Vimy Ridge - 98 Years ago

Canada's coming of age.

https://www.vimyfoundation.ca/significance

 

Hitler visited Vimy in 1940. Mostly as a public relations move to counter Allied propaganda.

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2007/04/05/3925529-sun.html

 

Thanks for posting Tim.

By sheer coincidence I was watching a programme on Sky channel 534 (PBS America) last night about the pilgrimage of the Canadian Veterans who attended the unveiling of the Memorial at Vimy Ridge in 1936. Some really interesting footage of their journey and a brilliant programme. I think it will be shown again next week.
http://pbsamerica.co.uk/great-war-tour

I have heard of Vimy Ridge but I am ashamed to say I didn't know anything about the Canadian connection at all. It certainly looks an amazing place to visit.


Lesley

 

Canuck,

Thanks for posting.

My Granddad, Bill Webb, joined the CEF at Valcartier in Sep 1914 and then spent four years on holiday in Europe from Feb 1915 onwards ..but did have time to get married and then create my mother in his quiet moments..shame I didn't have the chance to chat to him (he died in 1943).

A couple of random photos from a visit to Vimy in April 2013.

best

edit - detail.

 

Thanks for the link Lesley. I had not seen that before.

I visited in 2007 and for a Canadian it is an awe inspiring memorial. As the preeminent Canadian monument in Europe it distills for the me the sacrifice of over 100,000 Canadians in the two world wars and is the marker for a colony turned nation.

I still possess the poppy my great uncle picked from the crest of the ridge after the battle and sent home to my grandmother along with his letter referring to the battle. He was critically wounded a few weeks later.

 

Great post Tim thanks for sharing, and nice additions Lesley and Bexley.

Mike.

 

As Mike says, excellent post and extras from all three.

 

The area was also the scene of the famous 1940 counterattack by the 50th (Northumbrian) Division and 1st Army Tank Brigade, which gave the Germans a bit of a shock and the BEF some vital time when it was needed most.

 

I have visited Vimy Ridge on a number of occasions and always think it is both a spectacular monument and an amazing story.
Well worth a walk down to the Cemeteries as well as going through the tunnel........and don't forget the Unexploded Mine under the Car Park!!

I have seen the picture of Hitler there before but I don't know if it was a propaganda exercise or not. - He visited a number of WW1 sites including Langemark and the Menin Gate.
My personal opinion is that his days as the Austrian Corporal during WW1 (He was in a Bunker which remains at Fromelles) left an indelible memory of the First World War Horror which stayed with him.