The position of the front line at nightfall on April 23 was little different from that of the morning. The second Battle of Ypres was in fact a series of four engagements. Second Ypres is generally remembered for the first use of gas on the Western Front. However, no German troops were ready to pass through. When he volunteered at age 41 for service in the First World War, McCrae wrote to a friend that “I am really rather afraid, but more afraid to stay at home with my conscience.” In April 1915, McCrae and a young friend, Alexis Helmer,…, …a 6-km (4-mile) front at Ypres, Belgium, on April 22, 1915, creating a wind-borne chemical cloud that opened a major breach in the lines of the unprepared French and Algerian units. The Second Battle of Ypres was a battle of the First World War. The reinforcements arrived at the front line about 1:00 am. The Second Battle of Ypres was a battle of the First World War. The gas attack on the first day of the battle became one of the conflict's great missed opportunities. As the gas was denser than air it quickly filled low-lying areas, such as trenches, forcing the surviving French defenders into the open where they were susceptible to German fire. The Second Battle Ypres was fought April 22 to May 25, 1915, during World War I (1914-1918) and saw the Germans conduct a limited offensive around the strategic town of Ypres in Flanders. However, the Canadian left, now strengthened by the Canadian 1st Battalion, had stabilized. Simultaneously, a second advance moved down the open slopes of Hill Top Ridge toward the German trenches on Pilckem Ridge. ThoughtCo. Second Battle of Ypres Background. The Second Battle of Ypres comprised the only major attack launched by the German forces on the Western Front in 1915, Eric von Falkenhayn preferring to concentrate German efforts against the Russians on the Eastern Front. He has appeared on The History Channel as a featured expert. The battle marked the Germans’ first use of poison gas as a weapon. By using ThoughtCo, you accept our. Over subsequent weeks, the Germans proved unable to replicate the success of their initial gas attack, and casualties continued to mount on both sides. Flares soared upward, rifle fire flickered from the parapet, and the two battalions charged. He painted this enormous work of art, with the canvas 371.5 by 589.0 centimetres, in his London studio. The leftmost Canadian units pushed on for an additional 700 yards (0.6 km), where they found about 200 French soldiers with a machine gun who were occupying elements of a trench and in contact with the enemy. Translations in context of "second battle of Ypres" in English-German from Reverso Context: The McGregor River was named for the Provincial Land Surveyor Captain James Herrick McGregor, who fought and died in 1915 at the Second Battle of Ypres, in Belgian Flanders. The introduction of poison gas, however, would have great significance in World War I. Initially planned by the Germans as a local tactical battle to straighten their lines near Ypres, their use of gas on the battlefield in the west for the first time impacted the battles for the rest of the war. War artist Richard Jack portrays the Canadian stand during the Second Battle of Ypres, which he did not witness. As the two sides sought an advantage, they clashed in Picardy, Albert, and Artois. It is estimated that about 135,000 Germans were killed or badly wounded during this offensive. It was the first of almost a thousand works, by over one hundred artists, commissioned by the Canadian War Memorials Fund (CWMF), an … The Second Battle of Ypres, as it is known in British military history, encompassed four battles in the northern sector of the Ypres Salient. Most of these deaths were associated with the Second Battle of Ypres (22 nd April to 25 th May) and 90 of the deaths were from the 1 st /5 th Battalion of the King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment. This was a great legacy for the Canadian forces. This plan was rejected by the Commander-in-Chief of the British Expeditionary Force, Field Marshal Sir John French, who elected to sack Smith-Dorrien and replace him with the commander of V Corps, General Herbert Plumer. From April 22 to 25, 1915, the 1st Canadian Division fought with great determination and courage to hold back a German offensive in the salient. Finally reaching the coast, the Western Front became a continuous line stretching to the Swiss frontier. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/second-battle-of-ypres-2361411. Second Battle of Ypres - Famous Battles in History 1. The Second Battle of Ypres, as it is known in British military history, encompassed four battles in the northern sector of the Ypres Salient. https://www.thoughtco.com/second-battle-of-ypres-2361411 (accessed April 13, 2021). The first of these began on 22ndApril 1915 as a surprise attack by the German 4th Army on the French sector of the Allied Front Line. In a brutal battle, they succeeded in reclaiming the area from the Germans but sustained high casualties in the process. The Second Battle of Ypres April 22nd-May 25th, 1915. Kennedy Hickman is a historian, museum director, and curator who specializes in military and naval history. Antonyms for 2nd Battle of Ypres. This latter attack had been ordered by French Gen. Ferdinand Foch at about 8:00 pm on April 22 to regain the ground lost to the gas attack. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/event/Second-Battle-of-Ypres, The Canadian Encyclopedia - Canada and the Second Battle of Ypres, Government of Canada - The Second Battle of Ypres (22 April-25 May 1915). By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. World War I’s Second Battle of Ypres: Salient of Death. The OH coverage of Second Ypres is detailed - but it's also fairly 'dry' in places. Opening with a heavy artillery bombardment, the Germans moved against the British 27th and 28th Divisions southeast of Ypres on Frezenberg Ridge. This was done by opening the gas cylinders by hand and relying on the prevailing winds to carry the gas towards the enemy. The Second Battle of Ypres occurred between April 22 to May 25, 1915. As the withdrawal began on May 1, the Germans again attacked with gas near Hill 60. However, by early October, 1914, the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) was able to recapture the town. Aftermath. Noté /5. The Canadians held the old front line and the flank along the St. Julien–Poelcappelle road in the hope that a counterattack would restore the shattered left. On 22 April 1915, at the Second Battle of Ypres, the Germans (violating the Hague Convention) used chlorine gas for the first time on the Western Front. Synonyms for 2nd Battle of Ypres in Free Thesaurus. Military conflicts similar to or like Second Battle of Ypres Fought from 22 April – 25 May 1915 for control of the strategic Flemish town of Ypres in western Belgium. The Second Battle of Ypres: The History of the Notorious World War I Battle That Witnessed the First Mass Use of Poison Gas: Charles River Editors, Jim D Johnston, Charles River Editors: Amazon.fr: Livres The Battle of the Lys, also known as the Fourth Battle of Ypres, was fought from 7 to 29 April 1918 and was part of the German Spring Offensive in Flanders during the First World War. In preparation for the assault, German troops moved 5,730 90 lb. Intended as a limited offensive, he sought to divert Allied attention from troop movements east, secure a more commanding position in Flanders, as well as to test a new weapon, poison gas. It was the first time that Germany successfully used chemical weapons on a large scale on the Western Front. Translations in context of "second battle of Ypres" in English-German from Reverso Context: The McGregor River was named for the Provincial Land Surveyor Captain James Herrick McGregor, who fought and died in 1915 at the Second Battle of Ypres, in Belgian Flanders. From April 22 to 25, 1915, the 1st Canadian Division fought with great determination and courage to hold back a German offensive in the salient. ThoughtCo, Feb. 16, 2021, thoughtco.com/second-battle-of-ypres-2361411. Categories: Military History. What are synonyms for 2nd Battle of Ypres? "World War I: Second Battle of Ypres." Several types of gas soon became widely used by both sides, and though it never proved a decisive, battle-winning weapon, poison gas became one of the most-feared and best-remembered horrors of the war. Second Battle of Ypres. By nightfall the XXIII Corps had crossed the Yser canal and the XXVI had advanced some 2 miles (3 km), capturing the high ground at Pilckem (later called Mauser) Ridge and approaching the town of St. Julien (now St. Juliaan), some 2.5 miles (4 km) northeast of Ypres. The 2nd battle of Ypres was made up of the only major attack launched on the western front by the Germans during 1915. The Second Battle of Ypres occurred between April 22 to May 25, 1915. Carl Gnam. The Second Battle of Ypres April 22nd-May 25th, 1915 The 2nd battle of Ypres was made up of the only major attack launched on the western front by the Germans during 1915. In October, the Germans attempted to breakthrough at the town of Ypres in Flanders. Updates? Though many neutral nations agreed with this assessment, it did not stop the Allies from developing their own gas weapons which debuted at Loos that September. The Second Battle of Ypres, 22 April to 25 May 1915 War artist Richard Jack portrays the Canadian stand