2.  As WWI began, Germany invaded Belgium on their way to France  In Belgium the Allies stopped them  Germans couldn’t continue, but Allies couldn’t push them back.  Stalemate  Both side dug defensive trenches in the ground

8.  Trenches - excavation or depression in the ground

9.  Early 1915, the first Canadian soldiers arrived in France as part of the British army  They dug and lived in Trenches  The line of trenches went from the North Sea to the Swiss Alps  The “Western Front”  Central Powers also fought Russians on the Eastern Front

13.  Barbed wire was placed in front of the trenches  The area between the enemy trenches was called no man’s land

14.  Soldiers were often wet, cold and dirty  They had to work, eat, sleep in the water or mud  When not fighting, soldiers lived in holes in the ground called : dug out’s

16.  medical condition caused by prolonged exposure of the feet to damp, unsanitary and cold conditions

18.  Two big problems: Rats and Lice

19.  Rats would eat the bodies of dead soldiers in no man’s land  Disease and infections were everywhere because of rats, lice and flies  Dying soldiers cried, dead & rotting bodies smelled, the guns never stopped firing on the trenches

20.  Soldiers had to climb out of the trench to attack the enemy. This was called “going over the top”  Soldiers knew they were going to die  Shellshock: when you become mentally ill from fighting  Christmas Day 1914 British & German soldiers played football and spoke about peace.  Bodies of more than 11,000 Canadian soldiers were never recovered

21. Watch Passchendaele Video on website

22.  Canada’s first major battle was at Second Battle of Ypres, Belgium  April 1915  New German surprise weapon: Chlorine Gas  Some allies ran away, Canadians stayed! 6000 Canadians died Battle ended in a stalemate

25.  July 1 st 1916 – British launched major attack near the Somme River in France  Germans were ready  Terrible bloodbath for both sides  60,000 British casualties on the 1 st day

26.  First use of the tank  Attack lasted 5 months  24,000 Canadians killed  624,000 Allied soldiers killed  Gained 545 kilometres Earl Haig

28.  Canadian army’s biggest victory was in April 1917. Vimy Ridge

29.  Vimy Ridge memorial

31.  The Allies tried to capture the hill many times, but failed  200,000 soldiers died trying  Canadians planned the attack  They tunnelled under the hill + used explosive mines.  Canadians were successful!  Some say we became an independent country because of Vimy Ridge

32.  Canadian General – helped plan the battle of Vimy Ridge

33.  Canadian Flag during WWI

34. The Canadian Government sold Victory Bonds to Canadian citizens, private corporations and various organizations in order to raise funds to pay for the war.

35.  20,000 Canadians joined the RAF (Royal Air Force)  Airplanes were a new invention  Most famous Canadian WWI pilot was: Billy Bishop

37.  Planes were not strong, crashed easily  Machine guns were put on planes  “Dog-Fights” – fights between planes  Canada now had respect for it’s help in the war  Canada was now seen as a country, not a colony