and quickly. The
men would also be fully briefed as to their objectives. Maps and rehearsals would be provided to each man. This would end confusion in the attack and bring the men more fully into the over-all objective of the attack. Should officers be killed, the attack could continue as planned. By the time the attack had begun, 21 miles of signal cable and 66 miles of telephone wire had been buried on the battlefront. The corps had dug 11 underground tunnel-ways to aid in the movement and protection of the troops. These underground roads were equipped with electricity, medical stations, supplies and rest stations. Portable bridges were built to assist in the movement of artillery pieces over the more difficult terrain and trenches.

Innovation
Ofcers stayed with their platoons soldiers understood their mission and had practiced

Wednesday, 7 March, 12

Officers would stay more closely with their platoons, able to adapt and direct actions much more effectively and quickly. The
men would also be fully briefed as to their objectives. Maps and rehearsals would be provided to each man. This would end confusion in the attack and bring the men more fully into the over-all objective of the attack. Should officers be killed, the attack could continue as planned. By the time the attack had begun, 21 miles of signal cable and 66 miles of telephone wire had been buried on the battlefront. The corps had dug 11 underground tunnel-ways to aid in the movement and protection of the troops. These underground roads were equipped with electricity, medical stations, supplies and rest stations. Portable bridges were built to assist in the movement of artillery pieces over the more difficult terrain and trenches.

Innovation
Ofcers stayed with their platoons soldiers understood their mission and had practiced indirect machine gun re meant using machine guns to re over the heads of the enemy

Wednesday, 7 March, 12

Officers would stay more closely with their platoons, able to adapt and direct actions much more effectively and quickly. The
men would also be fully briefed as to their objectives. Maps and rehearsals would be provided to each man. This would end confusion in the attack and bring the men more fully into the over-all objective of the attack. Should officers be killed, the attack could continue as planned. By the time the attack had begun, 21 miles of signal cable and 66 miles of telephone wire had been buried on the battlefront. The corps had dug 11 underground tunnel-ways to aid in the movement and protection of the troops. These underground roads were equipped with electricity, medical stations, supplies and rest stations. Portable bridges were built to assist in the movement of artillery pieces over the more difficult terrain and trenches.

Innovation
Ofcers stayed with their platoons soldiers understood their mission and had practiced indirect machine gun re meant using machine guns to re over the heads of the enemy this supported the artillery that focused on destroying supply lines

Wednesday, 7 March, 12

Officers would stay more closely with their platoons, able to adapt and direct actions much more effectively and quickly. The
men would also be fully briefed as to their objectives. Maps and rehearsals would be provided to each man. This would end confusion in the attack and bring the men more fully into the over-all objective of the attack. Should officers be killed, the attack could continue as planned. By the time the attack had begun, 21 miles of signal cable and 66 miles of telephone wire had been buried on the battlefront. The corps had dug 11 underground tunnel-ways to aid in the movement and protection of the troops. These underground roads were equipped with electricity, medical stations, supplies and rest stations. Portable bridges were built to assist in the movement of artillery pieces over the more difficult terrain and trenches.

Innovation

Wednesday, 7 March, 12

A plan had been developed to attack the German lines using both the infantry and artillery in concert with each other. After almost 3 years of war, the German defenders had been accustomed to waiting for the end of the artillery to move from their protected positions and man their machine-guns with ample time to kill the attackers. The Canadian plan called for artillery to keep an exact pace in front of the Canadian troops moving across no-mans-land. A well-rehearsed movement of man and shell, moving at a pace of about 100 yards every 3 minutes would attack the enemy trenches. This would provide a dangerous but effective cover for the Canadians. German machine-guns were kept silent as gunners stayed protected within the tunnels and trenches. It also, afforded an element of surprise as many Germans left their positions to face their attackers only to find the Canadians already at

Innovation

Soldiers were told to advance 100 meters every 3 minutes: no more, no less

Wednesday, 7 March, 12

A plan had been developed to attack the German lines using both the infantry and artillery in concert with each other. After almost 3 years of war, the German defenders had been accustomed to waiting for the end of the artillery to move from their protected positions and man their machine-guns with ample time to kill the attackers. The Canadian plan called for artillery to keep an exact pace in front of the Canadian troops moving across no-mans-land. A well-rehearsed movement of man and shell, moving at a pace of about 100 yards every 3 minutes would attack the enemy trenches. This would provide a dangerous but effective cover for the Canadians. German machine-guns were kept silent as gunners stayed protected within the tunnels and trenches. It also, afforded an element of surprise as many Germans left their positions to face their attackers only to find the Canadians already at

Result

Wednesday, 7 March, 12

Unfortunately, this victory was not to be the sweep through the German lines that it could have been. Allied high command had not prepared for such a breakthrough. There were no British battalions ready to carry on through the breach in the German lines. Both the French and British offensives of that month failed.

Result
3500 men killed

Wednesday, 7 March, 12

Unfortunately, this victory was not to be the sweep through the German lines that it could have been. Allied high command had not prepared for such a breakthrough. There were no British battalions ready to carry on through the breach in the German lines. Both the French and British offensives of that month failed.

Result
3500 men killed 7000+ seriously injured

Wednesday, 7 March, 12

Unfortunately, this victory was not to be the sweep through the German lines that it could have been. Allied high command had not prepared for such a breakthrough. There were no British battalions ready to carry on through the breach in the German lines. Both the French and British offensives of that month failed.

Result
3500 men killed 7000+ seriously injured Success...for now

Wednesday, 7 March, 12

Unfortunately, this victory was not to be the sweep through the German lines that it could have been. Allied high command had not prepared for such a breakthrough. There were no British battalions ready to carry on through the breach in the German lines. Both the French and British offensives of that month failed.

Canadian National Vimy memorial

Wednesday, 7 March, 12

The victory at Vimy Ridge forged the Canadian army into a single national force, inspired by pride and a feeling of being something different from the British. After Vimy the Canadian army would develop a reputation, particularly among the Germans, as elite shock troops of the Allied side.