Canadian battles of WWI Flashcards
what 4 significant battles were there?
- Ypres
- The Somme
- Vimy Ridge
- Passchendaele
where and when did Ypres take place?
Belgium; April 1915
where and when did The Somme take place?
France; July 1916
where and when did Vimy Ridge take place?
France; February 1917
where and when did Passchendaele take place?
Belgium; October 1917
Ypres- events of battle
High Command had been warned about the possible use of _______, but did not prepare troops
poison gas
Ypres- events of battle
1st use of _______
poison gas
Ypres- events of battle
Canada held their ground as others retreated and _________
stopped the German advance
Ypres- events of battle
_____ soldiers were killed
6000+
Ypres- Canada’s contribution
Canada’s _____ battle
1st major
Ypres- Canada’s contribution
John MacRae a Canadian Army surgeon wrote ___________
“In Flanders Fields”
Ypres- Canada’s contribution
Ypres established a reputation for Canadians as ___________
courageous fighters
Ypres- importance to the outcome of the war
use of ___ changed weapons of warfare
gas
The Somme- events of battle
_____ were used for the first time
tanks
The Somme- events of battle
initially the British were supposed to ________________, but this did not happen
take out the German machine guns and secure no man’s land
The Somme- events of battle
the British troops had few __________
machine guns
The Somme- events of battle
soldiers were massacred by _________ as they attempted to _____________
machine guns / cross no man’s land
The Somme- events of battle
Canadians advanced by following careful plans to attack in ___________________
the darkness of the night, during high winds and rain
The Somme- events of battle
how long did the battle last and how far did the Allies advance?
5 months / 11 km
The Somme- Canada’s contribution
who commanded the Canadian army?
British General Haig
The Somme- Canada’s contribution
most Canadian troops were from __________, and __% did not survive the battle
Newfoundland and Labrador / 90
The Somme- Canada’s contribution
Canadians received a reputation as “storm troops” and were therefore __________
called on to lead an attack
The Somme- importance to the outcome of the war
use of ____ changed weapons of warfare
tanks
The Somme- importance to the outcome of the war
both ______ and _______ proved their lethal power
artillery / the machine gun
The Somme- importance to the outcome of the war
considered the _____________ with 57 470 casualties in one day
most disastrous fight
The Somme- importance to the outcome of the war
by the end, Canada experienced ______ casualties, horrifying Canadians at home
24 000
Vimy Ridge- events of battle
Canadian General Arthur Currie was ordered to take Vimy Ridge and he took the time to ____________
create a strategic plan
Vimy Ridge- events of battle
planes flew reconnaissance missions to plot out ___________
the German positions
Vimy Ridge- events of battle
light railways were built and tunnels were dug to _________
move troops and supplies safely
Vimy Ridge- events of battle
Canadians implemented an aggressive attack on the ______, taking them by surprise
Germans
Vimy Ridge- Canada’s contribution
Canadians won the __________
only victory of 1917
Vimy Ridge- Canada’s contribution
General Currie was knighted and promoted to _____________
command all Canadian troops
Vimy Ridge- Canada’s contribution
_____ Canadians were killed
3500
Vimy Ridge- importance to the outcome of the war
due to the victory at Vimy, Canada won __________ at the peace talks after the war
a seat as a separate nation
Passchendaele- events of battle
British General Haig asked _________ to take Passchendaele
General Currie
Passchendaele- events of battle
Passchendaele’s environment posed a great obstacle to soldiers, as it was extremely _____________
muddy, marshy, and swampy
Passchendaele- events of battle
due to the muddy, marshy, and swampyness, what happened?
soldiers and horses drowned
Passchendaele- Canada’s contribution
almost ______ Canadians died
16 000
Passchendaele- importance to the outcome of the war
troops took the ridge (7km) only to have ___________
the Germans win it back again
