Land Battles- Western Front

Question 1

Battle of Ypres: Date

Answer 1

April 1915

Question 2

Battle of Ypres: Details

Answer 2

First taste of trench warfare for Canadian troops
Chlorine gas was used
Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae published “In Flanders Fields”

Question 3

Battle of Verdun: Date

Answer 3

February 1916

Question 4

Battle of Verdun: Details

Answer 4

Germany attacked the French, lasted 6 months.
Huge casualties for the French (500,000 men)
Battle of attrition
French supposedly never recovered psychologically

Question 5

Battle of Somme: Date

Answer 5

July 1916

Question 6

Battle of Somme: Details

Answer 6

Allied commanders attempted and failed to end trench warfare by attacking German trenches
20,000 Canadians were killed
Newfoundland Regiment suffered 90% casualties
5 months long, only a few miles of land had been gained

Question 7

Battle of Somme: Why it was a disaster

Answer 7

Allies’ shells were too weak to penetrate German concrete bunkers
Underground explosions did not dislodge the wire protecting German trenches, resulting in Allied troops becoming trapped
Allied troops were overloaded
Nearby mine was detonated 10 minutes before attack, causing loss of surprise
Broad daylight
Attack continued regardless of casualties
23 Canadian men who were executed

Question 8

Battle of Vimy Ridge: Date

Answer 8

April 1917

Question 9

Battle of Vimy Ridge: Details

Answer 9

October 1914, Vimy Ridge fell into the hands of the Germans- the ridge was an important fortress
April 1917, Canadian troops attacked the Germans and were able to obtain the fortress (there were casualties but it was a turning point for Canadian independence)
Arthur Currie also replaced Byng

Question 10

Battle of Passchendaele: Date

Answer 10

October 1917

Question 11

Battle of Passchendaele: Details

Answer 11

Kind of pointless because there were so many losses
Allied advances were bogged down in the mud, Canadian troops were asked to attack the Germans