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The Major Battles of World War I

Explore the significant battles of World War I, including Ypres, Somme, Vimy Ridge, and Passchendaele. Learn about the strategies, casualties, and the impact these battles had on the war.

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The Major Battles of World War I

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  1. The Major Battles of World War I Ypres The Somme Vimy Ridge Passchendaele

  2. Ypres • April – May, 1915 • Ypres, Belgium • Germans released 5 730 cylinders of chlorine gas • Unprepared, the French division fled, leaving the Canadians to fight. • Despite many Canadian casualties, the Allies saved the situation • 2 days later, the Germans released gas on the Canadians. Those in St. Julian were overrun; the Canadians in Ypres held on

  3. Ypres II • Fighting continued for 3 weeks. • In the attempt to hold off the enemy attack, over 59 000 were lost for the sake of positions that had little strategic value. • It was after this battle that Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae composed “In Flanders’ Fields”

  4. The Somme • July – November, 1916 • Somme, France • The plan was for a joint British-French assault on the Somme (Western Front) • Many French were killed protecting the French fortress of Verdun in February, making it difficult to participate in the Somme offensive • The British went ahead with their “Big Push” • The Germans were waiting as 100 000 British troops advanced from the trenches in full daylight. • In one day, almost 58 000 were killed, wounded or missing. • It was the biggest disaster in British military history.

  5. The Somme II • Troops came to help from the First Newfoundland Regiment, and soldiered on bravely. • The Canadians entered the “bloodbath” in September, fighting through many German defensive lines • The Canadians finally managed to capture Regina Trench on November 11, despite the mud and deaths in the thousands.

  6. Vimy Ridge • April 9-12, 1917 • Douai Plains, Nord-Pas-de-Calais region, France • Strategic place for Germans, had fortified it for 3 years • The battle began at 5:28am on Easter Monday, April 9. • The Canadians took one objective after another, in spite of heavy machine gun fire • The Canadians took over 4 000 prisoners and achieved one of the greatest victories in the war up to that time

  7. It is said that Vimy was where Canada was born as an independent nation.

  8. Passchendaele • Oct – Nov, 1917 • Passchedaele, near Ypres, Belgium • The objective was to capture German submarine bases on the Belgian coast. • The Germans’ position was firm, and the British suffered appalling casualties. • The Canadians were called to lead one more attack.

  9. Passchendaele II • The battlefield was a muddy bog, and brought back memories of Ypres. • Attempts to rebuild roads , gun platformswere slowed by German aircraft bombs. • At 5:40am on Oct. 26, the Canadians attacked, but could not secure the area. • Attacks during late October and early November brought much suffering, but led to the Canadians securing many German strong points.

  10. Once again the Canadians had shown that, even in impossible conditions, they could do the job when called upon.

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