SS 10 – WWI Battles
1. The Second Battle of Ypres
- refers to battles fought around the Belgian city of Ypres (in Flanders district)
- consists of four separate engagements:
The Battle of Gravenstafel: Thursday 22 April – Friday 23 April 1915
The Battle of St Julien: Saturday 24 April – 4 May 1915
The Battle of Frezenberg: 8 May – 13 May 1915
The Battle of Bellewaarde: 24 May – 25 May 1915
* April 22, 1915 – Germans use chlorine gas against French and Canadian
troops; this causes exposed troops to suffer from blindness, burns, and/or death.
The use of chlorine gas for military purposes had been outlawed by international
agreement since 1907.
- deadly fumes destroyed the lungs of soldiers; many men suffocated or choked to
death.
- 6000 Canadians were killed, wounded, or captured; neither side gained much
advantage.
- “In Flanders Fields” (John Mcrae) was inspired by this battle
2. The Battle of the Somme
- refers to the offensive launched by Allied forces (British and French forces) along a
line of low ridges near the Somme River, France.
- The battle was preceded by 5 days and nights of preliminary artillery bombardment, in
which the British fired over 1.7 million shells.
- July 1, 1916 : the offensive was launched
- forces were under the command of General Douglas Haig (British).
- Haig used “old” strategies that did not work in “trench warfare”; soldiers marching
across open fields were mowed down by German machine guns.
- a series of battles were fought; the Battle of the Somme ended in November.
- the tank made its debut in the latter portion of this battle.
Result: over one million casualties; almost equal numbers on both sides.
(over 300,000 total soldiers killed)
1. The Second Battle of Ypres
- refers to battles fought around the Belgian city of Ypres (in Flanders district)
- consists of four separate engagements:
The Battle of Gravenstafel: Thursday 22 April – Friday 23 April 1915
The Battle of St Julien: Saturday 24 April – 4 May 1915
The Battle of Frezenberg: 8 May – 13 May 1915
The Battle of Bellewaarde: 24 May – 25 May 1915
* April 22, 1915 – Germans use chlorine gas against French and Canadian
troops; this causes exposed troops to suffer from blindness, burns, and/or death.
The use of chlorine gas for military purposes had been outlawed by international
agreement since 1907.
- deadly fumes destroyed the lungs of soldiers; many men suffocated or choked to
death.
- 6000 Canadians were killed, wounded, or captured; neither side gained much
advantage.
- “In Flanders Fields” (John Mcrae) was inspired by this battle
2. The Battle of the Somme
- refers to the offensive launched by Allied forces (British and French forces) along a
line of low ridges near the Somme River, France.
- The battle was preceded by 5 days and nights of preliminary artillery bombardment, in
which the British fired over 1.7 million shells.
- July 1, 1916 : the offensive was launched
- forces were under the command of General Douglas Haig (British).
- Haig used “old” strategies that did not work in “trench warfare”; soldiers marching
across open fields were mowed down by German machine guns.
- a series of battles were fought; the Battle of the Somme ended in November.
- the tank made its debut in the latter portion of this battle.
Result: over one million casualties; almost equal numbers on both sides.
(over 300,000 total soldiers killed)
