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Canadian History 1201 Unit 2
Canada in the First World War
Student Workbook 2.3
Student Name:___________________
SCO 2.0: The student will be expected to demonstrate an understanding of Canada’s involvement in
the First World War.
2.1: Entry into the War: support for Britain, military preparedness, recruitment, attitudes
towards war
2.2: War Experiences: trench warfare, tactics and technology, experiences of the various
groups
2.3: Canadian Contributions: battles and military operations, Aboriginals, women and specific
individuals, casualty rates
2.4: Home front: economic, political and social growth
Outcome 2.3: Canadian Contributions: battles and military operations,
Aboriginals, women and specific individuals, casualty rates
Outbreak of War
 When a million German troops poured into Belgium and France in August 1914, Great Britain
sent an ultimatum to Germany to leave Belgium or else.
 When that ultimatum expired without receiving an answer at 11pm on August 4th, the British
Empire was at war.
Stalemate: The Western Front
 When the Germans marched deep into Belgium and France, the French, Belgians and British
struggled to stop the Germany tide
 In two months, the allies fought the Germans to a standstill.
 By Christmas 1914, a ½ million men had been slaughtered to create a stalemate. A 460 long
series of trenches known as the Western Front.
Canada’s Military Contribution
 In February 1915, the Canadian 1st Division left their training grounds in England for the trenches
along the Western Front
 Over the next three years, our young soldiers will gain a reputation as very tough & determined
fighters
 Canada will play a major role in many of the major battles from 1915-1918
-
Ypres (April 1915)
The Somme (July – November 1916)
Vimy Ridge (April 1917)
Passchendaele (October 1917)
The Hundred Days (Aug-Nov 1918)
Ypres Salient
 With the failure of their initial Schlieffen Plan, in Nov 1914 the Germans made
one last desperate attempt to break through the deadlock & defeat the allies
 The result was the formation of a bulge in the allied line around the medieval
Belgium city of Ypres, a bulge known as the Ypres Salient.
 Although the allies held this city, the Germans controlled the high ground surrounding it to the
north, east, and south
 From these high positions, German artillery shelled the city resulting its eventual destruction
Battle #1: Canadians at Ypres 1915
 Following their arrival from England, the volunteers of the
Canadian 1st Division were moved from their quiet sector to the
Ypres Salient in mid April 1915
 Their job was to hold the front lines along with French colonial
forces & British troops
 The Canadians would play a pivotal role in the coming days as the
German forces attempted to break through the allied lines &
capture the city
 As they move here, Canadians find evidence of the earlier battle as the area is littered with the
British, German, & French dead from the fall 1914
 What the Canadians don’t know is that Germany is preparing for another attack & that they
were going to use a secret weapon to capture Ypres
 On April 22, 1915 the Germans attacked the French colonial forces on the Canadian left with 160
tons of chlorine gas
 French defences crumbled & their troops died or broke & fled leaving a four-mile gap in the
Allied line
 The Germans planned only a limited offensive & dug in after a two-mile advance
 For the Canadians, they had to fight to close this gap to prevent the destruction of the Salient
 A fierce counter-attack was launched by the Canadians at night on April 23rd to try & remove
German forces from Kitchener’s Wood with heavy casualties & little ground gained
 On April 24, the Germans once again attempted to destroy the Salient this time launching gas
directly at the Canadians.
 At St. Julien, Canadian forces were subjected to a massive artillery barrage followed by another
chlorine gas attack
 30,000 Germans against 8,000 Canadians
 Fighting was brutal…..jamming Ross Rifles, shrapnel, machine-gun fire & the gas
 Chlorine gas was designed to hug the ground which killed men that were using shell holes or
trenches for safety
 There were no gas masks at the time so the Canadian troops were ordered to urinate on their
handkerchiefs & use it to filter the gas
 Under such difficult conditions, the Canadians held the line while other allied forces retreated
 Over 5200 Canadians were killed and 1 in 5 was listed as KIA, MIA, gassed, or wounded
 “In Flanders Fields” written by John McCrae following this battle
Section Review
Using information from class lecture/notes and the “17 Days of Hades” video complete the following
1. Summarize the military action of the Canadian 1st Division in the Ypres Salient in April 1915. Why
were they assigned to that area? What happened to them? How did they distinguish themselves
as tough and resilient fighters?
2. What are your personal thoughts about the actions of our citizen-soldiers from Canada who
were subjected to the German chlorine gas attack?
3. Why would you think Germany introduced chlorine gas on the battlefield at Ypres even though
it was not allowed to use chemical weapons during the war?
