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Canada & WW 1, 1914 - 1918

Canada & WW 1, 1914 - 1918. Canadians in Battle. The War on Land: Trench Warfare. Trench Warfare. Schlieffen Plan almost succeeded as German forces made it to the outskirts of Paris within a few short weeks

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Canada & WW 1, 1914 - 1918

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  1. Canada & WW 1, 1914 - 1918 Canadians in Battle

  2. The War on Land: Trench Warfare

  3. Trench Warfare • Schlieffen Plan almost succeeded as German forces made it to the outskirts of Paris within a few short weeks • Germans retreated  built trenches in flat countryside to defend against machine gun fire & exploding shells

  4. Trench Warfare • No-man’s land – the area between the enemy trenches full of barbed wire entanglements & land mines • Raids between trenches occurred at night, dusk & dawn with men going “over the top” of the trench • Many men died making futile attempts to break through enemy lines as they were mowed down by machine gun fire • Sniper fire made rescue of wounded soldiers dangerous

  5. Trench Warfare • Wet, dirty conditions led to trench foot/mouth • Rats fed on the dead whose body parts were scattered by shells in the quicksand of no-man’s land • Shell-shock led some soldiers to have severe nervous breakdowns • After a month at the front soldiers went to the rear to bathe & eat good food

  6. Battles: Ypres April 1915 • Canada’s first major battle of WW 1 • First poison gas (chlorine) attack in history • Canadian troops the only ones to hold their position • Covered faces with urine soaked handkerchiefs for protection • 6000 casualties / 2000 dead Cdn. • Lt. Col John McCrae wrote “In Flanders Fields” after friend killed

  7. In Flanders FieldsBy: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918) Canadian ArmyIn Flanders Fields the poppies blowBetween the crosses row on row,That mark our place; and in the skyThe larks, still bravely singing, flyScarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days agoWe lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,Loved and were loved, and now we lieIn Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe:To you from failing hands we throwThe torch; be yours to hold it high.If ye break faith with us who dieWe shall not sleep, though poppies growIn Flanders fields.

  8. Battles: the Somme July 1916 • 1 July 1916  British / Canada suffered 57,470 casualties, including 19,240 dead—the bloodiest day in the history of modern warfare • Newfoundland & Labrador troops had a 90% casualty rate at Beaumont Hamel  greatest single disaster in 500+ yr history  July 1 Memorial Day • British General Haig insisted attack go on despite heavy losses  war of attrition (wearing down) • Tanks first used at the Somme, but not affectively in the mud

  9. The Somme Memorial German Cemetery – The Somme

  10. Beaumont-Hamel

  11. German Lines British Lines Danger Tree – furthest most point of Newfoundlanders advance

  12. Battles: Vimy Ridge Apr. 1917 • Cdn General Arthur Currie was given orders to capture Vimy Ridge • Currie wanted all Canadian divisions fighting together • Currie made sure every soldier knew his job • 100,000 Cdn troops were to closely follow a creeping barrage using tunnels to move soldiers & supplies • Germans caught by surprise allowing Canada to capture in a few hours more ground, more guns, & more prisoners than in the first 2.5 yrs of war • National spirit born  led to independence

  13. British Lines

  14. German Trenches

  15. The Tunnel System

  16. The Mourning Woman looking down on the casket represents Canada mourning her lost The casket represents the fallen soldiers of Canada

  17. Battles: Passchendaele Oct ‘17 • 16,000 Cdns died for 7 km of mud that was soon won back by the Germans • British Generals lacked common sense & empathy • Soldiers unable to move through the mud  some sucked in & drowned in it

  18. War in the Air • Airplanes new invention at the beginning of the war • Canada had no air force so Canadians joined BRFC • Dogfights (duels in the air) led to lifespan of 3 weeks • Cdn. Billy Bishop won Victoria Cross for 72 kills • 4 of the top 7 aces in RAF were Canadians

  19. The War at Sea • German U-boats (submarines) were a serious threat to the island nation of Britain receiving supplies • Lusitania sinking in 1915 held back Germany out of fear of US joining war • 1917 desperate Germany began very effective unrestricted submarine warfare sinking 1000 Allied ships in 4 months • Convoy system (groups of supply ships escorted by armed destroyers) were effective deterrent to U-boats

  20. The Last Hundred Days • USA joins Allies end of 1917 • Spring 1918 desperate Germany launches mighty offensive on Western Front before US troops arrive • Germans stopped 80 km from Paris • Aug 8 Canadians spearheaded Allied attack that pushed Germans back 130 km in 6 weeks • Nov. 11, 1918 Germany formally surrenders at 11 am ending WW 1

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