Vimy Ridge Patriotism

The feats achieved by Canadians were incredible, and more influential than anything they had done before. Vimy was one of the German’s most heavily guarded areas, and it was thought that it was impossible to over take. However, when the Canadians did take it, they captured the most artillery and guns since the start of the war. They also managed to take 4,000 Germans as prisoners of war. Past battles at Vimy witnessed over 200,000 causalities. During the Canadian attack on the ridge, they lost 3,598 soldiers while the Germans suffered over 20,000 causalities. Canadians had much to be proud of after Vimy, a feeling they did not often get while fighting under British command. Critics question whether Vimy aided Canada’s birth as a nation. “It is difficult to avoid the conclusion that if Vimy Ridge had been captured

The Battle of Vimy Ridge was one of the greatest military battles ever fought. This battle contributed to Canada’s coming of age as a nation. The taking of Vimy Ridge claimed more than 200,000 lives during the first World War and will forever remain in the history as one of the worlds great military triumphs. The Canadian Military used extensive planning, new innovative weaponry and relied on the tremendous courage and sacrifice of its soldiers in order to claim victory.

On April 9, 1917, Canada sent out 100 000 fine men to serve and protect their country. To this day, the battle of Vimy Ridge is still known as the day Canada became a nation. Despite the cataclysm of the battle and the thousands of lost souls, Vimy Ridge is considered to be defining moments in Canadian History. The Germans were in complete control of Vimy Ridge for over two years prior to the Canadian onset. This enabled the Germans to strengthen their position, making them seem unvanquishable. The German forces were appeared to be impregnable. Nor the British armada or the French were able to vanquish the Germans. The French battled for over two years and suffered over one hundred and fifty thousand casualties. Despite the twenty divisions and three massive

By noon the Canadians had parts of the Ridge secured with The Pimple being the last by the end of the day. Only a few days later they managed to capture The Pimple also. Canada had succeeded where Britain and France, superior countries had failed. Vimy marked the only success the Allied forces had seen that spring. 3,598 Canadians were killed and 7,000 injured due to Vimy but, they died in a battle which helped Canada gain its independance.

Vimy Ridge had been a very prominent stronghold, of the triple alliance, being Austria-Hungary, Germany, and Italy. This had been a landmark that had been constituted by the German fortifications and their allies. Vim Ridge had been a central hub and military base for soldiers coming form different regions, seemingly it had been difficult for the base to be captured, subsequently not being captured until April 12, 1917 by the Canadian regiment with British and French allied help. Through countless efforts by the British and French in 1915 and 1916 to capture the stronghold, they had not emerged as victorious, evidently causing many war casualties in both of those attempts. The most precedented reason for the inability to upheave the strong

     Lieutenant-General Sir Arthur Curries was not pleased at the prospect of going to Passchendaele. Currie, like many Canadian soldiers, had grim memories of the Ypres salient, and grim memories to he Ypres salient, and admitted that his “experience in the salient in 1915 and in 1916 were such that I never wanted to see the place again.” Unfortunately, on 3 October, Currie was warned that the Corps might be sent north, to take part in the offensive in Flanders. Currie could make no sense of Passchendaele, and he was furious. “Passchendaele!” he raged in front of his staff. “What’s the good of it? Let the Germans have it--keep it--rot in it! Rot in the mud! There’s a mistake somewhere. it must be a mistake! It isn’t worth a drop of blood.” Although Currie was not at all happy that the Canadians had been told to take Passchendaele. One of Currie’s first moves was to assign intelligence officers to the various headquarters with which the Canadian Corps would be associated: Second Army, II Anzac Corps, which was responsible for the sector the Canadians would be taking over, and its front-line divisions, the New Zealand and 3rd Australian. These officers, and the general staff were to acquire

The Battle of Vimy Ridge is one of the most important battles in all of Canadian history. Prior to Vimy Ridge, the four divisions of the Canadian Corps had never fought with each other as one unit, but in this battle, they were assembled together and fought as a country. In addition to that, the whole battle was planned and prepared by General Byng and Arthur Currie, two high-ranking Canadians. They created an all new strategy called involving a creeping barrage of artillery which was so effective, it was even adopted by the British army in 1918.

