The Battle of Vimy Ridge - A defining Canadian moment

RackMaster

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One of the most divisive moments in Canadian military history. Check out the link and videos, there's so much great information out there and if you search on YouTube for Vimy; there's many more documentaries. I've added a few of the best.

Many of the tactics used for the first time that day are still used today; such as the rolling artillery barrage. Which helped the Canadians achieve what the French and British couldn't.



The message of Vimy Ridge is one of bravery and sacrifice. The battle, which took place on April 9, 1917, is commonly highlighted as a turning point in Canadian history, where the four Canadian divisions fought together as a unified fighting force for the first time. While 3,598 Canadian soldiers were killed during the battle, the impressive victory over German forces is often cited as the beginning of Canada’s evolution from dominion to independent nation. The Vimy Foundation is working to spread the word to Canada’s youth — through initiatives like the Vimy Prize and the Vimy Pin — so that all Canadians understand the importance of Vimy to the nation’s identity.

To underscore the sacrifices made by Canada, which suffered 60,000 fatalities during the First World War, France granted Canada 107 hectares of land at Vimy to build and maintain a memorial. That iconic site is today considered one of the most stirring of all First World War monuments, and certainly Canada’s most important war memorial.

http://www.vimyfoundation.ca/learn/vimy-ridge/


Here's the live ceremony in Vimy today.

For King and Empire

Vimy Ridge - Heaven to Hell
 
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