Battle of Passchendaele (1917)

By- Simran and Anntonette

What? The battle was attempt to push the Germans out of southern Belgium. The battle

symbolizes of the First World War. Arthur Currie (commander-in-chief) who was promoted for a strong performance at Vimy Ridge argued forcefully against engaging of this battle. Years of shelling, combined with rains, had a created a wet, muddy, uneven quagmire of a battlefield. He also believed the British officials in charge were disorganized and incompetent. His troops would have little preparation time so, he feared heavy losses.

Currie's protests were dismissed. On October 26, the Canadians and two British divisions were ordered to begin their advance. By October 30, they reached the outskirts of Passchendaele in a violent rainstorm.

Often waist-deep in mud, the allies held on, even as they were shelled by the Germans. On the November 7, the 27th (City of Winnipeg) Battalion captured the village.

There were 4000 deaths and over 12000 wounded. Many had drowned in the mud. The total number of allies killed or wounded was about 250 000. the German number was similar. Passchendaele was hell on earth.

Picture (primary source 1)

This plan is from the war diary of a Canadian engineer unit. The plan shows a plank road. The soldiers were trying to make it because it was hard for them to walk over the muddy holes which were formed by shelling and rainstorms. The soldiers were drowning in the mud. Making of this plan tells us how hard it would have been for the soldiers to stay their without any shelter because the soldiers would often have tents to live in but these soldiers had to use muddy shell holes as their shelter.

After looking at this source, I have a feeling that the battlefield was like a “funeral home” and there were countless dead bodies of the soldiers, because they were drowned in the mud.

Letter (primary source 2)

This letter is written by Will O'Brien in 1917. He was enlisted in 1915 when he was 16 years old. He wrote this love letter to his girlfriend Rose Nash. He was dating Rose for an year before he was enlisted. He wrote that he dreamt that he was with her but woke up to the sound of guns. He also revealed horror of life at the front.

After reading this letter I think this battle was hell on earth because sending younger people into the battle was not a good idea because if they were older then it would been easier for them to concentrate in the battle rather than missing their loved ones back home.

Interview Video (Primary source 3)

107 year old veteran talks about a attack on his friend, when they were in the battle. He says he was sitting on the bank with his friend and someone from the opposite army sniper shot his friend at the daytime. He says, he was lucky because he was no more than 2 feet apart and that soldier picked his friend. He also said, “ you never know when you are going to get hit by a bullet because bullets would come from anywhere. This tells us how hard it was for the soldiers to stay safe because since they didn’t had a good shelter to stay in, they would always have to stay alert. They would always be worried.

After looking at this source I think going in this battlefield was same as committing suicide because like that veteran said you never know when you are going go get hit by a bullet, they were coming from everywhere.

Historical significance The battle of Passchendaele is remembered for its horrifying vicious

conditions, heavy casualties and Canadian valour bravery. Nine members of the Canadians who fought in Passchendaele received Victoria crosses and awards for their bravery.

On November 7, the 27th (City of Winnipeg) Battalion captured the Village. Since Winnipeg is in Manitoba, we should all be proud of those soldiers

The Canadians became known as the Storm Troopers.

Canada’s success played an important role in ending the First World War, but it came at a high price-12,000 Canadian soldiers were wounded and more than 4,000 died. Because of Canada's significant achievements and sacrifices, Passchendaele occupies an important place in Canadian military history.

Cause and Consequences 1. Cause: The British/Canadian Soldiers did not listen to Commander-in-chief

Currie rules that the soldiers were disorganized and shouldn’t go into the muddy battlefield.

1. Consequences: Hundred of Soldiers ended up drowning in the mud, and it was hard fighting. Thousands and Thousands of Soldiers died.

2. Cause: Even though Currie’s protest were dismissed, the troop was sent into the battlefield to fight.

2. consequences: Canadian soldiers were successful in capturing the village.

3. Cause: Sir Douglas Haig commanded the British expeditionary force (BEF), sent the British Soldiers into Battle disorganized, throwing the British Soldiers towards the German's gunfire after gunfire, Haig thought that it would scare the Germans.

3. Consequence: Haig's Plan led to failure and caused Massive Causalities Losses 275,000 (British.) But they won the battle of Passchendaele. Haig was Accused/Criticized by David Lloyd George (British Politician) and others for poor judgments for the British Soldiers, they could have been a less death toll for them.

Bibliography

Connor, Linda, Brian Hull, and Connie Wyatt-Anderson. "Becoming a Sovereign Nation." Shaping Canada. 1st ed. Vol. 1. Whitby, Ontario: McGraw-Hill Ryerson, 2011. 298. Print.

Christie, N.M. The Canadians at Passchendaele. 2nd ed. Vol. 4. Ottawa, Ontario: CEF, 1996. 1-81. Print.

Berthiaume, Guy. "The Battle of Passchendaele: Resources at Library and Archives Canada." Library and Archives Canada. Shelly Glover, 15 July 2013. Web. 1 Jan. 2004. <http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/first-world-war/passchendaele/Pages/introduction.aspx>.