The Battle of Vimy Ridge saw Canadian forces capture the ridge from German forces in April 1917, in a well-planned and executed operation. Through extensive preparation including rehearsals, artillery bombardment, and mining activities, the Canadians were able to take the heavily fortified ridge, which previous British and French attacks had failed to do. While the Canadians suffered over 10,000 casualties including 3,598 killed, they achieved a decisive victory that boosted Canadian pride and identity on the world stage. The capture of Vimy Ridge became a seminal moment in Canada's emergence as an independent nation.

1. The Battle of Vimy RidgeThe Battle of Vimy Ridge

2. Vimy before the Canadians ArrivedVimy before the Canadians Arrived
► April 1917- The Canadian forces are charged withApril 1917- The Canadian forces are charged with
capturing Vimy Ridge (110 meters at its highestcapturing Vimy Ridge (110 meters at its highest
point)point)
► Germans had unrestricted view of Allied positionsGermans had unrestricted view of Allied positions
► The ridge is 7km long, heavily defendedThe ridge is 7km long, heavily defended
(considered impregnable)(considered impregnable)
► 4 strong fortifications: Hill 135, Hill 145, La Folie4 strong fortifications: Hill 135, Hill 145, La Folie
Farm, and the “Pimple”Farm, and the “Pimple”
► Under the Ridge were large undergroundUnder the Ridge were large underground
chambers with lights and deep dug-outs protectedchambers with lights and deep dug-outs protected
the defendersthe defenders

3. ► From 1914-1916 the British and French had launched 3From 1914-1916 the British and French had launched 3
massive attacks on the Ridgemassive attacks on the Ridge
► They had lost 150,000 menThey had lost 150,000 men

4. Canadians said they could take the Hill
Said they could do it only losing 10,000
And could do it in a weekend of fighting
The British and French had yet to have a major
victory in the war

5. What Actually HappenedWhat Actually Happened

6. The PreparationThe Preparation
► Allies use aerial photographs to plan the assaultAllies use aerial photographs to plan the assault
► Canadian troops rehearse the assault and their various rolesCanadian troops rehearse the assault and their various roles
► Every Canadian troop knew what they had to do. (this wasEvery Canadian troop knew what they had to do. (this was
new)new)

7. The PreparationThe Preparation
►Platoon Tactics:Platoon Tactics:
►Canadian Corps were reorganized toCanadian Corps were reorganized to
include: Rifles, Rifle-gernade, Machineinclude: Rifles, Rifle-gernade, Machine
guns, bombing sections.guns, bombing sections.
►They were to move in loose formation andThey were to move in loose formation and
give each other cover firegive each other cover fire
►Machine Guns:Machine Guns:
►They were used for indirect fire, not used asThey were used for indirect fire, not used as
a defensea defense

8. ►Artillery:Artillery:
►850 guns were assembled850 guns were assembled
►Bombardment of the Ridge began on MarchBombardment of the Ridge began on March
2020thth
, 1917 (3 weeks before the attack), 1917 (3 weeks before the attack)
►2,500 tons of ammunition were expended2,500 tons of ammunition were expended
each dayeach day
►April 2, “The week of suffering” beganApril 2, “The week of suffering” began
Artillery was intensified before the battleArtillery was intensified before the battle
►German defences were the focus. TheyGerman defences were the focus. They
were able to target these areas because ofwere able to target these areas because of
reconnaissance and airplanesreconnaissance and airplanes

9. ►Raiding and Rehearsing:Raiding and Rehearsing:
►Raids to learn about enemy and hurt moraleRaids to learn about enemy and hurt morale
►Far behind the allied line infantry wereFar behind the allied line infantry were
rehearsing exactly each objectiverehearsing exactly each objective
►Practiced on a model of the RidgePracticed on a model of the Ridge
►Other Preparations:Other Preparations:
►Miners dug tunnels to the frontMiners dug tunnels to the front
►Dug Mines under German defensesDug Mines under German defenses

12. The View from the German PositionThe View from the German Position

13. ►Engineers digEngineers dig
deep tunnels fromdeep tunnels from
the rear to thethe rear to the
front to bringfront to bring
troops forwardtroops forward

14. A model reproduction of the German linesA model reproduction of the German lines

15. The PlanThe Plan
► Allied artillery will shell the German trenchesAllied artillery will shell the German trenches
heavily as Canadian forces advance behind aheavily as Canadian forces advance behind a
“Creeping Barrage or Rolling Barrage”“Creeping Barrage or Rolling Barrage”
► The Germans will hopefully be taking cover in theirThe Germans will hopefully be taking cover in their
bunkers and the Canadians will be able to capturebunkers and the Canadians will be able to capture
the ridgethe ridge
►
"Chaps, you shall go over exactly like a railroad train, on time, or you"Chaps, you shall go over exactly like a railroad train, on time, or you
shall be annihilated,"shall be annihilated,"
► Canadian Corps commander Sir Julian Byng.Canadian Corps commander Sir Julian Byng.

