The Canadian Corps were to capture the German-held high ground of Vimy Ridge, an escarpment on the northern flank of the Arras front. This would protect the First Army and the Third Army farther south from German enfilade fire.
Battle of Vimy Ridge.
| Date | 9–12 April 1917 |
|---|---|
| Result | British Empire victory |
What did Canada gain from Vimy Ridge?
After Vimy, the Canadian Corps went from one success to another, to be crowned by their achievements in the 1918 “advance to victory“. This record won for Canada a separate signature on the Versailles Peace Treaty ending the War.
What was the outcome of Vimy Ridge?
The four-day battle was over, and Vimy Ridge was finally in Allied hands — a stunning, but costly victory. The fighting left 3,598 Canadians dead and another 7,000 wounded. There were an estimated 20,000 casualties on the German side.
Why is Vimy Ridge so important to Canada?
The Vimy victory shaped a Canadian way of making war ; Canadians built on the conviction that only thorough preparation could spell success. Canada’s celebration of its victory at Vimy Ridge on 9 April 1917 owes much to a French historian and philosopher, Ernest Renan.
Did Canada gain independence from Vimy Ridge?
While Canada officially gained nation status in 1867, it was still tied closely to Great Britain. The Battle of Vimy Ridge was an important step ahead in the country’s march to independence.
How did Vimy Ridge change Canadian identity?
The Battle of Vimy Ridge during World War I was a key event in Canada’s development as a nation. Vimy became a shared symbol for Canadians and a source of national identity and pride. The French and British armies had failed to take Vimy Ridge from the Germans, at a cost of thousands of lives.
Was the Battle of Vimy Ridge a success?
The Battle of Vimy Ridge proved to be a great success, but it only came at a heavy cost. The some 100,000 Canadians who served there suffered more than 10,600 casualties, nearly 3,600 of which were fatal.
Was Vimy Ridge a turning point?
However, the battle was not a turning point or breakthrough in the war. It was never intended to be one. Instead, it was one of many operations in the larger Battle of Arras. The battlefields around Vimy Ridge and the Lens-Arras Road in 1919 (LAC M#2836024).
How is Vimy Ridge remembered?
Today, at Vimy Ridge in France, there is a very large white monument that towers above the area where the Battle of Vimy Ridge was fought more than 100 years ago. It is a special way to remember all the Canadians who served and died there.
What does Vimy symbolize?
The Canadian National Vimy Memorial not only marks the site of Canada’s most significant First World War engagement, it also stands as a tribute to all Canadians who served during the First World War, particularly those killed in France whose final resting place was unknown.
What was Canada’s most successful Battle in ww1?
On 9th April 1917 it captured Vimy Ridge, which had withstood all attacks for two years. Though this victory cost the Canadian Corps 10,000 casualties, it was certainly a great military success, and ensured that Vimy Ridge would later be chosen as the site of Canada’s National Memorial.
Did Vimy Ridge win the war?
The Battle of Vimy Ridge, 9-12 April 1917. Many historians and writers consider the Canadian victory at Vimy a defining moment for Canada, when the country emerged from under the shadow of Britain and felt capable of greatness.
What is Vimy Ridge now?
Canada’s most impressive tribute overseas to those Canadians who fought and gave their lives in the First World War is the majestic and inspiring Canadian National Vimy Memorial which overlooks the Douai Plain from the highest point of Vimy Ridge, about ten kilometres north of Arras.
Why did Germany take Vimy Ridge?
The German attack on Vimy Ridge (Unternehmen Schleswig-Holstein/Operation Schleswig-Holstein) was a local attack on the Western Front on 21 May 1916, during the First World War. The Germans intended to prevent mines being blown under German positions by capturing the British front line and mine gallery entrances.
What was Canada’s biggest victory?
J.L. Granatstein, one of Canada’s most celebrated historians, wants you to know more about Canada’s role in the last hundred days of the First World War. Not only does he describe it as “the greatest victory,” he calls the period from Aug. 8 through Nov.
What was Canada’s biggest Battle?
D-Day and the Battle of Normandy (1944)
Canada’s role in the greatest seaborne invasion of all time.
What was Canada’s first victory?
Battle of Vimy Ridge
The Battle of Vimy Ridge was part of the Battle of Arras, in the Pas-de-Calais department of France, during the First World War. The main combatants were the four divisions of the Canadian Corps in the First Army, against three divisions of the German 6th Army.
Why was Vimy Ridge a defining moment for Canada essay?
The battle of Vimy Ridge was a defining moment in Canadian history, because it was the first time Canada established its self as a true nation. The British allies had been trying to capture Vimy Ridge for three years, but were having no success. Ultimately the Canadians did it in three days.
How much land did France give to Canada for Vimy Ridge?
100 hectares
The French Government grants, freely and for all time, to the Government of Canada the free us of a parcel of 100 hectares located on Vimy Ridge in the Department of Pas-de-Calais, the boundaries of which are indicated on the plan annexed to this Agreement.