Navigating the Heartache WWI Brings
In the summer of 1918, the end of World War I was at hand. Military commanders previously were planning for the conflict to extend into 1919, or even 1920, but it was becoming increasingly clear to the Allies that victory was in sight. The Central Powers, conversely, were facing humiliating defeat. The period between August …
The capture of Mons, Belgium, took place November 11, 1918. It was part of the Hundred Days Offensive, Allied attacks forcing the German Army into defeat. The nations involved were Canada and Germany. “The Germans had occupied the town for four years,” Encyclopedia Britannica says. “Mons was a regional centre for coal mining, and its resources had been …
The Canal du Nord was fought September 27-October 1, 1918, in the Calais region, France. The attack was part of an Allied offensive to prevent the Germans from regrouping and launching their own attack. “On 27th September, 1918, the day after the start of the Meuse-Argonne offensive began, Allied forces attacked the German frontline at …
The Battle of Amiens was fought August 8-11, 1918, near Picardy, France. It was part of an Allied counteroffensive after several German offensives failed in the spring. The battle also is known as the Third Battle of Picardy. It is the first battle in what would later become known as the Hundred Days Offensive. The …
The Battle of Oppy was fought May 3 and June 28, 1917, in Arras, France. The skirmishes were part of the large Battle of Arras. Capturing the highlands was of strategic advantage, offering a view of the surround area. The nations involved were Canada, Great Britain and Germany. “Two infantrymen stand to the left of the dug-out …
The Battle of Passchendaele, also known as the Third Battle of Ypres, was fought July 31-November 10, 1917, in Flanders, Belgium. The goal of the attack was to gain Allied control of the ridges around the city of Ypres and to force the Germans to divert resources from the channel and their U-boat bases. The nations …
At the beginning of World War I, the predominate view was that the war would be over soon, even as early as Christmas. And perhaps it would have if events had gone differently. In the autumn of 1914, the Allies had won the First Battle of the Marne, saving Paris from falling to the Germans, …
The Battle of Hill 70 was fought August 15-25, 1917, near Lens, France. The attack relieved pressure on the Allies near Passchendaele. The idea was the attack on Hill 70 would divert German reinforcements. The nations involved were Canada and Germany. “Yet the critical battle of Hill 70, fought in August of 1917, and squeezed out …
The Battle of Vimy Ridge took place April 9-12, 1917, near Arras, France. The nations involved were Canada, Great Britain and Germany. Major Events of the Battle: Learning from the mistake during the Battle of the Somme, troops were better trained and better informed than during previous battles. Many of these recommendations came from 1st Division …
The Battle of the Somme was fought July 1-November 18, 1916, near the Somme River in France. The battle was part of a plan for attacks to be conducted simultaneously on the Western, Eastern and Italian fronts to distract the Central Powers. In this case, the battle was intended to relieve the pressure placed on …