In a new departure in the Battleground Europe series, this book is a
guide to both sides of a major battle - in this case to the Canadian
Corps operations against 1st Bavarian Reserve Corps at Vimy from 9 - 12
April 1917, which formed part of the opening of the British offensive,
known as the Battle of Arras.
Historically, the capture of Vimy Ridge was an event far more
significant than its undoubted military importance alone. Here for the
first time all four divisions of the Canadian Corps were deployed in
line together in one offensive; and although the Corps went to fight
even greater battles, Vimy marked a key point in the emergence of Canada
as a fully sovereign nation.
Although the Canadian side of the story has been well chronicled by a
number of writers, until now there has been little concerning the
defense during this great battle. Now, the accounts of the German
soldiers and their commanders are combined with those of the Canadians
and British deployed on the other side of No Man's Land - and not simply
those who fought above ground, but tunnelers also.