In my opinion, out of the four battles discussed in Lesson 1--the Second Battle of Ypres, the Battle of the Somme, the Battle of Vimy Ridge, and the Battle of Passchendaele--I believe that the Battle of Vimy Ridge was the most significant for Canadians. The Battle of Vimy Ridge was one of the most critical battles of World War I for many reasons; it was an important victory, an “all-Canadian” battle, and a turning point in the war. However, before I discuss the battle, it is important to understand the history which led to the Canadian victory. In September of 1914, two months into the war, the Germans captured Vimy Ridge. Due to its high elevation, Vimy Ridge was valued by both sides. Once the Germans controlled the ridge, they quickly constructed
