History Browser

Summarizes the third battle of Ypres, called Passchendaele. Includes a map, photos and a link to Archivianet's War Diary Database.

As early as 1915 the war ground virtually to a stalemate. Despite repeated Allied offensives to break through enemy lines, it was now becoming a costly war of attrition.

Vimy Ridge occupied a key position in the German defensive strategy, which relied on geographic position and strength of fortifications to defeat Allied attacks.

The tank was a technical marvel of war and an antidote to the rule of the machine gun. The tank was able to penetrate any defensive position and was employed in ever increasing numbers.

WW1 saw many innovations in strategic and night bombing, aerial combat tactics, and the support of ground troops. Non-military targeting became part of the military strategy for air warfare, a development that later influenced the course of the Second World War.

Canada's achievement at Vimy was a contrast to the previous failure of the French Neville offensive. Canadians were later used at Arleux-Gobelle and Fresnoy as part of the British effort to keep the Germans occupied while the French army, suffering from a series of mutinies due to high casualties, waited for the Americans to arrive.

During the weeks of April 1915 the fledgling Canadian army faced its first devastating battles. Amid huge losses, the Canadians established a reputation as a formidable fighting force.

The Allied offensive continued with the Canadian Corps advancing to penetrate the Hindenburg and Herman Lines by moving towards Cambrai and the Canal du Nord.

In 1916, the battles of the Somme hardened Canadian soldiers. Canadians gained a reputation for offensive action at Courcelette, Thiepval Ridge and the Regina Trench.

By the end of the First World War, Canadians made up roughly one quarter of the strength of the British Royal Air Force formed in April 1918. More than 8,000 Canadians served in the RAF and its predecessors, the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS). This photograph shows one famous Canadian fighter pilot, Squadron- Commander Raymond Collishaw (1893-1975), along with his British and Imperial pilots at Allonville, France, July 1918. 208 Squadron was formed in February 1914 as Number 3 Squadron, RNAS. The aircraft in the background are the famous Sopwith F.1 'Camel.' (Library and Archives Canada, PA-002792)