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Why was Hill 70 important?
The capture of Hill 70 in France was an important Canadian victory during the First World War, and the first major action fought by the Canadian Corps under a Canadian commander. The battle, in August 1917, gave the Allied forces a crucial strategic position overlooking the occupied city of Lens.
Where was Hill 70?
LensBattle of Hill 70 / LocationLens is a city in the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France. It is one of the main towns of Hauts-de-France along with Lille, Valenciennes, Amiens, Roubaix, Tourcoing, Arras and Douai. The inhabitants are called Lensois. Wikipedia
What happened in the battle of Vimy Ridge 1917?
The four-day battle was over, and Vimy Ridge was finally in Allied hands — a stunning, but costly victory. The fighting left 3,598 Canadians dead and another 7,000 wounded. There were an estimated 20,000 casualties on the German side. Another 4,000 Germans were taken prisoner.
Who won the battle of Vimy Ridge 1917?
The Canadians
The Canadians held Vimy Ridge. This victory came at a high cost as 3,598 Canadians lost their lives, and 7,000 were wounded during the four-day battle. April 9, 1917 is still the bloodiest day in Canadian military history.
How many Canadians died at Hill 70?
9,000 soldiers
A Canadian Victory The Canadians lost more than 9,000 soldiers at Hill 70, but killed or wounded an estimated 25,000 Germans. Currie proved an able and innovative commander. His Canadian Corps would soon move north to help Haig and his faltering Passchendaele campaign.
How many Canadians fought at Hill 70?
The fighting at Hill 70 and Lens was no exception and the 100,000-strong Canadian Corps suffered some 9,200 casualties between August 15 and 25, 1917. The Germans were hit even harder, with as many as 25,000 of their soldiers being killed, wounded or taken prisoner during this period.
How long did Hill 70 last?
The Battle of Hill 70 took place in the First World War between the Canadian Corps and four divisions of the German 6th Army. The battle took place along the Western Front on the outskirts of Lens in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France between 15 and 25 August 1917.
Why was Vimy Ridge so important to Canada?
Vimy Ridge was a particularly important tactical feature. Its capture by the Canadians was essential to the advances by the British Third Army to the south and of exceptional importance to checking the German attacks in the area in 1918.
How many Canadians fought in the Battle of Hill 70?
The First World War was a particularly bloody conflict and even relatively successful battles took a devastating toll. The fighting at Hill 70 and Lens was no exception and the 100,000-strong Canadian Corps suffered some 9,200 casualties between August 15 and 25, 1917.
How many Canadian soldiers died in the Battle of Hill 70?
A Canadian Victory The Canadians lost more than 9,000 soldiers at Hill 70, but killed or wounded an estimated 25,000 Germans. Currie proved an able and innovative commander. His Canadian Corps would soon move north to help Haig and his faltering Passchendaele campaign.
How many Canadians fought in Hill 70?
What happened to the Canadian Army in 1917?
Canadian troops also earned a reputation as formidable, effective troops because of the stunning success. But it was a victory at a terrible cost, with more than 10,000 killed and wounded. The Canadian Corps was ordered to seize Vimy Ridge in April 1917.
Who received the Victoria Cross for bravery of Hill 70 in 1917?
Harry Brown, VC During the First World War he served with the 10th Infantry Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force. Private Brown was awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously for most conspicuous bravery, courage and devotion to duty during the attack on Hill 70, on 16 August, 1917.
What was the Battle of Hill 70 in 1917?
The Battle of Hill 70, 1917. The Canadian Corps captured Hill 70, near Lens, France, during the First World War.
Who captured Hill 70 in WW1?
The Canadian Corps captured Hill 70, near Lens, France, during the First World War. This and further attacks on Lens achieved the desired results, even though much of the town was still in German hands.
What happened on 30 April 1917 at the Battle of lens?
On 30 April, as the French hesitated to continue the Second Battle of the Aisne (16 April – 9 May 1917), the commander of the British Expeditionary Force, Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, gave orders to the First Army (General Henry Horne ), to advance towards Lens to gain a line from Méricourt to Sallaumines Hill, Lens and Hill 70.
What is Hill 70 and why is it important?
The fighting at Hill 70, overshadowed by the more famous Canadian battles at Vimy Ridge in April, 1917 and at Passchendaele in the fall of that year, is not as well known to many Canadians. However, some historians argue that Hill 70 was one of Canada’s most significant contributions of the First World War, more important even than Vimy Ridge.