16. The BattleThe Battle
► The battle begins at 5:30 am on April 9The battle begins at 5:30 am on April 9thth
(delayed(delayed
one day) Easter Mondayone day) Easter Monday
► Machine guns open firedMachine guns open fired
► Mines were explodedMines were exploded
► Artillery Barrage BeganArtillery Barrage Began
► Gas shells into rear German areas (cut offGas shells into rear German areas (cut off
supplies)supplies)
► Attackers went behind the Rolling Barrage (100Attackers went behind the Rolling Barrage (100
yards every 3 minutes)yards every 3 minutes)

17. ►Canadians advance up the ridge (inCanadians advance up the ridge (in
snow and sleet)snow and sleet)
►Were into enemy trenches beforeWere into enemy trenches before
defenders could emerge from the dug-defenders could emerge from the dug-
outs.outs.
►capture three lines of enemy trenchescapture three lines of enemy trenches
► "A wonderful success. The grandest day the Corps"A wonderful success. The grandest day the Corps
has ever had. The attack was carried out exactlyhas ever had. The attack was carried out exactly
as planned. The sight was awful and wonderful."as planned. The sight was awful and wonderful."
General Arthur CurrieGeneral Arthur Currie

22. Victory!Victory!
► Hill 145, the highest point, is captured by a frontalHill 145, the highest point, is captured by a frontal
bayonet charge against machine gunsbayonet charge against machine guns
► The Canadian victory comes after 3 days ofThe Canadian victory comes after 3 days of
fighting, on April 12 1917fighting, on April 12 1917
► Canadian forces suffered over 10,000 causalitiesCanadian forces suffered over 10,000 causalities
including 3,598 killedincluding 3,598 killed

23. Canadians after capturing a German trenchCanadians after capturing a German trench

26. Canada’s Shining MomentCanada’s Shining Moment
►This battle was the first time the 4 CanadianThis battle was the first time the 4 Canadian
divisions fought together as one forcedivisions fought together as one force
►Canadians show incredible bravery andCanadians show incredible bravery and
discipline and continue to attack even afterdiscipline and continue to attack even after
their officers are killedtheir officers are killed
►Canadians single handedly captureCanadians single handedly capture
machine gun nests and German bunkersmachine gun nests and German bunkers

27. To The Victors…To The Victors…
► Canadians captured more land, prisoners andCanadians captured more land, prisoners and
guns than any previous British offensiveguns than any previous British offensive
►
"in those few minutes I witnessed the birth of a nation.""in those few minutes I witnessed the birth of a nation."
Brigadier-General A.E. RossBrigadier-General A.E. Ross
► 19221922 France cedes Vimy Ridge and the areaFrance cedes Vimy Ridge and the area
around it to Canadaaround it to Canada

28. Captured GermansCaptured Germans

30. Arthur CurrieArthur Currie

31. Arthur CurrieArthur Currie
► Arthur Currie is knighted, made commander of theArthur Currie is knighted, made commander of the
Canadian forcesCanadian forces
► For the first time Canada’s forces will be led by aFor the first time Canada’s forces will be led by a
CanadianCanadian
► Canadians had begun the war as colonials, butCanadians had begun the war as colonials, but
were now Allieswere now Allies

33. The Glorious SuccessThe Glorious Success
► Vimy Ridge becomes a symbol for CanadianVimy Ridge becomes a symbol for Canadian
sacrifice and pridesacrifice and pride
► Canadians from every province fought side byCanadians from every province fought side by
side, making Vimy a symbol of Canada’s unitedside, making Vimy a symbol of Canada’s united
identityidentity
► 19361936 The Vimy Ridge memorial is unveiledThe Vimy Ridge memorial is unveiled

34. The Canadian National VimyThe Canadian National Vimy
MemorialMemorial

35. The Canadian National VimyThe Canadian National Vimy
MemorialMemorial
► The two pillars represent the nations of CanadaThe two pillars represent the nations of Canada
and Franceand France
► One of the main figures is,One of the main figures is, Canada MourningCanada Mourning: a: a
woman, hooded and cloaked. This grieving figurewoman, hooded and cloaked. This grieving figure
represents Canada — a young nation mourningrepresents Canada — a young nation mourning
her fallen sons.her fallen sons.
► The names of the 11,285 Canadian soldiers whoThe names of the 11,285 Canadian soldiers who
died in France whose bodies weren’t recovereddied in France whose bodies weren’t recovered
are carved on the memorialare carved on the memorial

36. Canada MourningCanada Mourning

37. The Vimy MemorialThe Vimy Memorial
► ““Vimy was not a war memorial which was devoted to triumph or theVimy was not a war memorial which was devoted to triumph or the
glory of a great military leader, but rather to a profound sense of dutyglory of a great military leader, but rather to a profound sense of duty
towards the legions of men who filled the ranks of the dead. "There aretowards the legions of men who filled the ranks of the dead. "There are
no signs of victory there at all...It expresses our obligation to the dead,no signs of victory there at all...It expresses our obligation to the dead,
and the grief of the living — sentiments of sacrifice that you do not seeand the grief of the living — sentiments of sacrifice that you do not see
in war memorials until this time.”in war memorials until this time.”
Jacqueline HuckerJacqueline Hucker
Art historian,Art historian,