1916….The Stalemate Continues
 As 1916 approached, there was still trench deadlock on the Western Front
 The massive frontal assaults against enemy trenches over the previous two years had failed to
bring any substantial gains or military victories
 The Allies intended to finally break through the German positions by launching simultaneous
offensives on the Western, Eastern and Italian Fronts
 Success from this plan would end the war
Battle #2: The Somme - Background
 The Allied victory plans were upset in Feb 1916 when the Germans decided to attack the French
fortress town of Verdun
 The French would never let this location fall to the Germans & would send thousands of troops
to their deaths in the defense of this city
 Verdun was a slaughter that lasted from Feb – Dec 1916 & tied down considerable French forces
 To keep the French in the war, the British attempted to relieve pressure from the French at
Verdun by attacking the Germans at the Somme
 Known as “the Big Push”, this operation was commanded by Douglas Haig and it was set to
commence on July 1st, 1916
The Somme: Planning
 The British plan included a 7 day artillery barrage of the German lines beginning on June 24th in
order to smash the German trenches, the barbed wire, & troops stationed there
 Huge mines would be exploded underneath the German positions
 British troops will stay in attacking trench until zero hour when they will go over the top, line up
in a series of waves, & walk at a slow pace towards the German trenches (Infantry Charge)
The Somme - Defenders
 All along the Western Front, the Germans had developed deep underground dugouts on the
ground they captured
 During the week-long British artillery barrage these dugouts protected many of the German
soldiers on the Somme front
The Somme…July 1st 1916
 By July 1st, 1916, 120,000 British troops prepared to attack the German positions & end the
trench stalemate
 On 7:20am the British exploded two mines underneath the German front line trenches & the
artillery also stopped firing
 For the Germans secure in their dugouts, the mine explosion & the artillery stopping signals that
an attack is about to commence.
 They race up from their shelters & set up their machine guns in preparation of the British attack
 At 7:30 the British forces go over the top & prepare to cross ‘no man’s land’
 The opening attack turned into a slaughter and by 8 am British forces are being destroyed
almost everywhere along the front
 Approximately 57,000 casualties with 20, 000 dead on this opening day of battle
 While the Canadian Corps was not involved on the action that day, the Newfoundland Regiment
did see action
 This regiment would have the greatest losses on July 1st
July 1st 1916 – Newfoundland Regiment
 The Newfoundlanders were to be in the second wave of attack to move into the German front
lines & capture enemy positions near the French town of Beaumont Hamel
 For these men waiting in their reserve trenches ….they can’t see what was happening but they
can hear the disaster that was unfolding in front of them
 Because of the large number of wounded & dead men in the communication trenches, the NL
commander orders his entire battalion to go over the top from their reserve trench
 With all of the other units either dead, wounded, or taking cover, these men are the only targets
the Germans have to shoot at
 As they attack down the slope towards the enemy positions, they were highlighted against the
sky making easy targets for the German gunners
 Within 30 minutes the regiment had been destroyed …not one man was left standing
 Out of a total attacking force of 801 men, only 68 are available for roll call next morning
Canadians on the Somme
 The Canadians were moved from the Ypres Salient to the Somme River region in September
1916
 Courcelette was captured in two days by the Canadians
 It was during this assault on Courcelette that the tank made its debut in war
 In addition, the Canadians also had a tough time at Regina Trench which was captured in early
November
 There were no further advances that year. The autumn rains turned the battlefield into a bog
and the offensive staggered to a halt.
 Despite 24,000 casualties in only two months of fighting, the Canadian actions on the Somme
confirmed their reputation as hard-hitting shock troops
 For the remainder of the war they spearheaded the assault in one great battle after another
The Somme – Results
 With approximately 58,000 casualties on the opening day, after 5 months of battle, total
casualties for both sides numbered 1.25 million (24,000 Canadians) and the British advanced
only 11km
 Called das Blutbat ‘the blood bath’ by the Germans due to the heavy losses
 Tanks introduced in warfare
Somme Review
1. What new weapon was introduced at the Battle of the Somme?
2. Why is July 1st considered to be a day of remembrance for Newfoundland?
3. What is the significance of the Danger Tree?
4. What were some of the long term impacts that Beaumont Hamel and Newfoundland’s
participation in the First
The Canadian Corps
 By the end of 1916, Canada had 4 divisions fighting along the Western Front (1st, 2nd, 3rd , &
4th Divisions) which formed the Canadian Corps.
 The leader of the Canadian Corps was Lieutenant-General Sir Julian Byng and Arthur Currie was
the commander of the 1st Canadian Division
Battle #3: Vimy Ridge
 Despite the disastrous battles from 1916, early in 1917, the allies had planned another major
offensive to break the trench stalemate
 A combined French / British attack was planned…..known as the Battle of Arras
 Vimy Ridge was just one small component of this battle. Because of their action at Ypres and at
the Somme, the Canadian Corps were given responsibility for this location
Vimy Ridge Defenses
 Following the Somme, the Germans withdrew to strong new defenses, the Hindenburg Line, &
made Vimy Ridge one of the strongest defensive positions on the Western Front
 This position was advantageous to Germany because it was high ground which gave the German
soldiers an unrestricted view of allied movements in the surrounding countryside
 Strategically important for Germany & it was well defended….(elaborate system of trenches,
dugouts & tunnels heavily protected by barbed wire, machine guns, & German artillery)
 Between 1914 & 1916 the British / French had lost over 150, 000 trying to capture this area
Canadians at Vimy
 In early 1917 it was Canada’s turn to attempt to dislodge the Germans from this high point
 Lessons learned from slaughter of the previous years saw new attacking plans introduced.
 Byng & Currie went to both Verdun & the Somme & looked at the tactics used there and devised
new one to prevent needless slaughter and ensure a Canadian victory
Canadian Planning at Vimy
 Engineers dug great tunnels into the Ridge which would be used as a jump off point on the
morning of the attack
 Roads & light railways were improved which moved men, shells, and supplies to the front lines
 Simulations behind the lines. Troops practiced the battle in the weeks leading up to the actual
attack
 Aerial photographs were used to pin- point German defensive positions
 Troops practiced their roles until every man was familiar with the ground & the tactics
 Vimy Glide…creeping barrage. Men would go over the top and advance across No Man’s Land
while under the protection of their own artillery which was shelling the German trenches.
The Battle…April 9, 1917
 The attack (delayed by a day because of the weather) began at dawn on Easter Monday, April 9
 All four divisions [with the 5th (British) Division under Byng's command] of the Canadian Corps—
moving forward together for the first time—swept up the Ridge in the midst of driving wind,
snow and sleet (over 100,000 soldiers).
 On that first morning, all the ridge had been captured except for ‘the pimple’ & ‘hill 145’ which
were capture several days later
Reflection
 Despite over 10, 000 casualties, Canadians gained more ground, more guns, & more German
prisoners than were taken in previous 2 years of fighting
 This was Canada’s ‘Coming of Age’ & our most celebrated battle
 Arthur Currie replaced Julian Byng as the commander of the Canadian Corps
Vimy Ridge Review Questions
1. Why were the Canadians assigned with the task of conquering Vimy Ridge?
2. What was Arthur Currie’s role at the Battle of Vimy Ridge?
3. Why was Vimy Ridge advantageous to German forces?
4. Detail the plans that Byng and Currie developed prior to Canada attack there in April 1917
5. When did the Canadian attack against Vimy Ridge begin?
6.
Upon reflection, what was this battle called Canada’s Coming of Age?’
7. What happened to Arthur Currie following this battle?
Battle #4: Passchendaele
Unfortunately, Vimy was not the last battle of the war. Against all advice the British general,
Douglas Haig, was determined to break through the German front. He launched a disastrous
drive across Belgium in 1917, and in early October the Canadian Corps was ordered to
prepare for the capture of Passchendaele.
 Known as the Third Battle of Ypres….it was same area where Canadians were gassed
in 1915
 The battlefield was a sea of mud due to heavy rains & the shelling which had
destroyed dams and drainage ditches in the region
 Trenches filled with cold water & collapsed
 As was the case at many of the Western Front battles, the Germans were on high
ground above the battlefield. From their command position, they had the advancing
allied forces at their mercy.
 Currie reckoned that it would cost 16,000 Canadian lives to take Passchendaele from
the Germans. He could not believe the military objective was worth the waste of
lives, but Haig insisted on the offensive.
 Beginning in late October, the Canadians made a series of attacks. They crawled
forward, often waist deep in mud and under a deadly barrage of German shells. At
last they reached the outskirts of the ruined village of Passchendaele and held on
grimly for five days. By the time reinforcements arrived, the Canadians had been
torn apart; only one-fifth of the attack was still alive.
 Mud was so bad at this battle that men and animals often sank out of sight and
drowned. Heavy guns were also lost in the deep muddy fields never to be seen
again. The mud was so severe at Passchendaele that the Canadians had to lay
trenchmats, also known as ‘duckboards’, to advance across the battlefield.
 Because of all of the shelling in the area, most of the trenches in the area were
destroyed which forced the soldiers to find shelter wherever they could, mainly in
shell holes and craters out in ‘no-man’s land’ and across the battlefield.
 When the fighting stopped on November 15, the British had gained just 6 kilometers
and the Canadian casualties stood at 15, 654, just as Currie had predicted. Despite
the casualties, Canadian soldiers performed admirably. Nine Canadian soldiers at
Passchendaele were awarded the Victoria Cross, the British Commonwealth’s highest
military honour.
Passchendaele Questions for Review
1. When did the Canadian Corps take up their positions outside of Passchedaele?
2. What caused the fields around Passchendaele to become so muddy?
3. Summarize some of the battlefield conditions which the Canadian experienced at
Passchendaele.
4. What was the total number of Canadian casualties at Passchendaele?
The Beginning of the End (1917-1918)
 America entered the war after Germany resumed unrestricted submarine warfare
 Russian Revolution occurred which brought the communists to power in that country led by
Lenin
 Lenin pulled Russia out of the war by signing a peace treaty with Germany
 With Russia out, now all the German forces could be launched against France
 In the spring of 1918 the German High Command mounted a series of grand offensives to break
the Allied front and end the war with victory or at least a draw before US troops could enter the
war.
 This last attempt at victory ultimately failed
 We now get the period from August 8 to November 11, 1918, known as “The Hundred Days”
(Canadian forces were always spearheading victory)
1. When and why did the Americans join the allied forces during World War I?
2. What impact did the 1917 Russian Revolution have on World War I?
3. What period of World War I is described as “Canada’s Hundred Days”
4. Describe the significance of November 11, 1918.