The Battle of Vimy Ridge - Part 1: Setting the Stage

199722 min 53 secFilm: Documentary

Direction: John Bradshaw

Production: Don HaigRichard NielsenDeanne JudsonDoug Steeden

Script: Richard NielsenJames Wallen

Co-produced by Norflicks Productions Limited and the NFB, in association with Western International Communications Ltd. through Calgary Television, and with the assistance of the No Price Too High Foundation.

The first part of The Battle of Vimy Ridge series traces the nation's wartime experience from the 1914 outbreak of World War I, through the grim reality of the Somme, to Canada's being assigned the daunting mission of capturing Vimy Ridge. While Canadians were initially eager to do their part to win the war, three years of fruitless combat had resulted in a staggering number of casualties for a country as small as Canada. Vimy Ridge in the north of France was one of the German's strongest positions, and its capture was vital to the Allies' campaign. As the Canadian troops moved into the trenches facing Vimy, the Germans greeted them with mocking sign that read: "Welcome Canadians". Both sides knew another bloody assault was about to begin. Part 1 of the four-volume The Battle of Vimy Ridge series.

Availability


Subject categories


  • Foreign Countries > FranceHistorical Perspectives
  • War, Conflict and Peace > Memoirs and MemorialsWorld War I
  • History - Canada - 1867-1919 > World War I
  • History and Citizenship Education > Canadian Federation (1850-1929)
  • History > World War I

Credits


director
John Bradshaw
producer
Don Haig
Richard Nielsen
Deanne Judson
executive producer
Don Haig
Doug Steeden
Richard Nielsen
script
Richard Nielsen
James Wallen
camera
Adam Swica
editing
Marta Nielsen-Hastings
Gina Binetti
sound editing
Alison Clark
Elma Bello
re-recording
Dino Pigat
Lou Solakofski
narrator
Paul Gross
music
Aaron Davis
John Lang