1. BATTLE OF VIMY RIDGE: APRIL 1917
“The Birth of a Nation”

2. Previous Attacks on Vimy
Both the French and British armies had tried to attack and take over Vimy Ridge
All previous attacks were unsuccessful
It was Canada’s turn to try and take over

4. General Arthur Currie
General Arthur Currie insists that Canada fight this battle on their own –with Canadians and led by Canadians.
Currie studied failures and successes of previous battles in this war
Soldiers were trained carefully and practiced new battle tactics

6. Preparations
Preparations included building underground tunnels to move troops secretly and safely under no man’s land and closer to the German trenches.
Canadian troops also made a complete copy of the hill which let them know the details of the land they would be fighting on

11. The Attack
An artillery barrage fired on enemy lines was set to start the battle the morning of April 9, 1917.
At Vimy, this would occur differently than at the Somme. A new tactic called the CREEPING BARRAGE was set in place.
By April 12 Canada had control of the Ridge. The Allies held the Ridge for the rest of the war.

13. Vimy Success:
It was said that at Vimy Ridge Canada truly ‘became a nation’
Canada lost over 3500 men (out of over 10,000) but it has been called the “most perfectly organized and successful battle of the whole war”
As a result Canada was no longer seen as a colony and later signed the Treaty of Versailles as their own nation

14. Canadian soldiers celebrating victory after taking Vimy

15. Present-day view of shell holes left from the Vimy battle

17. Vimy Ridge Memorial