I
WORLD WAR 1: CANADA'S ROLE
For many, World war One marks the beginning of Canada's nationhood.
The valour of her troops ana
strength of her industry brought Canadza new international prestige and Canadians began to perceive
themselves as being separate to Britain. But the cost to Canada
nign - nearly one in
*L
trc
ten of her soldiers was
killed. And the "war to mend all wars" did not prevent the world fromloing to war
again in 1939.
THE ROAD TO WAR
Empire Building: In 1914, the world was dominated by large empires, and divided
into two power blocks.
Germany, Italy and Empire of Austria-Hungary were in an aUiance called the
Triple Alliance, and France,
Russia and Great Britain were in the Triple Ent€nte ailiance.
Assassination: When Archduke Ferdinand, the next successor to the Austro-Hungarian
throne, was
in Sarajevo, this triggered a domino-like effect through the alliances till ail countries
were at war.
When Germany invaded France through Belgium, Britain who commiued to defending
Belgium's neutrality,
declared war on Germany.
a-ssassinated
CANADA'S CALL TO ARMS
Canada's Reaction: Canadian Prime Minister Sir Robert Borden immediately offered
assistance to
Britain, even though he only had a regular army of 3,000 men and a fledgling navy.
Canada was
officially bound by Britain foreign policy. When Britain declared war, Canada was
automatically at war.
Patriotism: At first everyone responded with great enthusiasm and patriotism for
the war. When Colonel
Sam Hughes, the minister for Militia called 25,000 volunteers
up,
and
within
,32,000tumed
2 months the
Canadian First and Second Divisions sailed for war.
AT THE WESTERN FRONT
Military Deadlock: But on the battlefields the plans for quick victories had gone hopelessly
wrong. The
modem weaponry being used for the first time brought the armies to a
deadlock along two great trench-lines.
The Western Front where the Canadians fought stretched 1000 kilometers
from the ietgian Coast to the Swiss
border.
Over the next four years, the trench lines moved very little. Generals
on both sides launched massive headon infantry assaults, that did little to gain position, but resulted in enormous
loss of life. Wave after wave of
men were mown down by the large guns, but the generals refused to
abandon their outmoded methods of attack,
and the war was stalemated.
Ypres: At Ypres, in April 1915, the Canadian First Division had to learn the hard way. It was the first
time the Germans used poison gas - and Canada lost one man in three from her fighting force.
Ross Rifle: At first Canadians were issued with the Canadian Ross Rifle. But this often jammed by
dirt or
mud or when fired rapidly. It sontetimes jammed w'hen solCiers used the standard British bullets.
It wai
replaced by the British LeeEnfield rifle.
THE WAR EFFORT AT HOMB
Recruitment: In l9l5 after the battles of Ypres, Prime Minister Borden promised England anotler fiapa
million soldiers - at a time when Canada's population was only eight million. News of theieality of war was
slow to filter home, and enthusiasm for the war remained high for the first few years. The 3rd and 4th
divisions
formed by mid-1916. Propaganda was used extensively by both sides. War loans helped finan1e
the war effort.
Economic Transformation: An entirely new munitions industry became the biggest business in Canada
b),the end of the War.
Women's Role: Women took on new roles in the workplace and on farms. They played a large role in
patriotic efforts and many women served as nurses both at home and abroad. Suftagettes began
to campaign
for the right to vote.
Air Force: In 1917, the Royal Fly*g Corps opened flying schools in Canada,, and by the end of the war a
quarter of the pilots in British planes were Canadians.
Navy: Canada's war effort was mainly confined to the army, however by the end of the war the new
Canadian navy had over 100 ships, with 8,b00 Canadians serving her and Britain navies.
THE ESCALATING WAR: 1916-17
The Somme: In July 1916, the British embarked on the disastrous Somme offensive, sending wave after
wave of men over the top of the trenches into German fire in broad daylight. The German army had
been
forewarned of the attack, and it was a slaughter. In one day 57,000 men were killed or wounded. It
cost
Canada 24,000 casualties..
