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The Canadian Corps carried out an offensive thrust laying mines into the German
frontlines while meticulously planning their real assault. On March 1, 1917,
the 4th division staged a raid against a series of German positions between landmarks
known as The Pimple and Hill 145. The attacks were unsuccessful and cost nearly
700 lives.
On April 1, the artillery barrage in preparation for the Battle of Vimy Ridge
began. More than one million rounds were fired, many with deadly accuracy, taking
out trenching, cutting off supply lines and knocking out guns.
The plan was for all four Canadian Divisions to attack in sequence on Easter
Monday, April 9, starting at 5:30 a.m., along about four kilometres of the frontlines.
The First Division would strike from the south, moving from west of the Arras-Lens
road to take the German trenches spread out before Thelus and then move on to
Farbus.
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to the north of the 1st Division, the 2nd Division also aimed for German trenches
near Thelus. The 3rd Division would go for the eastern slope of Vimy Ridge after
cutting through opposition at La Folie Farm and La Folie Wood. They would capture
positions near Hill 145. The 4th Division targeted Hill 145 and the more northern
slopes of Vimy Ridge. The division managed to take Hill 145 (the highest point
on the ridge, where the Vimy Memorial was later built) but the central thrust
of the division was almost completely wiped out in the process.
Despite the losses, on April 10 the 4th Division took Vimy Ridge. After three
more days of fighting, and after months of bloody battle by the French and British,
Vimy was finally in Allied hands. |
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