Do you think all the Canadians’ preparation for the battle at Vimy Ridge was worth it?

        It was the first time all 4 divisions of the Canadian Corps worked together as one. They planned and prepared extensively with models of the trench system.  General Arthur Currie was the first Canadian commander of the Canadian Corps in 1917. He had little military experience but he played an amazing role in the victorious battle. His strategy was to make sure that all soldiers involved in the attack knew about the plan in result, maps were given to every soldier unlike the Germans. Currie truly believed that it was important to “Neglect nothing.”

 The Platoon System was developed by the Canadians. The platoons would strike at the enemy in a loose action where the German defenders had no chance of cutting down the attackers. In result this attack would find the attackers able to cover their own progress.

On the other hand, Lieutenant-Colonel Andrew McNaughton commanded Canada’s artillery strategy. He thought of new ways to locate the artillery guns.  Not only did the Canadians prepare by physical activity but also by making huge underground storage spaces so that troops and supplies can be carried. Beside main tunnels, chambers were dug to treat wounded troops.  Canadians also made artillery barrage. The attack strategy was to create an artillery barrage to force the Germans to stay in the trenches which would keep them away from their guns.   Machine guns were a defensive weapon with a huge advantage. It wiped out many men with over 400 bullets firing per minute.  It was lt.-Col R. Brtinel’s plan of “indirect firing” which stopped the movement of the German lines. Due to the extensive preparations and strategies, Canadians won a victorious battle capturing Vimy Ridge.

By: Lavanya A

References

"Battle of Vimy Ridge - Veterans Affairs Canada." Veterans Affairs Canada - Anciens Combattants Canada. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Mar. 2011. <http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/sub.cfm?source=history/firstwar/fact_sheets/vimy>.

Nisbett, Emily , and Kirstyn Ruselle. "The Battle of Vimy Ridge." The Battle of Vimy Ridge. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Mar. 2011. <https://sites.google.com/a/adamscott.ca/world-war-i-museum-feb-2010/Home/the-battle-of-vimy-ridge-room-for-the-first-world-war>.