-
Robort Borden
Robort Borden was a Canadian lawyer and politician. He was the PM from 1911-1920. He transformed his government to a wartime administration, passing the War Measures Act in 1914. Borden committed Canada to provide half a million soldiers for the war effort. However, volunteers had quickly dried up when Canadians realized there would be no quick end to the war. Borden's determination to meet that huge commitment led to the Military Service Act and the Conscription Crisis of 1917. -
Period: to
World War I
-
Western Front
Date above is inaccurate, Date:1914 The Western Front was the area of fighting in western Europe during WWI, characterized by Trench warfare and inconclusive battles with heavy casualities on both sides -
Schlieffen Plan
The Schlieffen plan designed by Alfred von Schlieffen to avoid a two-front war. It was used in 1914 to attempt to invade France before the Russians would attack Germany. The Germans attempted to invade France through Belgium within a six week period, assuming that it would take Russia the same time prepare for the battle. By going through Belgium it triggered Britain (signed treaty with Belgium) to be brought into the battle --> World War I begins. -
Attrition
Date above is in accurate, Date preferred: 1914 Attrition is a military strategy. Both sides attempts to win a war by wearing down its enemy to the point of collapse through continuous losses in personnel and materiel. Its won usually by the side with greater resources. -
Sam Hughes
Date above is inaccurate Sam Hughes was the Minister of MIlitary Defense from 1911 until 1916. When Canada entered war world I in August, he set up a military trainning facility in Velcarter, Quebec to train the soldiers that volunteered for the war. -
Trench Warfare
Trench Warfare took place throughout the entire war. It was military stalemate strategy widely used in Europe during world war I, Soldiers lived in deep trenches and underground bunkers. Troops fought to break through enemy lines by attacking in suicide charges into machine gun fire. -
No-Man's Land
No-Man's Land is part of Trench warfare. It is a piece of land that exists between the two opposing troops. Soldiers had to charge through No-man's land in order to inflitrate the enemies trench. When running though No-man's land they had to dodge machine gun fires, and charging enemies (suicidal missions). -
Trench Foot
Date above is inaccurate, corrected Date:1914 Trench foot was a common fungal infection for soldiers in world war I. Due to the poor environmental hygiene of the trenchs in "Trench warfare", soldiers feets were exposed to damp and cold conditions for very long periods of time. Early stages symptoms include: feet turing red or blue. As it got worse, the feet would swell up, and begin to get blisters and open sores. -
Stalemate
Date above is inaccurate, it is there because it is part of the requirements of making an event. Stalemate lasted through 1917. Stalemate is a situation when no can win/move. In world war I, Germany couldn't advance further to invade France but neither could Britain and France drive Germany back. Due to the weapon advancements it was very hard to breakthrough either side. -
Billy Bishop
Date above is inaccurate, Date preferred: 1914 Billy Bishop was an Canadian Air Marshal in WWI. He was credited with 72 victories, making him a top Canadian ace in WWI. -
The second Battle of Ypres
The Battle of Ypres was the first battle using trench warfare for Canadians. It was marked the first time Germany had used poison (Chlorine gas) gas on a large scale on the Western Front. More than 6,000 Canadian soldiers were killed, wounded, or captured during this battle. -
Lusitania
On May 1, 1915, the Lusitania left port in New York for Liverpool to make her 202nd trip across the Atlantic. On board were 1,959 people, 159 of whom were Americans. Due to the outbreak of WWI it was quite dangerous to sail the seas. Concidentally Germany troops at that time were training with their U-boats (Submarines), and would aim at British vessals. The sinking of Lusitania played a big role in triggering the US to join the war. -
Battle of Verdun
The battle of Verdun was a planned battle of attention and lasted six months. France alone lost 500,000 men. The Battle of Verdun caused the starting of the battle of Somme. The battle of somme of an effort to take German pressure of the French army. -
Battle of Somme
The battle of Somme was a poorly planned British attack on the Germans. The tactics used during this battle was proved to be successful in previous battles but completely useless on trench warfare. Dispite the heavy losses and the little land they captured, the attacks were ordered to continue. The battle of Somme lasted for five months and both sides suffered heavy losses. aprx 1.25 million casualities and 24,000 Canadians among them. 90% of Newfoundland Reigment were wiped out. -
Russian Revolution
The Russian Revolution helped end the war because the with the loss of Russia, Germany was able to relocate and focus their forces on the France and Belgium. By this time the US had already joined the Allies side, therefore US force compensated for the loss of Russia. All of Germany's forces were in "one area" making it easier to end the war. -
The Battle of Vimy Ridge
In 1914 Germans had took over Vimmy ridge which was a vantage point that gave a clear view of the surrounding countryside, supply routes, and enemy positions. Britain and France for the past two years were unsuccessful in capturing the RIdge. Canadians troops captured Vimy Ridge in four days and were recognized by the Allies now as a strong force. Although the troops lost 3,000 and 7,000 injuried men, it was a turning point for the Allies. -
Military Service Act
The Military Service Act was passed in 1917 by PM, Robort Bordon to recruit more soldiers for the WWI. The casualities suffered in the war were enormous. Due to the fact the Act was passed unevenly administered, roits in Quebec broke out (unfavouring the act). The act caused to "bring back" a linguitistic barrier between the French and English -
Battle of Passchendaele
For a period of time the British were unsuccessful at capturing Passchendaele. Canadians troops were brought in October 1917 to break through German line and retake Passchendaele. The troops were successful but suffered heavy losses. 16,000 men were dead and Passchendaele was quickly recaptured by the Germans. -
League of Nations
The League of Nations (LN) was formed shortly after WWI. It was the first international organization to maintain world peace (prevent another world war, which it failed to do so). -
Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was a peace treaty signed to end world war I. Generally the Treaty of Versailles coerced Germany to admit and take responsibilites for starting world war I. Responsibilities included repaying countries for what they had lost during the war. They had to give back territories to countries such as Alsace-Lorraine back to France, military forces were taken away (No tanks), and the lost of vital industiral territories (literally prevented the restoration of their economy).
