The Battle of Vimy Ridge (April 9-12, 1917)
This is one of the most famous battles for Canadians during the First World War.
Vimy Ridge was a strategic position fortified by the Germans since 1914.
In April 1917, the four Canadian divisions, united for the first time, attacked to retake it.
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💥 The bombardments that created the shell holes
Before the assault
For several weeks, Allied artillery (mainly British and Canadian) bombarded the German positions to weaken the defenses, cut the barbed wire, and destroy the enemy trenches.
It is estimated that more than a million shells were fired in preparation for the attack.
During the attack
On April 9, 1917, the Canadian infantry advanced under a creeping barrage, that is, artillery fire that advanced just ahead of the soldiers to protect their advance. Result
These intense bombardments literally riddled the ridge with craters.
Each shell exploding in the ground dug a hole of varying width (depending on the caliber, often between 1 and 5 meters in diameter).
🏞 After the War
Why are the shell holes still there?
After 1918, it was decided to preserve certain areas as they were, particularly around the future memorial, to demonstrate the scale of the fighting.
The land was therefore not leveled or cultivated, unlike other areas of the front, which reverted to agricultural fields.
A Landscape for Remembrance
The shell craters, reconstructed trenches, and replanted trees (each tree represents a killed Canadian soldier) create a living memorial park, keeping the scars of the conflict visible for future generations.