The Battle of The Battle of PasschendaelePasschendaele

31 July 1917 – 10 November 31 July 1917 – 10 November 1917 1917

This battle was fought for control of the city of Passchendaele. The This battle was fought for control of the city of Passchendaele. The city was located on a ridge that sat above the rest of the land, city was located on a ridge that sat above the rest of the land, offering whoever had control of the city a strategic advantage in the offering whoever had control of the city a strategic advantage in the war. The plan was to drive through the German forces and reach the war. The plan was to drive through the German forces and reach the Belgium coast where they would capture the submarine bases Belgium coast where they would capture the submarine bases located there. Also, by distracting the Germans there would be less located there. Also, by distracting the Germans there would be less pressure on the French, who were suffering from low morale.pressure on the French, who were suffering from low morale.

Where oh where~Where oh where~

Ypres, West Ypres, West Flanders, BelgiumFlanders, BelgiumMud soaked, hell Mud soaked, hell ridden, shell molested ridden, shell molested badlands!badlands!

WhenWhen

The battle of Passendale was apart of a campaign which is also known as the Third Battle of Ypres.

The campaign lasted from July 31The campaign lasted from July 31stst to November 10 to November 10thth, 1917, 1917

There had been previous battles revolving around the district of There had been previous battles revolving around the district of Ypres in both 1915 and 1916. Ypres in both 1915 and 1916.

The sides!The sides!

BritainBritain

FranceFrance

CanadaCanada

AustraliaAustralia

New ZealandNew Zealand

German EmpireGerman Empire

Entente Entente CommandersCommandersDouglas HaigDouglas Haig

Hubert GoughHubert Gough

Herbert PlumerHerbert Plumer

Arthur Currie Arthur Currie

Max von GallwitzMax von Gallwitz

Erich Ludendorff Erich Ludendorff

Alliance Alliance CommandersCommanders

Douglas Haig,Douglas Haig,1st Earl Haig1st Earl Haig

He was a He was a British soldier British soldier and senior commanderand senior commander during during World War IWorld War I. He . He was commander of the was commander of the British Expeditionary British Expeditionary ForceForce during the Battle of during the Battle of the Somme and the the Somme and the 3rd 3rd Battle of YpresBattle of Ypres. His . His tenure as commander of tenure as commander of the BEF made Haig one the BEF made Haig one of the of the most controversialmost controversial military commanders in military commanders in British history British history

Hubert GoughHubert GoughSir Hubert de la Poer GoughSir Hubert de la Poer Gough

Gough was a Gough was a cavalrycavalry officer who, as a officer who, as a favouritefavourite of the British of the British Commander-in-Chief, Commander-in-Chief, General General Sir Douglas Sir Douglas Haig,Haig, experienced a experienced a meteoric rise through meteoric rise through the ranks during the the ranks during the war. war.

Herbert Plumer, Herbert Plumer, 1st Viscount Plumer1st Viscount Plumer

Plumer was an Infantry officer Plumer was an Infantry officer and as a result it could be and as a result it could be argued that he understood argued that he understood somewhat better what could somewhat better what could reasonably be expected of his reasonably be expected of his troops bearing in mind the troops bearing in mind the terrain, the weather conditions terrain, the weather conditions and morale. Plumer, a and morale. Plumer, a meticulous planner, would meticulous planner, would often express the plans of the often express the plans of the his superiors as being too his superiors as being too ambitous and more often than ambitous and more often than not, as seen at the third battle not, as seen at the third battle of Ypres, Passchendaele he of Ypres, Passchendaele he would be proved to be right. would be proved to be right.

Arthur CurrieArthur CurrieGeneral Sir Arthur William CurrieGeneral Sir Arthur William Currie

He made sure all troops were able He made sure all troops were able to perform platoon responsibilities, to perform platoon responsibilities, briefing of the frontline troops, the briefing of the frontline troops, the use of use of counter-battery fire counter-battery fire measuresmeasures and constant patrolling and constant patrolling of the enemy defenses all of the enemy defenses all contributed to the effectiveness of contributed to the effectiveness of the Canadian Corps at the Canadian Corps at VimyVimy and and for the rest of the War.for the rest of the War.Currie and the Canadian Corps Currie and the Canadian Corps were successful again at were successful again at PasschendaelePasschendaele (the Third Battle of (the Third Battle of Ypres) in November, but at the Ypres) in November, but at the cost of cost of 16,00016,000 men. Currie had men. Currie had accurately predicted these high accurately predicted these high casualty figures when Haig casualty figures when Haig ordered his troops to attack.ordered his troops to attack.