during the Second Battle of Ypres, which he did not witness. Several types of gas soon became widely used by both sides, and though it never proved a decisive, battle-winning weapon, poison gas became one of the most-feared and best-remembered horrors of the war. Please select which sections you would like to print: While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Hedges and ditches made it difficult to keep order in the darkness, but the Canadians pressed on. The Second Battle Ypres was fought April 22 to May 25, 1915, during World War I (1914-1918) and saw the Germans conduct a limited offensive around the strategic town of Ypres in Flanders. During the Race to the Sea. During the course of the battle, the Germans debuted the use of poison gas on the Western Front. The Second Battle of Ypres: The History of the Notorious World War I Battle That Witnessed the First Mass Use of Poison Gas: Charles River Editors, Jim D Johnston, Charles River Editors: Amazon.fr: Livres If the French could not recover the ground on the left, an extensive withdrawal would be necessary, and converging German attacks might break down the apex before the withdrawal could be completed. The Second Battle of Ypres was Canada’s first major engagement in the First World War set in Flanders in the Ypres Salient – a section of the front line surrounding the town of Ypres, Belgium. The first of these began on 22ndApril 1915 as a surprise attack by the German 4th Army on the French sector of the Allied Front Line. The battle marked the Germans’ first use of poison gas as a weapon. At daybreak on April 23 the Allies began the arduous process of establishing a continuous line along the Canadian flank to join the French on the Yser canal. Despite the incessant German shelling that had been hammering away at the French lines to their … Despite being outnumbered and outflanked, the 1st Canadian Division held off the advancing German lines long enough for the British and French reinforcements to arrive and ultimately win the battle as a whole. The Battle of Hooge 30 and 31 July 1915 -(First use of German Liquid Fire Attack-Flamethrowers) 6. On April 19 French pilot Roland Garros was forced to land behind the German lines east of Ypres; he and his plane were captured, and the Germans recovered Garros’s revolutionary machine-gun–synchronizing device. (2021, February 16). Indigenous First … Historical Significance and legacy. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Having endured earlier gas attacks, the British had developed new tactics such as shelling behind the cloud to strike at the advancing German infantry. Though Germany had elected to follow an "east-first" approach, Falkenhayn started planning for an operation against Ypres to begin in April. Pronunciation of second battle of Ypres with 1 audio pronunciation, 3 synonyms, 10 translations and more for second battle of Ypres. "World War I: Second Battle of Ypres." It marked the first time that Germany used poison gas on a large scale on the Western Front. The First Battle of Ypres had been fought the previous autumn. This attack witnessed the first use of a new German weapon on the Western For a Moment Bright Enlisting in 1914, he fought overseas for virtually all of the First World War, seeing action at the Second Battle of Ypres, the Somme (where he was wounded), and Passchendaele. The offensive was to begin on the night of April 15–16 or with the next favourable wind thereafter. It was clear that the line on the left had broken, but the extent of the disaster was not realized at first. Conditions to the left of the Canadian front were precarious from the first, but some 200 Algerians, although gassed, took up a position near and parallel to the road between Ypres and the village of Poelcappelle (now Poelkapelle) to the northeast. This resulted in the First Battle of Ypres which saw the Allies hold a salient around Ypres after brutal fighting. IN early May 1915, the Second Battle of Ypres was raging. 2 synonyms for second battle of Ypres: battle of Ypres, Ypres. The Second Battle of Ypres ended on May 25, with insignificant gains for the Germans. The Second Battle of Ypres was the only major attack launched by the Germans on the Western Front in 1915. In two days of fighting, the British bloodied the Germans but were still forced to concede another 1,000 yards of territory. battle: Part of: Western Front of World War I: Location: Ypres, Arrondissement of Ypres, West Flanders, Flemish Region, Belgium : Point in time: 25 May 1915: Start time: 21 April 1915: End time: 25 May 1915: 50° 53′ 57.84″ N, 2° 56′ 26.16″ E Around 5:00 PM on April 22, 1915, troops from Albrecht, Duke of Württemberg's German 4th Army began releasing the gas towards the French troops at Gravenstafel. The situation of the defenders at the point of the new salient was becoming more serious by the hour. World War I: Second Battle of Ypres. Thus, the threat of combined Allied operations by sea and land along the Flemish coast would be dispelled and the stage set for a German thrust toward the Channel ports. The Battle of Saint Julien: Saturday 24 April – 4 May 1915. Background . Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Shortly after 3:00 am on April 23, conditions were further improved by the arrival of the bulk of the Canadian 7th Battalion, which moved westward to dig a north-south line some 700 yards (0.6 km) long. It was fought for control of the town of Ypres in western Belgium. Despite being outnumbered and outflanked, the 1st Canadian Division held off the advancing German lines long enough for the British and French reinforcements to arrive and ultimately win the battle as a whole. Synonyms for 2nd Battle of Ypres in Free Thesaurus. Beginning before dawn on May 24, the German assault sought to capture Bellewaarde Ridge. Hickman, Kennedy. 3. Corrections? Achetez neuf ou d'occasion Ypres, a medieval town in Belgium, was taken by the German Army at the beginning of the war. Formations in the salient were cautioned to expect an attack, but the intended use of gas was not communicated to the troops. Edited 30 April , 2020 by Old Forge That same day, German heavy guns, including a 17-inch howitzer, began the preparatory bombardment of Ypres, and an increase of tear gas dispersion in the forward area was an ominous sign of the coming battle. The promised French attack did not materialize, however, and the survivors of the Middlesex Regiment, too few to hold their advanced position, were forced to fall back. It was during this time that Canadian officer John McCrae penned the first lines of the poem “In Flanders Fields” as a tribute to a friend who had been killed in the fighting. Late that morning Smith-Dorrien ordered the British 13th Brigade and other British units in the area to counterattack northward along the east side of the canal toward Pilckem. The effect of the gas on the French was greater than the German infantry had anticipated. The First Battle of Bellewaarde: 24–25 May 1915 5. Chief of the General Staff Erich von Falkenhayn. Though tear gas had been used against the Russians in January at Bolimov, the Second Battle of Ypres would mark the debut of lethal chlorine gas. It is... 2. In early April 1915 the Allied forces on the Ypres front comprised (from south to north) elements of the two corps of the British Second Army—which included the 1st Canadian Division—commanded by Gen. Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien, the French 45th (Algerian) and 87th Territorial divisions under Gen. Henri Putz, and the Belgian 6th Division under Maj. Gen. Armand de Ceuninck. Illustration for John McCrae's “In Flanders Fields” from a limited-edition book (1921) containing the poem. It happened in the spring of 1915. The 2nd Battle of Ypres (April 22 – May 15, 1915). The Second Battle of Ypres was the first mass use by Germany of poison gas on the Western Front. The Allies were not prepared for such an attack, hence the high casualty numbers. The Second Battle of Ypres was the first time Germany used poison gas on a large scale on the Western Front in the First World War and the first time a former colonial force pushed back a major European power (Germans) on European soil, which occurred in the battle of St. Julien-Kitcheners' Wood.. Second Battle of Ypres in Southern Victory [edit | edit source] In addition, they had secured much of the high ground in the area. It happened in the spring of 1915. The introduction of poison gas, however, would have great significance in World War I. Opposite the French, the Germans had added slightly to the ground they had captured west of the canal, in spite of the efforts of the French 87th Territorial Division reserves and fresh troops transferred from Nieuport (now Niewpoort) to stop them. The Germans were not prepared to exploit the opening, which gave the French and Algerians time to rush reinforcements…. Although the gas attack opened a wide hole in the Allied line, … On 22 April 1915, at the Second Battle of Ypres, the Germans (violating the Hague Convention) used chlorine gas for the first time on the Western Front. IN early May 1915, the Second Battle of Ypres was raging. Sweeping over the trench, the Canadians pressed on through the wood, recovering the four guns of the 2nd London Heavy Battery, but, instead of advancing northwestward toward the east side of Pilckem as planned, they lost direction and emerged to dig in along a hedge northeast of the wood.