Название: Iron Indignation: The Evolution of Canadian Artillery Tactics and the Victory at Vimy Ridge
Автор: David W. Grebstad
Издательство: Double Dagger Books
Год: 2023
Страниц: 223
Язык: английский
Формат: pdf, epub, mobi
Размер: 10.2 MB

The Evolution of Tactics that led to Victory in World War One!

When the men of the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery went to war in 1914 they lacked training, had insufficient guns and ammunition, and clung to a strategy that emphasized manoeuvre and direct-fire engagements. When the opening phases of the Great War came to an end and the conflict became static siege warfare, Canadian gunners had to grow and adapt.

By the spring of 1917, the weapons, men, tactics and battle experience of the Canadian and allied artillery forces had evolved sufficiently to allow the artillery to smash German defences and free the infantry to advance.

Dante never imagined an inferno such as the Vimy Ridge was when hundreds of guns were turned loose upon it on the morning of 9 April 1917. Had he been able to look down through the ages with prophetic vision upon the tortured earth, and the men who it engulfed in its writhings, the great Italian would have added a new horror to hell, a horror in which the victims were subject to unending shell-fire, and were forced to endure forever its agonies and apprehensions.

In the early morning hours of April 9, 1917, thousands of Canadian soldiers emerged from dugouts and trenches into the cool, snow-filled air of the western slope of Vimy Ridge. Months of planning, preparation, and rehearsal had led to this moment as the four divisions of the Canadian Corps moved steadfastly eastward up the gentle slope behind a rolling barrage of artillery fire furnished by thousands of guns and mortars. Over the next several hours, the Canadians methodically worked their way across the shell-pocked terrain, and by late morning they were masters of most the ridge that dominated the Douai Plain of the Arras region of northeast France, a feature that had been in German hands since 1914.

This is the story of the courage, ingenuity, dedication and adaption of artillery doctrine that contributed to the victory of the Canadian Corps on Vimy Ridge in April 1917.

What was The Battle of Vimy Ridge?
Taking place from 9-12 April 1917, it was a costly battle that resulted in victory for the Canadian Corps who had been tasked with overcoming the impregnable German defenses. This German emplacement had plagued the allied forces for years and repelled numerous attacks. After weeks of training behind the lines, meticulous planning, and with the help of a terrifying artillery barrage, the Canadian Corps emerged victorious. This became a momentous day for the Canadian forces that is still commemorated to this day.

Who is the book for?
If you are a student of Canadian history, a military or armchair historian this is the book for you.
Iron Indignation is a book for any proud Canadian looking to learn more about pivotal moments in Canadian history and explore the Great War, The Battle of Vimy Ridge, the Canadian Corps, and the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery.

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