94th anniversary of Vimy Ridge

Bar_Down

Active member
April 9th 1917. Canada's most significant victory of WWI. We remember.

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jk.

but really, i'm pretty sure i remember this from history. they took some place in france? basically because german 6th flopped and then got blown apart by air support?
 
pretty much. it was huge for canadians.

The Battle of Vimy Ridge was a military engagement fought primarily as part of the Battle of Arras, in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France, during the First World War. The main combatants were the Canadian Corps against three divisions of the German Sixth Army. The battle, which took place from 9 April to 12 April 1917, was part of the opening phase of the British-led Battle of Arras, a diversionary attack for the French Nivelle Offensive.

The objective of the Canadian Corps was to take control of the German-held high ground along an escarpment at the northernmost end of the Arras Offensive. This would ensure that the southern flank could advance without suffering German enfilade fire. Supported by a creeping barrage, the Canadian Corps captured most of the ridge during the first day of the attack. The town of Thélus fell during the second day of the attack, as did the crest of the ridge once the Canadian Corps overcame a salient of considerable German resistance. The final objective, a fortified knoll located outside the town of Givenchy-en-Gohelle, fell to the Canadian Corps on 12 April. The German forces then retreated to the Oppy–Méricourt line.

Historians attribute the success of the Canadian Corps in capturing the ridge to a mixture of technical and tactical innovation, meticulous planning, powerful artillery support, and extensive training, as well as the failure of the German Sixth Army to properly apply the German defensive doctrine. The battle was the first occasion when all four divisions of the Canadian Expeditionary Force participated in a battle together, and thus became a Canadian nationalistic symbol of achievement and sacrifice. A 250-acre (100 ha) portion of the former battleground now serves as a preserved memorial park and site of the Canadian National Vimy Memorial.[5]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Vimy_Ridge

 
Think about what you're going to say in a thread like this before you post.

If you have nothing respectful to say, just leave. It is absolutely disgusting to see my peers and the youth of my generation disregard the sacrifices made by millions of men and women to ensure that we may live a free and comfortable life today.

"They were young, as we are young. They served, giving freely of themselves. To them, we pledge, amid the winds of time, to carry their torch and never forget. We will remember them.

Below are some photos I took during an educational trip with the Vimy Foundation. The Beaverbrook-Vimy Prize is a annual scholarship open to students in Canada, United Kingdom and France. The program provides youth with an unparalleled historical perspective, and aids in the development of an appreciation for the intertwined history of their three nations in understanding the bravery and sacrifice of war. I strongly recommend anyone interested in history to apply, it is truly an unforgettable experience that will truly challenge you and change your outlook on life.

Visit (http://www.vimyfoundation.ca/vimyprize) for more details on the program, and feel free to message me as well if you have any questions.

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Obsessedwski, we need more kids like you, I couldn't agree more with your post, a few kids actually went to a ceremony last year at the memorial site and I guess the people there are just so thankful and love Canadians for the sacrifices the people during the war made and brought peace to these places
 
the french are extremely thankful to this day for everyone who fought there in the wars.

In normandy the people still routinely put out french, american, canadian, and british flags year round. On/around june 6 the whole region becomes a madhouse as everyone flocks in to be at the ceremonies with veterans and dignitaries.
 
I had the privilege of taking part in the commemoration ceremony at Dieppe last year in August, and I can personally attest to this fact. We were given a police escort to travel to the ceremony along with many prominent politicians, celebrities and high ranking French military generals, and overall the hospitality was so incredible to a point where sometimes it was uncomfortable - we couldn't help but think of how much weight the sacrifices of our soldiers had on the lives of these people.

There were many people there as well that lived through the war (WW2) and one woman in particular comes to mind because of the passion and heart with which she thanked us repeatedly, and told us over and over again "Nous n'oublierons jamais les Canadiens" (We will never forget the Canadians). She was a nurse in Dieppe during the raids and recounted stories of treating both Canadian and German soldiers like it was just yesterday. It really made me think about the impact Canadians and the entire war had on these people, and to think about it on a world wide scale is just unimaginable.

Jahrassicpark - Absolutely. After having experienced something like that myself and being able to relate to it on a more personal level, I can honestly say that it has changed me for the better and has given me an appreciation for all service men and women, past and present. I may not agree with the mission all the time, whatever it may be, but I will never tolerate disrespect towards those men and women.

A part of what I took away from the Vimy program is the desire to educate my peers and the youths of today so they can appreciate the sacrifices and the horrors of war in the same way that I do now. After all it's these people that I will be building and sharing the future with, and if I can do my part in helping just one more person understand the horrors of war I can say I've done my job. Who knows, that one person may someday be in the position to make the decision to declare war - and maybe, just maybe, they'll remember what we've already learned in twice in the past and opt for an alternate solution.

Baby steps.
 
^+k for well thought out and respectful comments. i really respect your view on the matter and ya it sounds like you had some pretty unforgettable experiences. that story you said about the french lady who was a nurse during the war just made me extremely proud to be canadian
 
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