BATTLE OF VIMY RIDGE Canada’s Greatest Victory

When Did This Battle Start? In April 9, 1917 Where Is Vimy Ridge In the Nord- Pas-de- Calais region of France

Who Were Involved?What Made Vimy Ridge Formidable On the Defending side were the German Forces The Canadians were storming the ridge Before the Canadians, the French, and the English attempted this as well The German defenses consisted of three layers of trenches, barbed wire and deep tunnels. The natural slope of the hill provided little cover for attacking troops, it also allowed the German forces to have a clear view of the battle field below the ridge.

WHY WAS THIS BATTLE IMPORTANT?HOW DID THE BATTLE END? It was the first all Canadian win Proved Canada to be a strong force, as the French and the English could not complete this feat Helped them earn a place at the peace treaty at Paris Gave us a stronger identity We won due to our extensive planning and strategy The plan, devised by General Arthur Currie, was to shoot artillery past the troops creating a cloud of smoke and dust The troops followed the artillery allowing them to capture German positions before they could get ready Two days after “The Pimple” was captured, Afterwards the Germans were forced to retreat and the Battle of Vimy Ridge was over

IMPORTANT FIGURES IN THE BATTLE: GENERAL ARTHUR CURRIE Arthur Currie was the first Canadian General in WWI Due to his planning, the Canadian Corps were able to take down the Ridge General Currie made a model of the ridge and rehearsed the assault, everything was timed precisely All the troops were given information of the terrain, strong points of the ridge, and maps Army Engineers also created tunnels allowing infantry to be safely brought closer to the German lines VICTORIA CROSSES: In this battle four Victoria Crosses were given out, to the people who captured German machine gun positions These recipients were: Private William Milne, Lance-Sergeant Ellis Sifton, Captain Thain MacDowell and Private John Pattison