Vimy Ridge
This essay will describe the events that took place at Vimy Ridge during World
War I. Britain and France both attempted to take control of the Ridge which was
currently occupied by the German Army and both failed. It was left to the Canadian
Army to take the Ridge. This essay will prove that after many struggles, and careful
preparation, Canada was defined as a Nation at Vimy Ridge.
Vimy Ridge was a key to the German defence system. It rose 61 m. above
the Douai Plain which favoured the Germans because there was a gradual incline
on the West. This meant that the Canadians would have to attack over open ground
where they would become prime targets for German artillery, machine guns and rifle
fire.
Military mining played a big role in the battle of Vimy Ridge. Engineers built a
network of tunnels under no-mans land. They also dug subways totalling more than
5 km. in length, through which assault troops could move to their jumping-off points.
The subways provided protection from enemy artillery fire, and permitted the
wounded to be brought back from the battlefield. Chambers were cut into the walls
of the subway for brigade and battalion headquarters, ammunitions stores,
communication centres and dressing stations.
The taking of Vimy Ridge fell to the Canadian Corps under the command of
the British General Julian Byng. He appointed the Canadian born Major General
Arthur Currie as the Commander of the 1st Canadian Division. Currie believed
�Thorough preparation must lead to success. Neglect nothing.�. He left nothing to
chance, every stage of the attack was planned to the very last detail. General Currie
had a full scale model of Vimy Ridge built to train his soldiers. They got the locations
of every trench,...
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