Max von GallwitzMax von GallwitzMax Karl Wilhelm von GallwitzMax Karl Wilhelm von Gallwitz

GallwitzGallwitz began the war as began the war as a corps commander on a corps commander on the Western Front, but the Western Front, but was almost immediately was almost immediately transferred east to join transferred east to join the the Eighth ArmyEighth Army under under Hindenburg. In 1915 he Hindenburg. In 1915 he took command of Army took command of Army Group Gallwitz Group Gallwitz

Erich LudendorffErich LudendorffGeneral Erich LudendorffGeneral Erich Ludendorff

In In World War IWorld War I Ludendorff was Ludendorff was first appointed Deputy chief of first appointed Deputy chief of staff to Germany's Second staff to Germany's Second Army, under Karl von Bülow, Army, under Karl von Bülow, as he was knowledgeable as he was knowledgeable about capturing the forts of about capturing the forts of Liege. This was a crucial part Liege. This was a crucial part of the of the Schlieffen PlanSchlieffen Plan. This . This task accomplished, Ludendorff task accomplished, Ludendorff was sent to East Prussia was sent to East Prussia where he worked with where he worked with Paul Paul von Hindenburgvon Hindenburg as his Chief of as his Chief of Staff. Hindenburg relied Staff. Hindenburg relied heavily upon Ludendorff and heavily upon Ludendorff and Hoffmann in crafting his Hoffmann in crafting his victories in the battles of victories in the battles of Tannenberg and the Masurian Tannenberg and the Masurian Lakes.Lakes.

WeaponryWeaponry

Mark IV TanksMark IV Tanks were used by the British, mainly in the were used by the British, mainly in the battle of battle of Messiness HillMessiness Hill – just prior and South of the battle – just prior and South of the battle of of PasschendaelePasschendaele (Third battle of (Third battle of YpresYpres))

SignificanceSignificance

The city of Passendale has strategic significance. You must pass The city of Passendale has strategic significance. You must pass through here in order to reach the coast. The ports located there through here in order to reach the coast. The ports located there are a key part shipping equipment and goods.are a key part shipping equipment and goods.

This battle was important to the Belgium people because it was the This battle was important to the Belgium people because it was the last city left free of German rule.last city left free of German rule.

FACTFACT

Upon arriving at Passendale with Canadian Troops, Canada’s Upon arriving at Passendale with Canadian Troops, Canada’s Commander-in-Chief General Sir Arthur Currie estimated that Commander-in-Chief General Sir Arthur Currie estimated that 16,000 would die in order to complete this task. 16,000 would die in order to complete this task.

Passendale is the current spelling for the city of Passchendaele, Passendale is the current spelling for the city of Passchendaele, and it’s old spelling is used specifically as a reference to the battle.and it’s old spelling is used specifically as a reference to the battle.

Weaponry Cont’.Weaponry Cont’.

StrategiesStrategies

““Bite and Hold” : where the attackers were Bite and Hold” : where the attackers were to gain a small portion of front, and hold it to gain a small portion of front, and hold it against counter-attacks.against counter-attacks.

1,295 guns were concentrated in the area 1,295 guns were concentrated in the area

Germans had artillery accurately aimed in Germans had artillery accurately aimed in No-Man’s Land.No-Man’s Land.

ConditionsConditions

Ground conditionsGround conditions during the whole during the whole Ypres-Passendale Ypres-Passendale action were atrocious. Continuous shelling destroyed action were atrocious. Continuous shelling destroyed drainage canals in the area, and unseasonable heavy drainage canals in the area, and unseasonable heavy rain turned the whole area into a sea of mud and water-rain turned the whole area into a sea of mud and water-filled shell-craters. The troops walked up to the front over filled shell-craters. The troops walked up to the front over paths made of paths made of duckboards laid across the mud,duckboards laid across the mud, often often carrying up to one hundred pounds (45 kg) of equipment. carrying up to one hundred pounds (45 kg) of equipment. It was possible for them to slip off the path into the It was possible for them to slip off the path into the craters and craters and drowndrown before they could be rescued. The before they could be rescued. The trees were reduced to blunted trunks, the branches and trees were reduced to blunted trunks, the branches and leaves torn away, and the leaves torn away, and the bodies of men buried after bodies of men buried after previous actions were often uncovered by the rain or previous actions were often uncovered by the rain or later shelling.later shelling.

