THE BATTLE OF SOMME Wave upon wave of troops were ordered across open fields. They were almost...
If you can't read please download the document
THE BATTLE OF SOMME Wave upon wave of troops were ordered across open fields. They were almost immediately mowed down by German machine guns. 85% of the
THE BATTLE OF SOMME Wave upon wave of troops were ordered
across open fields. They were almost immediately mowed down by
German machine guns. 85% of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, over
700 men including all officers, were killed or wounded with in half
an hour. When the battle ended, there were over 1 million
casualties; Canada had 24,000 casualties
Slide 2
BATTLE OF VIMY RIDGE April 9-12, 1917: over 40,000 Canadian
soldiers involved Hill 145 at Vimy Ridge was the highest point in
this region of France. Germany had controlled Vimy Ridge since
1914; it was a strategically important area in Northern France. The
French tried 3 times to regain Vimy but were unsuccessful.
Slide 3
VIMY RIDGE German occupation of Vimy Ridge was a major threat
to any advance in the Somme region in 1917. Therefore the decision
was taken to take Vimy Ridge and the task was given to the
Canadians. Canadian assault was under the command of General Julian
Byng (who was later appointed Governor General of Canada) Byng
developed new strategies and rehearsed his movements
thoroughly
Slide 4
Slide 5
EASTER MONDAY APRIL 1917
Slide 6
BATTLE OF VIMY RIDGE April 1917, Easter Monday, Canadian troops
moved into attack position (5am) Underground mines were exploded,
gas shells fell onto German positions and transportation routes,
artillery began to hit ; Over 11,000 guns (including British
pieces) opened up on the ridge. The Canadians followed their plans.
and by early afternoon, 3/5 of their objectives were taken.
Thousands of Germans were taken prisoner and many thousands more
had been killed..
Slide 7
The cost of war was high: over 3500 men killed, over 7000
seriously wounded. However, this was significantly fewer than in
any previous allied offensive. The victory marked a Canadian
milestone.
Slide 8
Slide 9
Slide 10
Slide 11
Slide 12
Slide 13
PASSCHENDAELE (THIRD BATTLE OF YPRES) Byng was promoted for his
role at Vimy Ridge He was replaced by a Canadian, General Arthur
Currie, the first Canadian ever appointed to command Canadas troops
(Currie worked with Byng at Vimy) Currie brought an increasingly
independent Canadian point of view to the British war effort. Open
to new strategies; Currie still took orders from General Haig
Slide 14
PASSCHENDAELE In 1917, Currie and the CEF were called upon ti
retake Passchendaele Ridge in Belgium. Haigs earlier assault on
Passchendaele left massive craters in the ground; many soldiers and
horses drowned in these conditions. However, the mud, flat terrain,
and relative lack of preparation time and artillery support would
make Passchendaele a far different battlefield than the one the
Canadians encountered at Vimy Ridge.
Slide 15
Currie warned that casualties would be high by Haig and the
British command did not listen to Curries protest. In a muddy
corner of Belgium, Canadians overcame almost unimaginable hardships
to capture this ruined village in 1917. 4,000 Canadians died in the
Battle of Passchendaele and almost 12,000 were wounded. Canadas
success there added to our nations reputation as the best offensive
fighting force on the Western Front
Slide 16
Slide 17
Slide 18
Slide 19
Slide 20
More than 650,000 Canadians who served in uniform during the
First World War.
Slide 21
TRENCH WARFARE A form of defense, 100s of miles of dug in
trenches protected by barbed wire. Also protecting the trenches
were machine guns and heavy artillery. Before, wars were fought by
moving around; maneuvers. Often were ordered to cross No-mans land
using bayonets to try to break down the enemy barbed wire.. Easy to
see the enemy on the unprotected open fieldkilling with machine
guns!! WWI becomes a War of Attrition attacks, deaths.just wearing
the other side downnot getting anywhere.
Slide 22
STALEMATE Military deadlock: the war raged on but trench lines
moved very little. No mans land: the area of land between two enemy
trenches that neither side wishes to openly move on or take control
of due to fear of being attacked by the enemy in the process. War
of Attrition: the act of weakening or exhausting by constant
harassment, abuse, or attack
Slide 23
WHY DID THE U.S. JOIN THE WAR? A Tragedy
Slide 24
ASSIGNMENT World War I Text book assignment Read pages 762-769
and answer questions 2, 3, and 5 (page769) 2. Explain why
governments often use propaganda during wartime. 3. Describe the
trenches that both the Western Front and Eastern Front used during
WWI. 5. What methods did governments use to counter the loss of
enthusiasm and opposition to the war at home?