No other allied operations were as thoroughly planned and coordinated as ours to succeed in capturing Vimy, since the Ridge was so well fortified all attempts to capture it failed ultimately except ours. Canadians soldiers trained exceptionally under the surveillance of Arthur Currie commander of the First Canadian Division. Preparations were complex; to thoroughly understand and prepare for every stage of the warfare a replica of Vimy had been built representing every inch for implementation at the authentic Vimy Ridge on Easter Monday. Most historians accounted that Major-General Currie was tolerant, diligent and had significant faith in his men. The weeks of practice, accumulate of weapons and hard work finally paid off. In a matter of five days the Canadian Corps had captured all of Vimy Ridge. The Icy, snow- covered ridge may have been impregnable for the debilitated but not for a powerful determined nation like the

This essay examines the myth formation of Vimy Ridge in the English-Canadian myth-symbol complex. Through an examination of the military achievements upon which the “Vimy myth” is based, global and local views of the success at Vimy, the foundation of Vimy as national myth will be examined. The cultural aftershock shown through the magnitude of published poetry and construction of a National Monument, and how the Battle of Vimy Ridge is taught in English-Canadian secondary education systems will divulge an analyse of “Vimy Ridge” as an active part of the English-Canadian ‘imagined community’s’ myth-symbol complex ninety years after its conception. Although among Allied powers, the Battle of Vimy Ridge remains only a part of the much larger British offensive, the Battle of Arras. For Canadians, however, Vimy is perpetuated through Canadian history as the birthplace of English-Canadian nationhood from a time when it lacked a strong global presence on the international stage.

Vimy Ridge is Canada’s most celebrated battle. Through immense preparation, dedication, bravery, loyalty, and devotion, our troops achieved the most significant victory of the first world war. This gave Canadians a sense of national pride, which united citizens. A strong feeling of real nationhood was established. Our troops were able to demonstrate their strengths in preparation and combat. This battle was a major turning point in WW1 for the Allies, and the war ended completely a year and a half subsequently. Vimy Ridge set Canada on the course to total sovereignty. It played a big role in defining our nation today, and led to the free country we now know. If Vimy Ridge had been lost, our country may not even exist right now. Numerous lives

The 100th anniversary of the battle of Vimy Ridge is an important part of Canada 150 celebrations and a defining event in the history of our nation. Although Confederation occurred 50 years earlier, it has been said that in 1917, Canada was transformed from colony to nation on the slopes of Vimy Ridge. Less well recognized is the important service of Canada’s legal professionals in that part of our history. This year will be different.

At the start of World War I in 1914, Currie was chosen to command the 2nd Infantry Brigade. By February of 1915, he and his men were fighting in France. In the face of German poison gas attacks, Currie and his brigade held their line against the advancing German troops. As a result, he was promoted to major-general and commander of the 1st Canadian Division. He was also given the first order of knighthood, the Companionship of the Bath, a great honor bestowed to soldiers demonstrating the highest caliber of service. Additionally, the French government made him a commander of the Legion of Honor. At the battles of Festubert and Givenchy in 1915, Currie led the 2nd Brigade. He then became commander-in-chief of the Canadian Corps. Shortly after this, King George V of England made him a Knight-Commander of the Order of St. Michael and St. George. During the war, Currie wrote an analysis on his strategies in battle, which became required for study

Many countries have tried but failed to capture this area. Both French and British armies tired but failed the Germans were too strong. This area was known as Vimy Ridge, which has many high hills and was located in France. The Germans had captured this area since September 1914, the Germans started to build artillery proof bunkers and trenches. Germanys had the advantage in every battle; Germanys had their bases on top of the long hills. Which lead them to look down on their enemies, which was easier for Germanys to kill their target. After countries failing to capture Vimy Ridge, Canada decided they were going to attempt to fight for Vimy Ridge. For the first time Britain asked for generals to lead Canada to victory for the battle of Vimy Ridge. Sir Julian Byng and Major Arthur Currie were asked to lead the Canadian Military to win the battle of Vimy Ridge. After months of practicing a strategy Canada was ready. April 1917, Canada went to battle with Germany for Vimy Ridge. This became one of the most devastating battles ¬in Canadian history. Canadians should remember that Vimy Ridge was not their triumph alone. British artillery and the elite 51st Highland Division helped make victory possible (Desmond Morton, Significance of Vimy Ridge). Vimy Ridge is considered a defining moment in Canadian history because, it was Canada’s first time using a general to plan tactics and strategy’s, Canada was the only country that succeeded on capturing Vimy Ridge, lastly all Canadian

In January of 1917, the 50th battalion headed north to Artios, France, the location of Vimy Ridge. Vimy ridge was a very important battle for the allies as holding the location would give them a great vantage point that overlooked the vast network of trenches on either side and No Man’s Land. It was even more important to the CEF and Canada, as it was the first time they received worldwide recognition, they were no longer seen as an afterthought of Britain. It was crucial that the allies win this battle. The next months were spent preparing and going over strategy. During this time, Colonel E.G. Mason was transferred to another battalion and replaced Lieutenant-Colonel Page. Under new command the 50th battalion was ready to on the offensive,

These skirmishes were a part of the attempt by the Allied forces (Entente) to take the German positions, as well as to push any invaders back. The combination of insufficient information, unattainable goals, and an all around lack of solid artillery support as well as the yards and yards of un-cut barbed wire and the hidden machine gun nests, the Canadian soldiers could not gain any positions. Even in these initial battles the Canadian force suffered substantial loses. 2,868 Canadians were either killed or wounded. This would be the sharp realization that this was only the beginning of the deadlock of trench warfare during World War I.