Remembering the Battle of Vimy Ridge

Vimy Ridge is located in northern France, approximately a few hours by car to Paris. This elevated feature extends seven kilometers in length and was captured by the German Army early in World War I. This gave the Germans an advantage in terms of visibility of their surroundings and artillery range for protection.

The Germans transformed this area into a strong defensive line made up of a complex system of tunnels and trenches protected by highly skilled soldiers armed with machine guns and heavy artillery. British assaults on the ridge in 1914 and 1915, that resulted in hundreds of thousands of casualties, failed to overpower the defenders.

In 1914, at the start of World War I, Canadians operated under British command, reflecting Canada's status as a Dominion of the British Empire. Over time, Canadian forces gained more independence, with the Canadian Corps forming in 1915, allowing for coordinated Canadian operations. Canadians developed a sense of national identity and pride in their contributions while fighting alongside British troops.

The preparation and Battle of Vimy Ridge marked the first time that all four Canadian Divisions fought together as a single entity, showcasing Canada's military capabilities and unity. To win the battle, the Canadians employed meticulous planning, detailed preparations, and innovative tactics, including a  creeping barrage  and  extensive tunneling .

The battle, which lasted from April 9 to April 12, 1917, saw the Canadian armed forces successfully capture Vimy Ridge after four days of intense conflict. This victory came at a significant cost to the Canadian forces, resulting in around 10,600 casualties, including 3,598 soldiers killed. The total number includes both wounded and missing personnel.

You are a Historian who will use ArcGIS Online to explore an important event in history through a spatial lens. You will explore the movements of the Canadian troops during the Battle of Vimy Ridge (April 9-12, 1917), analyse and mark the location of significant features in the battle, and examine the crucial role geography played in this historic conflict.

By the end of the lesson, you will have a deeper understanding of why Vimy Ridge was a key region during World War I, and how geography can shape the outcome of warfare. In addition, you will consider the profound significance of the Battle of Vimy Ridge for Canadians by thinking about its impact at the time of the event and its lasting legacy to the present day.

Teachers: Go to the  Lesson Overview  for more information about the Curriculum Connections for this lesson. Depending on the allotted time you have reserved for this lesson, your students can complete as many sections as you see fit.

Time Required to Complete Lesson: We have included the time required for each section. Completing all sections and tutorials will take approximately 2 hours.

It is recommended that you complete the following tutorials before you move on to doing the lesson. Look for the💡to reference the tutorials included throughout the Lesson.

1.  Map Viewer Basics  (15 minutes)
2.  Adding and Working with Data in the Map Viewer   (20 minutes)

Begin the lesson by learning about the Battle of Vimy Ridge. Take notes about the following details from the video:

1. The weather and time of year the battle occurred and how it gave the Canadians an advantage
2. The significant locations in the battle that were captured by the Canadians (Hill 145, The Pimple)
3. The timeline of the battle
4. The battlefield conditions for the soldiers
5. Other important factors

In this section, you will first explore where the Battle of Vimy Ridge occurred in France during World War I to get a better perspective of the region. Then you will locate and measure the troop movements that happened during the battle. Lastly, you will mark the location of a couple of significant locations on your map.

1. Open the  Battle of Vimy Ridge map  and sign into your account
2. Save the Map and add your initials or name to an appropriate title
3. Explore the map and identify the location of Vimy Ridge. Note: A ridge is a long, raised area of land, like a hill or mountain top
4. Turn on the Important Places layer Q1: Did you get the location of the ridge right?
5. Go to the existing Bookmarks in the  Contents   toolbar, and select "Paris." The map will move to the location of Paris, France.
6. Now go to the Bookmark "Paris to Vimy Ridge."
7. 💡Measure the distance between the 2 places Q2: What is the distance between them?
8. Go to the Bookmark "Vimy Ridge to Belgium Border" and 💡measure the distance between the 2 places.  💡Map Viewer Basics  Q3: How far is the border from Vimy Ridge?
9. Go back to the Vimy Ridge area on your map
10. Turn off the World Hillshade layer
11. Change the Basemap to Imagery Hybrid Q4: What do you notice in this basemap around Vimy Ridge that wasn't visible before? (Hint: What type of land is prominent?)

The Battle of Vimy Ridge lasted four days, but the preparations for this battle took several months, starting in late 1916. Canadian forces focused on planning and training from January to April 1917. They conducted thorough reconnaissance to understand the terrain and study the German defenses, which was crucial for their strategy. Troops trained in new tactics, such as the creeping barrage, where artillery fire would protect advancing soldiers. These careful preparations led to the successful attack on April 9, 1917, showing how effective the Canadians were in their planning and execution.

