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Essay / First World War: The Battle of Vimy Ridge
The Battle of Vimy Ridge is considered a defining moment in Canadian history and is known as the moment when Canada withdrew from the shadow of Britain. This not only gave Canada the reputation it needed, but it also gave the Canadian Army the connection, courage and reputation it needed. This reputation they earned has been so important throughout Canadian history and is still relevant to them today. Although more than 10,000 Canadians were sadly killed or injured, the Battle of Vimy Ridge will go down in history as one of Canada's most important battles. Before the battle, many conflicts took place to put it into action. Many battles took place, including the Battle of Ypres (1915) and the Battle of the Somme (1916). Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay These conflicts affected the Canadian Army in a very beneficial way and helped it gain the respect of many other countries. However, these battles had their drawbacks, namely the number of deaths. Canadian soldiers lost nearly 30,000 people in these two battles alone. As tragic as this was, it really set the tone for the war and how serious it was. In April 1917, the Canadian Corps was ordered to capture Vimy Ridge, located in northern France. Due to the unsuccessful attempt by British and French troops to repel or eliminate Germany, the Canadians were asked to step in to hopefully finish the job. As the battlefield was pure chaos, with seven kilometers heavily fortified, the Canadian Corps had a challenge ahead. The strategy was very similar to previous battles, except this time the plan was to drive Germany out of France. permanently. Germany was quick to dig trenches on high ground, which would allow them to control the surrounding area and therefore have an advantage. To master this location, Canadian troops would have to train and train beforehand to gain more flexibility in battle. Using battlefield models, these soldiers underwent several weeks of training to establish their victory. A week before the battle, the British and Canadians attacked the German position on the ridge, causing many deaths and ultimately giving Canada a significant lead in the coming encounter. Early on the morning of April 9, 1917, several Canadian divisions charged the ridge and eventually outpaced the competition, marking the first time all four Canadian divisions worked together. Many acts of bravery and courage would carry the infantry across the battlefield, even under heavy fire. Sacrifices quickly became a common theme, with the Canadians even losing their officers. However, nothing could stop them, as they continued to charge, through machine gun nests and into vulnerable enemies. The highest part of the ridge, Hill 145, was captured with a bayonet charge against German machine gun tips. It became a very significant moment, which ultimately turned the rest of the three-day battle in Canada's favor. This battle ended with Canada in the lead, at the cost of the loss of 3,598 lives. With 7,000 troops weakened, the Canadians were more than proud of what they had accomplished and knew this would be a great moment for them. Not only was the Battle of Vimy Ridge just another part of the war, it was also the.