The Battle of Vimy Ridge
Summary : Canadian soldiers led by General Julian Byng attacked Vimy Ridge and did such a great job.
General Julian Byng and Canadians
-Since 1914, Germans controlled Vimy Ridge which used to belong to France.
-French tried three times to take it back
-Late in 1916, General Julian Byng, a popular British officer and Governor General of Canada later, led Canadian troops for an attack.
-Byng - strategies and training
-Canadians attacked Germans on the west side of the ridge over a month and while that, made tunnels to move secretly.
-April 9, 1917, first day of the attack, Canadian troops moved into position and in less than two hours, they took their first objectives.
-April 10, Hill 145, the highest point on the ridge
-April 12, "the pimple" the last German position.
-Canadians did better job during this than British during the entire war.
-3500 men died 7000 men wounded - little loss compare to the gain and the loss comparing to other battles.
Canadians earned great pride
"every American will feel a thrill of admiration and a touch of honest envy at the achievements of the Canadian troops." - New York Tribune
"They said it coudln't be done and we did it." - Historian Pierre Berton
-French tried three times to take it back
-Late in 1916, General Julian Byng, a popular British officer and Governor General of Canada later, led Canadian troops for an attack.
-Byng - strategies and training
-Canadians attacked Germans on the west side of the ridge over a month and while that, made tunnels to move secretly.
-April 9, 1917, first day of the attack, Canadian troops moved into position and in less than two hours, they took their first objectives.
-April 10, Hill 145, the highest point on the ridge
-April 12, "the pimple" the last German position.
-Canadians did better job during this than British during the entire war.
-3500 men died 7000 men wounded - little loss compare to the gain and the loss comparing to other battles.
Canadians earned great pride
"every American will feel a thrill of admiration and a touch of honest envy at the achievements of the Canadian troops." - New York Tribune
"They said it coudln't be done and we did it." - Historian Pierre Berton