Before & After
After years of fighting in the region and after the final assault on April 9, 1917, the area surrounding Vimy Ridge was no more than a muddy field littered with bodies and shell holes. There was no vegetation except for a few dead trees. The countryside and the soldiers were not the only ones who suffered; surrounding towns, villages and farms were also hit hard. Many had to start from scratch.
Details
The village of Vimy before the war...(Vimy's main street before the war. Musée du Royal 22e Régiment /Library and Archives Canada.)
Details
. . . and here it is after the war. Located on the German side of the front line, Vimy was subject, among other things, to three weeks of relentless artillery fire before the Canadians finally captured it. (Vimy's main street after the battle. Musée du Royal 22e Régiment /Library and Archives Canada.)
Details
Although the next series of pictures is not directly linked to the Battle of Vimy Ridge, it shows the extent of the incredible devastation inflicted on the area over the course of the four years of fighting. (Hurtebise farm in 1914. Archipel/BDIC.)
Details
(Hurtebise farm in 1915. Archipel/BDIC.)
Details
(Hurtebise farm in 1916. Archipel/BDIC.)
Details
About one week after the Canadian assault on Vimy Ridge, on April 16, 1917, the 2nd French Colonial Corps tried to dislodge the Germans from the farm during the Battle of Chemin des Dames. This is what was left of it. (Hurtebise farm in 1917. Archipel/BDIC.)
- Date modified: