Canadian Involvement:
The Canadian Parliament didn't choose to go to war in 1914. The country's foreign affairs were guided in London. So when Britain's ultimatum to Germany to withdraw its army from Belgium expired on 4 August 1914, the British Empire, including Canada, was at war, allied with Serbia, Russia, and France against the German and Austro-Hungarian empires.
The first major battle fought by Canadian troops in the First World War took place from 22 April to 25 May 1915, outside the Belgian city of Ypres. After arriving at Ypres, the Canadian soldiers took a position between the British and French division. Two Canadian brigades were in the front lines, with a third in reserve near Ypres.
On April 22, at 5 p.m., the Germans released gas against the French 45th Division to the Canadians’ left. When it rolled over their positions, French troops either suffocated or fled, their eyes and throats burning from the chlorine.
Most of the gas missed the Canadians, but the French retreat had exposed the Canadian’s left flank and threatened the destruction of the whole Allied position in the salient. General Alderson’s units shifted positions to cover the gap, but the German gas attack had torn a huge hole, several kilometres wide, in the Allied line. …show more content…
The Germans pushed another attack on the 24 of April, this time direct, chlorine gas attack. The Germans used the gas as their offensive against the Ypres salient. Their attack concentrates on St. Julien, held by the 1st Canadian Division. The Canadians counterattacked to stall the German advance, they used handkerchiefs soaked in water or urine and prevented a major German advance. They provided more time and held the line until British reinforcements arrived. After the Second Battle of Ypres, the Canadians became known as a tough and dependable troop but the cost was
The Canadian Parliament didn't choose to go to war in 1914. The country's foreign affairs were guided in London. So when Britain's ultimatum to Germany to withdraw its army from Belgium expired on 4 August 1914, the British Empire, including Canada, was at war, allied with Serbia, Russia, and France against the German and Austro-Hungarian empires.
The first major battle fought by Canadian troops in the First World War took place from 22 April to 25 May 1915, outside the Belgian city of Ypres. After arriving at Ypres, the Canadian soldiers took a position between the British and French division. Two Canadian brigades were in the front lines, with a third in reserve near Ypres.
On April 22, at 5 p.m., the Germans released gas against the French 45th Division to the Canadians’ left. When it rolled over their positions, French troops either suffocated or fled, their eyes and throats burning from the chlorine.
Most of the gas missed the Canadians, but the French retreat had exposed the Canadian’s left flank and threatened the destruction of the whole Allied position in the salient. General Alderson’s units shifted positions to cover the gap, but the German gas attack had torn a huge hole, several kilometres wide, in the Allied line. …show more content…
The Germans pushed another attack on the 24 of April, this time direct, chlorine gas attack. The Germans used the gas as their offensive against the Ypres salient. Their attack concentrates on St. Julien, held by the 1st Canadian Division. The Canadians counterattacked to stall the German advance, they used handkerchiefs soaked in water or urine and prevented a major German advance. They provided more time and held the line until British reinforcements arrived. After the Second Battle of Ypres, the Canadians became known as a tough and dependable troop but the cost was