newfangle
hates you.
I just finished reading Pierre Burton's books Vimy, and Marching as to War, and I am pretty convinced that Vimy Ridge was perhaps the most tactically sound military engagement of this century.
The British and French through 250 thousand troops at the ridge with no success at all.
In the winter of 1916, the Canadian corps began to plan for a new type of assault, under the leadership of Douglas Haig (Actually Arther Currie was the true mastermind, Commander of the Canadian 3rd). The plan called for a mix of troops, something never seen before in warfare. The British still incorporated the strict caste system, which led to the slaughter of thousands. The Canadians chose to blend machine gunners, infantry, and calvary into a heterogenous mixture Secondly, each soldier was given complete battle plans and the map of the assault area. Finally, a new artillary system was designed dubbed, "the creeping barrage." Simply put, advancing troops were protected behind a rainfall of shells that crept slowly up the battlefield, giving the Germans no chance for retalliation. At the same time, a massive artillary barrage was directed at enemy hardpoints and artillary.
On Easter Monday, 1917, and largest artillary barrage to date (yes, this record still holds) took place. 30 000 seasened Canadian troops ascended up the slopes of Vimy, assisted by a support crew of 100 000 gunners, medics, stretcher bearers, fighter pilots, engineers, and trajectory technicians. The losses were minimal by the standards of WWI with only 3000 dead.
This was the FIRST major allied victory in WWI, and the Canadian corps led the way as stormtroppers eventually leading to the defeat of the Kaiser.
*wipes tear away from eye*
The British and French through 250 thousand troops at the ridge with no success at all.
In the winter of 1916, the Canadian corps began to plan for a new type of assault, under the leadership of Douglas Haig (Actually Arther Currie was the true mastermind, Commander of the Canadian 3rd). The plan called for a mix of troops, something never seen before in warfare. The British still incorporated the strict caste system, which led to the slaughter of thousands. The Canadians chose to blend machine gunners, infantry, and calvary into a heterogenous mixture Secondly, each soldier was given complete battle plans and the map of the assault area. Finally, a new artillary system was designed dubbed, "the creeping barrage." Simply put, advancing troops were protected behind a rainfall of shells that crept slowly up the battlefield, giving the Germans no chance for retalliation. At the same time, a massive artillary barrage was directed at enemy hardpoints and artillary.
On Easter Monday, 1917, and largest artillary barrage to date (yes, this record still holds) took place. 30 000 seasened Canadian troops ascended up the slopes of Vimy, assisted by a support crew of 100 000 gunners, medics, stretcher bearers, fighter pilots, engineers, and trajectory technicians. The losses were minimal by the standards of WWI with only 3000 dead.
This was the FIRST major allied victory in WWI, and the Canadian corps led the way as stormtroppers eventually leading to the defeat of the Kaiser.
*wipes tear away from eye*
Like the Canadians and Kiwis Australian's were used by the British as elite stormtroops/colonial cannon fodder depending on how you see things...
(he's on the $100 dollar note though)
. Not with fellows like Lord Beaverbrook coming from these shores. Not with the likes of Pierre Berton at the typewriter.
