Why Is Vimy Ridge So Important For Canada As A Nation

The battle at Vimy Ridge was a defining moment for Canada as a nation. The reasons for such success during this battle was because of the prelude to the battle, because of the fact that the battle would be the first time that an all-Canadian force had fought in a major battle, and because of innovative strategies and tactics used to defeat the enemy. Vimy Ridge was an extremely sought-after vantage point during WWI. Vimy Ridge is located in northern France, and is about eight kilometers long. The reason that Vimy Ridge was so important was because it was seen as an excellent defense point for the Germans, who captured the plain early in the war. The Germans were able to hold off multiple attacks, that is, until the Canadians decided to launch

The prelude began when Canada entered the stage of confederation. Canada as a nation did not want to be seen in the shadows of Britain, which led them to take a stand in the war. Although Canada was drawn into battle with Great Britain, they wanted to prove that they could also be a major power. Fast forward to mid-1916, when the Canadian troops first landed in Britain. The British Minister of War, Lord Kichener had intended to split up the Canadian troops among the remaining British battalions. However, Sam Hughes, the Canadian military commander ignored these intentions and kept the Canadian forces together, showing that Canada could fight as its own unit, and was not just an extension of the British military. This undoubtedly gave the Canadians an overwhelming sense of national pride, and although the Canadians were brought into the war with Britain, they were now fighting for themselves. This prelude included the practice of

Although today these strategies would seem to be more common sense tactics, at the time these ideas were considered modern and unprecedented. Considered to be one of the most useful tactics, the Creeping Barrage was a way for the Canadian soldiers to advance closer towards the enemy, protecting themselves with a large amount of gunfire. This tactic allowed the Canadians to capture most of the ridge within seven hours. Another strategy that helped the Canadian forces neutralize the German forces in battle was the WWI fail-safes. Private soldiers were equipped with detailed information and instructions that would allow them to take the lead over troops whose leaders were lost in battle, making these soldiers backup leaders. These private soldiers were instrumental in allowing the forces to continue on without a superior, as opposed to leaving the men to figure out what to do by themselves. A third strategy that allowed the Canadian men to take an even further advantage against the Germans was the use of machine guns in large numbers. At the time, machine guns were used for defensive purposes only, but Canadian Lieutenant-Colonel R. Britnel had a plan to use these for offensive intentions. The Canadian corps ended up without about ten times more guns per battalion than the British. Britnel’s plan included counter-battery fire upon