Dhruv Mehta

Social Studies 10 – Block A

05/05/2023

WW1 Battle Profile

The Second Battle of Ypres:

The Battle of Ypres surfaced a

notion of immense contribution
from colonies. It was significant
for Canada’s distinction from
Britain, as many Canadians
achieved high accolades after
fighting in the battle. The
participants of the Second Battle of
Ypres included Britain, France,
and Belgium, who fought against
the German Empire. Britain was
assisted by soldiers from its colonies in Canada and India, whereas much of the French side consisted of
Algerian and Moroccan soldiers. The battle was fought between April 22 and May 25 of 1915 and contributed
to the war effort in various methods.

On a clear day bombarded by sunlight, Allied forces and German soldiers prepared for a subtle conflict, which
would help either side advance their armies into more advantageous positions. The first day of battle brought
with it an excessive amount of German shelling through periodic, harsh attacks on British and French forces. To
complement the constant firing, Germans unleashed bombs on the city of Ypres, destroying many of the city’s
prized possessions. However, the true dagger of the battle arrived at 5:00 pm on April 22, 1915, when two
mysterious clouds of gas began floating towards the armies of the Entente. Unaware that these clouds were
simmering with the atrocities of chlorine gas, the Allies continued their fighting. In seconds, men began falling
on the ground, coughing and writhing in pain on the damp ground of the battlefield. These waves of gas would
continue for the entirety of the battle, but the first time was the most significant. On the following day, a
constant struggle to gain control of the Ypres salient pulsed through the minds of both sides, and heavy firing
occurred throughout the day, with the Allied forces closing off any gaps in their defense. April 25th was the day
of the second gas attack unleashed by Germany, however, as mentioned previously, it had lost much of its
strategical value. Throughout the month of May, the battle continued in regular fashion, with occasional
German gas attacks, and constant firing to secure the Ypres salient.

The Entente was subject to an immense amount of casualties due to the Battle of Ypres. This was
primarily due to the German usage of chlorine gas during the first days of the battle. An unprepared allied side
could do nothing else but wait for the gas to clear; in total, around 80,000 allied soldiers were reported missing
or dead at the end of the fatal battle. However, to worsen the wounds of the feeling of human loss, the Allied
forces were forced to retreat back into the town of Ypres by the end of May, as the Germans’ persistent use of
poisonous gas forced the Allies away from their enemy. Furthermore, the Allies lost invaluable high ground,
which had previously allowed them to conduct surveys on the position of the opposing forces. To add, the
Entente was unable to gain full control of the Ypres salient which was precious due to its ability to provide
higher lookouts and space to harbor additional troops. The Central Powers, Germany in this case, suffered less
damage, both internally and externally as a result of the Battle of Ypres. They lost around 35,000 men to the
attacks of the Allied forces and did not have to endure the impacts of chemical warfare. As a result, the German
troops remained relatively intact during the entirety of the conflict. To add fuel to a blazing fire, the Germans
were also able to push the Allies back with their relentless gas attacks, which allowed them to successfully
attain the Ypres salient, proving them with a sizeable advantage in the following battles.

The Battle of Ypres played an immense role in advancing war technologies at the time of the first World
War. It has been timelessly remembered as the conflict in which chlorine gas was first used, which, in turn,
helped to create new technologies, such as gas masks, to protect soldiers. The advancements in equipment and
weapons were a necessity for increasing the intensity of warfare during future battles. Furthermore, the Battle of
Ypres was also significant for Canadian forces, as it was their first time fighting in a major conflict within the
first World War. Due to their diligence and bravery, the Canadian troops were able to fight against the Germans
and maintain their position while other reinforcements from the British and French armies could be transported
to Ypres. As a result, the Canadians gained an immense amount of respect in the eyes of the British, who began
to see Canada as a valiant country who was more than just a colony. Thus, the Battle of Ypres led to Canada’s
prominence in future battles within World War 1. In conjunction, the most famous Canadian war poem, “In
Flanders Fields,” by John McCrae was written as a result of the Battle of Ypres. He was devastated by the
atrocities of the war and drafted the poem to commemorate the fallen soldiers during the battle. Consequently,
the Battle of Ypres was not only significant for the usage of several innovative technological items, but also for
the expansion of sentiment within other countries through war poems like John McCrae’s.

The Battle of Ypres marked the first usage of poisonous gas as a weapon in conflict. This began the era
of chemical warfare, which would provoke a myriad of gruesome deaths and casualties across all nations
involved in the war. Created by German chemist Fritz Haber, chlorine gas was unleashed upon the Allied forces
by the German forces, and immediately wreaked havoc. Many soldiers who survived the war claimed that men
suffering the effects of chlorine gas appeared as if they were drowning on land. Its first usage in the Battle of
Ypres claimed the lives of around 1100 soldiers, and ultimately provided a colossal advantage to the German
forces, as the Entente was unprepared for such an inhumane attack. However, Germany underestimated the
power of chlorine gas, and hence, they lost their sizeable advantage. In the weeks to come, the Allied forces
would enforce the use of gas masks to shield themselves from gas attacks, which significantly reduced
casualties as a result of chemicals, therefore diminishing the strategical value of gas in warfare. Apart from the
significance of gas as a weapon, other technologies such as hand grenades, machine guns, tanks, and
flamethrowers were used throughout this battle. Nevertheless, these technologies did not have a mammoth
impact on the war, as soldiers were accustomed to fighting with and against these weapons; they were
commonplace in battle.

This battle was significant for the Allied forces, as the town of Ypres was the only piece of land that
stood between their important ports of Calais and Boulogne-sur-Mer and the German forces. Consequently, it
was a necessity for the Allies to protect Ypres with vigor. In contrast, the German Empire saw the fall of Ypres
as an opportunity to block the aforementioned ports, which would delay the progress of the Entente in the war,
providing the Germans with a mammoth advantage. In addition, the collapse of Ypres in favor of the Allies
would provide them access to the vast territory of Flanders, beyond which lay the expansive railways of the
Germans, which were used for transport and communication. Therefore, it was crucial that the Entente capture
and advance into this area, so they could disrupt German progress in the war.

Bibliography

Canada, Parks. 2016. “The Second Battle of Ypres.” Www.canada.ca. February 15, 2016.
https://www.canada.ca/en/parks-canada/news/2016/02/the-second-battle-of-ypres.html#.

Christie, Norm M. 2002. Gas Attack! The Canadians at Ypres, 1915.

Nepean, Ont.: Cef Books.
Patton, James. n.d. “Gas in the Great War.” Www.kumc.edu.
https://www.kumc.edu/school-of-medicine/academics/departments/history-and-philosophy-of-
medicine/archives/wwi/essays/medicine/gas-in-the-great-war.html#:~:text=Chlorine%20was%20deadly
%20against%20unprotected.

Roy, R.H., and Richard Foot. 2006. “Canada and the Second Battle of Ypres | the Canadian Encyclopedia.”
Thecanadianencyclopedia.ca. The Canadian Encyclopedia. July 27, 2006.
https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/battle-of-ypres.
“Second Battle of Ypres Begins.” n.d. HISTORY. Accessed May 6, 2023. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-
history/second-battle-of-ypres-begins#.

White, Neil. 2016. “19 October 1914 the First Battle of Ypres Officially Begins.” Military Ancestors Blog -
Forces War Records. October 19, 2016. https://blog.forceswarrecords.com/19-october-1914-blood-mud-
and-rain-as-the-first-battle-of-ypres-officially-begins/#:~:text=Ypres%20was%20so%20important
%20because.