In this section, you will locate and measure the troop movements of all four (4) Divisions of the Canadian Corps during the four day battle in 1917 using the  Vimy Ridge Battle Map  from Library and Archives Canada.

1. Turn on Vimy Ridge Battle Map layer
2. Locate the Legend of the Vimy Ridge Battle Map (Hint: bottom left corner) and explore the movement of the Canadian troops displayed on the map
3. Locate and 💡measure the advancement of the front lines:
   1. Find the distance between the front line on April 8 ^th  (solid red line) to front line on April 9 ^th  (dashed red line) at the WIDEST point Q5: What was the distance between the front lines and which Canadian Division was part of this attack?
   2. Find the distance between the front line on April 8th (solid red line) and the front line after the last day of fighting – April 12th (dotted red line) at the WIDEST point Q6: What was the distance between front lines and which Canadian Division was part of this attack?

Look on your map to find the following features (as mentioned in the video in Part 1). If you can't locate them. Use the Bookmarks that have been created for you.

• Hill 145
• The Pimple

1. Ensure the Vimy Ridge Battle Map layer is visible on your map
2. 💡Using the Sketch tool , you will add a stamp/point (of your choice) to display the location of each of the features mentioned above.  💡Adding and Working with Data in the Map Viewer  
   1. Make sure to  enable and create a pop-up  
   2. Change the Title to reflect the feature
   3. Add   text  to the pop-up to include the significance of that location during the Battle of Vimy Ridge. Q7: Why was that location important?
   4. Optional: Add an image (From the internet)
   5. Click Save

Using  Viewshed Analysis  in ArcGIS Online will help you understand the strategic importance of two elevated spots in the Vimy Ridge region during the battle in World War I.

1. Open  The Battle of Vimy Ridge: Strategic Locations map 
2. and sign into your ArcGIS Online account.
3. Click on each of the stars on the map to see what the location is
4. Turn on the Battle of Vimy Ridge layer to get a different perspective Q1: What are these locations and why were they strategic during the Battle of Vimy Ridge?

The Create Viewshed tool uses the Esri Elevation Analysis service to identify areas that are visible from specified observer points. You will create two (2) viewsheds. One from The Pimple and one from Hill 145.

1. Turn off the Battle of Vimy Ridge layer
2. Click on Analysis > Tools > Find Locations > Create ViewShed
3. In the Create Viewshed window:
   1. Select The Pimple as the Input Layer
   2. Ensure the Observer Height is 1.75 metres (Average size male in Canada)
   3. Make the Target Height "1.75" metres
   4. Change the Maximum viewing distance to “50” kilometres
   5. Name the new layer PimpleViewShed_AddYourInitialsOrName
   6. Click Run.
4. Explore the results of the new viewshed layer that appears on your map
5. Measure the furthest point that is visible from the Pimple Q2: What is the distance in kilometres?
6. Turn off the World Hillshade layer
7. Change the Basemap to Imagery Hybrid to get a difference perspective
8. Save the map > title it with our intials or name
9. Create a viewshed for Hill 145 using the same analysis settings as The Pimple and then measure the distance to the furthest visible point. Q3: What is the distance in kilometres?

Using the Vimy Atlas, explore the difference in elevation around the Vimy Ridge region.

1. Open the  Vimy Atlas  Note: You do not have to sign into your ArcGIS Online
2. Click on Open Map > Select the Battle of Vimy Ridge: Strategic Locations Map
3. Once the map appears, click on the Stars to see the strategic locations.
4. Now you are ready to create Elevation Profiles of the following places:
   1. Between Headquarters of the First Canadian Division (HQ 1 ^st  CDN DIV) and just beyond the Town of Vimy towards the Douai Plain
   2. Between The Pimple and Hill 145
   3. Your choice: Between two points on the Vimy Ridge Battle Map of your choice.

Q1: Explain why the geography of a region must be considered when preparing for a battle?

Q2: To what extent do you think that the Canadian military’s preparation contributed to their success at Vimy Ridge?

Take some time to reflect on the profound significance of the Battle of Vimy Ridge for Canadians, considering its immediate impact at the time and its enduring legacy to this day.

To help you, watch the   "Why the Battle of Vimy Ridge Matters  " video (14:40 minutes) that was produced for the 100th anniversary of the historic battle from CBC's The National.

Q1: How did Canada's military contributions at Vimy Ridge during World War I shape Canada’s identity as a nation and its relationship with Great Britain?

Q2: Why the Battle of Vimy Ridge (Still) Matters?

Want to learn more about ArcGIS Analysis? Check out the following tutorial: