An Emerging Nation

‘Firstly, after the creation of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, significant military feats and achievements followed. The Canadian Corps were originally authorized by British commander, General Douglas Haid, however prior to the 1917 Battle of Vimy Ridge, Canadian-born, Major-General Arthur Currie was promoted to this position. For the first time, Canada’s combat divisions were amassed into one group under Canadian leadership.  Thus this achievement depicted Canada’s first step in gaining independence from British command, having a Canadian man lead a Canadian force into combat. Moreover, Canada’s military feats were initially characterized by the successful capture of Vimy Ridge in the 1917 Battle of Vimy Ridge. During this battle, the Canadians were able to take leadership in planning and capturing the ridge even after the imperial powers of France and Britain failed to do so.  After the victory, Brigadier-General A.E. Ross said, “In those few minutes, I witnessed the birth of a nation.”  Subsequently, this battle shed a new light on the power of the Canadian military; a Force competent enough to fight independently, and prevail. Lastly, Canada’s Hundred Days depicted the final Canadian feats of the war. As the Germans advanced forward past enemy lines in Amiens, France, the Canadian Corps launched a surprise offensive on August 8th, 1917. Within three days, the Canadians advanced twenty kilometers in. According to German General, Erich Ludendorff, August 8th proved to be a “black day of the German Army.”  These advances continued to occur in the forthcoming days until Canadians Corps pushed through the German-held territory of Cambrai, France on November 10th, 1917; marking the fall of Germany.  In World War I, where success was measured in the meters of land captured, this feat was truly remarkable for Canadians.’