Welcome to Socials 11!

1. Welcome to Socials 11! • You need your textbook today! If you don’t have it, go get it now QUICKLY! • Please pick up a check-in and note package. • Get started on check in – Don’t use your notes! • Today we will be looking at the major battles Canadians fought in during WW1. • Powerpoint and filling out chart

2. Theatre vs Front Theater of war • A large geographic area on/in which fighting occurs • In World War One there were 3 general theatres of war: • Land • This land theatre can be further divided into more specific theatres of war • European theatre(this is the only land theatre we will be focusing on in Social Studies 11) • Asian theatre • African theatre • Sea • This sea theatre can be further divided into a more specific theatre of war • Atlantic theatre(this is the only sea theatre we will be focusing on in Social Studies 11) • Pacific theatre (around Asia) • Air

3. Theatre vs Front • Front • A specific area within a theatre of war where opposing forces (those who are fighting) come into contact • Although there are many fronts in WWI there are only 2 that we need to be concerned with in Social Studies 11: • Western Front (in the European theatre) • This front was found approximately between France/Belgium & Germany • Eastern Front (in the European theatre) • This front was found approximately between Germany/Austria-Hungary & Russia

4. OVERVIEW OF FIGHTING • Most of the fighting during WWI was carried out by land armies in Europe • Here, the machine gun was the most important weapon • Naval forces (in the sea theatre) were used mostly to prevent food and supplies from reaching their destinations • Airplanes were also used in a major military campaigns for the first time during World War I • But, they played a small role in the war’s outcome

5. Schlieffen Plan • Read page 35 of Counterpoints and answer the following two questions below. • What was the purpose of Germany’s plan? a)Who was it trying to defeat? b)How were they going to defeat them? (i.e. what was the plan?) • Why did the plan fail? You have SEVEN minutes to complete this task.

6. Schlieffen Plan Purpose: to fend off Russia in the East hile it defeated France with a lightening speed massive attack. Planned to defeat Russia and France. They would defeat France by driving through Belgium and then capturing Paris within a few weeks. The plan failed because: -Russia’s forces were already on the move when G declared war. -Britan entered the war when G. invaded Belgium -G. moved troops to defend East -tired troops lost the battle of the Marne – trenches dug in resulting in Stalemate on Western Front.

7. Major Canadian Battles

8. Battle of Ypres – April 1915

9. What Happened? • Canadian and Fr. Troops vs Gr. • This was the first battle Germans used chemical warfare -Chlorine Gas. • Due to the gas Around 5 000 troops died within 10 minutes of the attack. • Canadians used urine-soaked handkerchiefs (the ammonia in the urine reacted with the chlorine, neutralizing it, and the water would dissolve the chlorine, allowing the soldiers to breathe) to fight through the gas attacks

10. Dulce et decorum estby Wilfred Owen Gas! GAS! Quick, boys! - An ecstasy of fumbling, Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time, But someone still was yelling out and stumbling And floundering like a man in fire or lime. - Dim through the misty panes and thick green light As under a green sea, I saw him drowning. In all my dreams before my helpless sight He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning. If in some smothering dreams, you too could pace Behind the wagon that we flung him in, And watch the white eyes writhing in his face, His hanging face, like a devil's sick of sin; If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs, Bitter as the cud Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues, - My friend, you would not tell with such high zest To children ardent for some desperate glory, The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est Pro patria mori. It is sweet and fitting to die for your country

11. Significance • In the end, more than 6,000 Canadians killed. • Canadian John McCrea wrote the poem: In Flanders Fields, after the battle of Ypres • Although the battle was considered a“stalemate”, the act of re-establishing the front lines earned Canadian soldiers much respect.

12. Ms. Glover’s Photos Every day TAPS

13. Battle of the Somme - 1916

14. What Happened? • Allies launched massive attacks against Germans. • HUGE failure. • First day of battle 57 500 British soldiers killed. • Commander Haig used tactics previously successful in warfare – troops were ordered to march across open field and man were shot down by machine guns.

15. Significance: • 24,000 Canadian casualties. • The Royal Newfoundland regiment lost 90% of its men • Newfoundland had not yet joined confederation Despite heavy losses Canadians distinguished themselves and went on to lead assaults in other major battles. • Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial

16. Battle of Vimy Ridge - 1917

17. Background • This was an important battle because Germans took control of the ridge in 1914 and it gave them clear view of surrounding country and supply routes. • British and Fr. Troops tried to take the ridge for 2 years but were never successful.

18. What Happened? • Canadian troops led by British officer Julian Byng chosen to lead an offensive assault on the ridge. • April 9th – Canadians move into position and within 2 hours take 1st objective • April 10th – Canadians take Hill 145 • By April 12th Canadians took last German position. • Causalities: more than 3500 men killed and 7000 wounded. However, losses were significantly lower then previous allied offensives.

19. Significance • Canadians did what the British and French had failed to do. • This established them as some of the best troops on the Western front. • Turning point of war in favor of the Entente • First time Canadian military divisions attacked together. National identity developed. • Before Vimy solders would say “I’m from Ontario, I’m from BC, I'm from Alberta” ect. After Vimy they would say “I'm from Canada.”

20. Ms. Glover’s Photos

21. Ms. Glover’s Photos

22. Passchendale - Oct. 1917

23. What Happened? • Canadians were instructed to take back Belgian city of Passchendaele from the Germans. • The battlefield turned to “liquid mud”, drowning horses and men…tanks useless. • eventually the Canadian troops captured Passchendaele BUT The 7 kilometers of front line that Canadian troops gained was lost back to the Germans later on. • The Allies had casualties numbering 500 000. The German count was 250 000

24. Significance • Passchendaele was the first battle with a Canadian General leading Canadian troops (Before it had only been British Generals). • 1 in 5 Canadian solders died – 16,000 needless deaths.

25. Hundred Days Offensive Aug - Nov. 11, 1918 • Americans had just entered the war and Germans knew one HUGE offensive attack before the USA arrived was their only chance. • Allies stopped them just short of Paris and managed to break the German defense. By Nov. 11 Allies had pushed all the way to the German border.

26. Significance • Hundred days were the final Allied advance that won the war. • Canadians were very involved. They were in forefront of the most difficult tasks of dislodging German defense • Ex: lead charge against the Hindenburg Line.