Vimy Ridge: April 1917, the Canadians captured Vimy Ridge. The Canadians prepared thoroughly,
making a model of Vimy Ridge and reheasing their soldiers till they knew perfectly their role in the
attack.
Miles of tunnels were dug to permit Canadian soldiers to arrive at the front line with fewer casualties.
the
innovative Canadian Artillery officer, General Andy McNaughton used the sound and flash
of German guns to
locate their position and then utilized the Canadian artillery to knock out the enemy artillery
so the infantry
would have fewer casualties during the attack. It was the first great Allied victory since thl beginning
of the
lvar.
Arthur Currie: When British commanding officer Byng was promoted after the battle of Virny, command
of the Canadian Corps went for the first time to a Canadian, Lieutenant{eneral Arthur Currie. Currie was a
resourceful and respected leader, often risking his career by protesting at decisions from British comrnand her
felt would result in loss of life for his men.
Passchendaele: In 1917 the British resolved on one more drive, and ordered the Canadian Corps to
prepare for Passchendaele. General Currie rnspected the area and protested the operation was impossible
rvithout heavy cost, but he was ovemrled and the attack went ahead. Currie's estimates
casualties proved frightfu lly accurate.
of 16.000 Canadian
r
X'ield Hospitals: Field hospitals were overwhelned and doctors and nurses worked lon! hours
in primiiive
conditions.
CRISIS ON THE HOMEFRONT
Conscription crisis: By the end of the 1916, recruiment was rapidly taihng offand in 1917, Borden
paved the way for conscription by introducing the Military Service act. The conscripiion
issue bitterly divided the
country. French-Canadiens opposed conscription - Henri Bowassa, spokesperson for the
Quebec nationalists
declared: 'No conscription! No enlistment: Canada has done enough. ' The issue split
government
:r'
the
and became
government gave Canadian soldiers serving overseas,the votes in
favor of the conscription party. Borden won a n€urow majority and introduced conscription in l9l8 however by
the time the frst conscripts were sent to France, the war was nearly over.
';'*the major issue of an upcoming election. Borden's
BREAKING THE STALEMATE
Cambrai: Nov. l9l7: To break the stalemate, both sides found new ways of attalking. The Allies
brought out their solution - massed tanks - for the successful attack on cambrai. But unfortunately there were not
enough men to exploit the gains, and the Gennans managed to halt the attack.
German advance 191E: Germans on their part developed a technique called "infrltration" - small groups
of crack assault troops attacked allied trenches where they were weakest and followed the line of least resistance as
far as they could. The German offensive of 1918 shattered the allied front, and drove the Allied annies back within
40 miles of Paris. But the Allies did not break, and the German attack came to a halt. It was
the last great German
gamble.
August Offensive 1918: the Allies launched their own counter attack. Assisted by hundreds of tanks and
the newly arrived American troops, the Allies pushed the exhausted German armies back
over the ground they had
recently won. A combined Allied force assaulted the Gennan lines and by the end of September
the German arm1,
was in retreat along the Western front. The war ended for the Canadians at 1lam on Nwember
l l, l9l8 when they
frnally reached the Belgian town of Mons.
Versailles Treaty: ln early 1919, the international leaders gathered at Versailles to set out the conditions
for peace. Borden attendd insisting on a separate seat at the conference and at a new League
of Nafions. Canada
had gained international prestigs and a new role in world affairs, and for the first
time, Canadians began to perceive
themselves as being a nation separate from Britain
TIIE COST OF'WAR
Sixty-five million soldiers fought in WWl. At least ten million soldiers died, and may more civilians.
Another twenty-nine million soldiers were missing, wounded or captured. The financial cost ran into hundreds of
billions of dollars - it was the most colossal war in human history.
Canada's Contribution: Canada had sent 520,000 men and women to war from a population of only
eight million. 66,000 died - nearly one in ten. But the war to end all rvars did not prevent the world from going to
war again in 1939. And too many had paid too high a price.