[durt]

100 years ago today, The Battle of Vimy Ridge was fought. A military engagement, primarily as part of the Battle of Arras, in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France, during the First World War. The main combatants were the Canadian Corps, of four divisions, against three divisions of the German Sixth Army. The battle, which took place from 9 to 12 April 1917, was part of the opening phase of the British-led Battle of Arras, a diversionary attack for the French Nivelle Offensive.

The objective of the Canadian Corps was to take control of the German-held high ground along an escarpment at the northernmost end of the Arras Offensive. This would ensure that the southern flank could advance without suffering German enfilade fire. Supported by a creeping barrage, the Canadian Corps captured most of the ridge during the first day of the attack. The town of Thélus fell during the second day of the attack, as did the crest of the ridge once the Canadian Corps overcame a salient against considerable German resistance. The final objective, a fortified knoll located outside the village of Givenchy-en-Gohelle, fell to the Canadian Corps on 12 April. The German forces then retreated to the Oppy–Méricourt line.


Historians attribute the success of the Canadian Corps in capturing the ridge to a mixture of technical and tactical innovation, meticulous planning, powerful artillery support and extensive training, as well as the failure of the German Sixth Army to properly apply the new German defensive doctrine. The battle was the first occasion when all four divisions of the Canadian Expeditionary Force participated in a battle together and it was made a symbol of Canadian national achievement and sacrifice. Recent historical research has called this patriotic narrative into question, showing that it developed in the latter part of the twentieth century. The nation-building story only emerged fully formed after most of those who experienced the Great War directly or indirectly had passed from the scene. A 100-hectare (250-acre) portion of the former battleground serves as a memorial park and site of the Canadian National Vimy Memorial.

[EMason88]

Here is a few pics off wilki of the battle


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle..._Vimy_1917.jpg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle...gun_crews.jpeg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle...Vimy_Ridge.jpg

[Geemonster]

I have a Canadian friend who told me about it.
The Canadian's were instrumental in winning that battle.

[DeathHand]

Originally Posted by Quetzalcoatl ↗

I have a Canadian friend who told me about it.
The Canadian's were instrumental in winning that battle.

The Canadians did eventually take Vimy Ridge but before that happened the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, about 800 troops, was almost completely wiped out in an attempt to storm the ridge. In that one day they suffered an 86% casualty rate.

The British command miscalculated the effectiveness of their artillery assaults on the German positions and, thinking that the Germans were shattered, ordered the Newfoundlanders to take the ridge.

That was in the opening days of the Somme offensive in July 1916.

The Newfoundlanders weren't part of Canada yet and fought under the British flag.

In April of 1917 four Canadian divisions stormed the ridge together and took it, at a cost of about 3,500 Canadian lives, in 4 days of fighting.

Three of my g-uncles were there and each managed to return to Canada alive.