CasualtiesCasualties

First battle of Passchendaele First battle of Passchendaele produced produced 13,00013,000 Allied Allied casualties; which stacked on casualties; which stacked on top of the top of the 100,000100,000 dead dead already.already.Germans lost about Germans lost about 270,000 270,000 men. British Empire forces lost men. British Empire forces lost about about 450,000450,000, including , including 36,50036,500 Australians and Australians and 16,000 16,000 Canadians - the latter of which Canadians - the latter of which were lost in the intense final were lost in the intense final assault between October 26 assault between October 26 and November 10; and November 10; 90,00090,000 British and Australian bodies British and Australian bodies were never identified, and were never identified, and 42,00042,000 never recovered. never recovered.

German

British

Australian

Candian

QuotationsQuotations "I died in Hell "I died in Hell (they called it (they called it

Passchendaele); my Passchendaele); my wound was slight wound was slight

and I was hobbling back; and I was hobbling back; and then a shell and then a shell

burst slick upon the burst slick upon the duckboards; so I fell duckboards; so I fell

into the bottomless mud, into the bottomless mud, and lost the light" and lost the light"

— — Siegfried SassoonSiegfried Sassoon

The man beside him, who The man beside him, who had been through the had been through the campaign, replied tonelessly, campaign, replied tonelessly, 'It's worse further on up.'" 'It's worse further on up.'" — — Leon Wolff, Leon Wolff, In Flanders In Flanders FieldsFields

"Passchendaele was just a "Passchendaele was just a terrible, terrible place. We terrible, terrible place. We used to walk along these used to walk along these wooden duckboards - wooden duckboards - something like ladders laid on something like ladders laid on the ground. The Germans the ground. The Germans would concentrate on these would concentrate on these things. If a man was hit and things. If a man was hit and wounded and fell off he could wounded and fell off he could easily drown in the mud and easily drown in the mud and never be seen again. You just never be seen again. You just did not want go off the did not want go off the duckboards." — Private duckboards." — Private Richard W. Mercer (911016) Richard W. Mercer (911016)

Iron Maiden: PaschendaleIron Maiden: PaschendaleIn a foreign field he laylonely soldier unknown graveon his dying words he praystell the WORLD of Paschendale

Relive all that he's been throughlast communion of his soulrust your bullets with his tearslet me tell you 'bout his years

Laying low in a blood filled trenchkilling time 'til my very own deathon my face I can feel the falling rainnever see my friends againin the smoke, in the mud and leadsmell of fear and feeling of dreadsoon be time to go over the wallrapid fire and the end of us all

Whistles, shouts and more gun firelifeless bodies hang on barbed wirebattlefield nothing but a bloody tombbe reunited with my dead friends soonmany soldiers eighteen yearsdrown in mud, no more tearssurely a war no one can win killing time about to begin

Home, far away. From the war, a chance to live againHome, far away. But the war, no chance to live again

The bodies of ours and our foesthe sea of death it overflowsin no man's land God only knowsinto jaws of death we go...

Crucified as if on a crossallied troops, they mourn their lossGerman war propaganda machinesuch before has never been seenswear I heard the angels crypray to God no more may dieso that people know the truthtell the tale of Paschendale

Cruelty has a human hearteveryman does play his partterror of the men we killthe human heart is hungry still

I stand my ground for the very last timegun is ready as I stand in linenervous wait for the whistle to blowrush of blood and over we go...

Blood is falling like the rainits crimson cloak unveils againthe sound of guns can't hide their shameand so we die in Paschendale

Dodging shrapnel and barbed wirerunning straight at cannon firerunning blind as I hold my breathsay a prayer symphony of deathas we charge the enemy linesa burst of fire and we go downI choke a cry but no one hearsfeel the blood go down my throat

Home, far away. From the war, a chance to live againHome, far away. But the war, no chance to live againHome, far away. From the war, a chance to live againHome, far away. But the war, no chance to live again

See my spirit on the windacross the lines beyond the hillfriend and foe will meet againthose who died at Paschendale