CANADA HISTORY - War-WWI

Hill 70

The Battle of Hill 70, fought from August 15 to August 25, 1917, was one of the most significant and decisive battles for the Canadian Corps during the First World War. Often overshadowed by larger battles like Vimy Ridge and Passchendaele, Hill 70 was a hard-fought victory that demonstrated the tactical brilliance and fighting capability of the Canadian soldiers under the command of Lieutenant General Sir Arthur Currie. This battle not only marked a pivotal moment in the war but also played a crucial role in the development of Canada’s military identity. It was a demonstration of the Canadians’ ability to achieve difficult objectives through careful planning and relentless determination. The capture of Hill 70, a strategic height near the town of Lens in northern France, was essential for Allied control of the region and dealt a severe blow to the German forces.

To understand the significance of Hill 70, it is important to place it within the broader context of the war in 1917. By this time, the Western Front had been locked in a deadly stalemate for nearly three years, with neither side able to achieve a decisive breakthrough. The war had become one of attrition, with both the Allies and the Central Powers fighting over small gains of territory at the cost of thousands of lives. The battles of Verdun, the Somme, and Passchendaele had all demonstrated the horrific toll of trench warfare, where even the most meticulously planned offensives often resulted in marginal gains at best.

For the Allies, the capture of Lens, an industrial town in the coal-rich region of northern France, had become a priority. The Germans had fortified the town and surrounding areas, making it a key part of their defensive network. Taking Lens would not only deprive the Germans of important coal resources but also provide the Allies with a stronger position from which to threaten German-held territory further east. However, attacking Lens directly was a daunting task, as it was well-defended by entrenched German forces. Instead, the decision was made to target Hill 70, a strategic height that overlooked the town. By capturing Hill 70, the Canadians could dominate the surrounding area with artillery and force the Germans to abandon Lens.

Lieutenant General Arthur Currie, who had recently taken command of the Canadian Corps, was tasked with leading the attack. Currie, known for his meticulous planning and attention to detail, quickly recognized that capturing Hill 70 would be a more effective strategy than a direct assault on Lens. The high ground would give the Canadians a significant tactical advantage, allowing them to rain down artillery fire on German positions in the town below. Currie’s plan was not just to take the hill but to force the Germans into a series of costly counterattacks, thus weakening their forces through attrition.

The Canadian Corps, which consisted of approximately 100,000 men, had earned a reputation as one of the most formidable units on the Western Front, particularly after their victory at Vimy Ridge in April 1917. The Germans, by contrast, had around 40,000 troops in the immediate area, heavily entrenched and supported by machine guns, artillery, and barbed wire. The Germans were aware of the importance of Hill 70 and had fortified it with a network of trenches and defensive positions. Both sides knew that control of the hill would shift the balance of power in the region.

The battle began in the early hours of August 15, 1917, with a massive artillery bombardment by the Canadians. Currie had meticulously planned the artillery barrage to not only soften up the German defenses but also provide cover for the advancing Canadian infantry. The artillery fire was designed to be a "creeping barrage," moving forward just ahead of the infantry to keep the Germans pinned down while the Canadians advanced. This tactic had been honed at Vimy Ridge and proved highly effective at Hill 70.

As the Canadian infantry advanced under cover of the creeping barrage, they encountered fierce resistance from the German defenders. The Germans, well dug in and armed with machine guns, made the Canadian advance slow and costly. However, the Canadians pressed forward, and by the end of the first day, they had successfully captured the summit of Hill 70. This initial success was a significant achievement, but the real test was yet to come.

As Currie had anticipated, the Germans launched a series of determined counterattacks over the next several days in an attempt to recapture the hill. Between August 16 and August 18, the Germans launched at least 21 counterattacks, throwing wave after wave of infantry at the Canadian positions. The fighting was brutal, with hand-to-hand combat in the trenches and heavy artillery bombardments. The Canadians, however, were prepared for the counterattacks. Currie had ordered his troops to dig in quickly after taking the hill, and Canadian artillery pounded the German troops as they attempted to advance.

One of the key elements of the Canadian defense was the use of machine guns and coordinated artillery fire to break up the German attacks before they could reach the Canadian lines. The Germans suffered heavy casualties during these counterattacks, as they were forced to charge across open ground under relentless fire. The Canadians, though heavily outnumbered at times, held their positions with grim determination. Currie’s strategy of forcing the Germans to bleed themselves dry through counterattacks worked brilliantly. By August 18, the Germans had suffered devastating losses and were unable to dislodge the Canadians from Hill 70.

In the days that followed, the Canadians consolidated their positions on the hill and continued to bombard German positions in Lens. The capture of Hill 70 gave the Canadians a commanding view of the surrounding area, and the German forces in Lens were now vulnerable to artillery fire from the heights. Although the town of Lens remained in German hands for the time being, the Canadians had achieved their primary objective: they had taken the high ground and inflicted severe losses on the German forces.

The results of the Battle of Hill 70 were significant. The Canadians had captured a strategically vital position and forced the Germans into costly counterattacks that weakened their ability to hold the area. The battle cost the Canadians approximately 9,000 casualties, including 1,500 dead, but the Germans suffered even greater losses. Estimates suggest that the Germans lost around 25,000 men, including many from elite divisions that had been thrown into the counterattacks.

Strategically, the battle was a success for the Allies. The capture of Hill 70 disrupted German defensive plans in the region and forced them to divert resources to reinforce their positions. Although Lens was not immediately captured, the loss of Hill 70 severely undermined the German ability to defend the town effectively, and the area remained a focus of Allied operations in the following months. The battle also demonstrated the effectiveness of Currie’s leadership and the tactical proficiency of the Canadian Corps. Currie’s decision to focus on Hill 70 rather than a frontal assault on Lens was a testament to his understanding of modern warfare, where high ground and artillery coordination were often more important than brute force.

The Battle of Hill 70 also had a profound impact on Canadian military identity. The victory, though hard-won and costly, further solidified the reputation of the Canadian Corps as one of the most formidable units on the Western Front. The bravery and determination displayed by the Canadian soldiers at Hill 70 became a source of national pride. It was another chapter in the growing recognition of Canada’s contributions to the war effort and its emergence as a nation capable of standing on its own in military matters.

The influence of the battle on the overall status of the war was significant, though it is often overlooked in the grand narrative of the First World War. The capture of Hill 70 helped to weaken the German grip on northern France and contributed to the larger Allied strategy of wearing down German forces through a series of coordinated offensives. The battle also had a psychological impact on both sides. For the Allies, it was a demonstration of their ability to achieve strategic objectives through careful planning and execution. For the Germans, it was another costly defeat that eroded their morale and defensive capabilities.

In the broader context of the war, Hill 70 was part of a series of battles that helped to turn the tide against the Germans in 1917 and 1918. The lessons learned by the Canadians at Hill 70—particularly the importance of artillery coordination, defensive preparation, and counterattack strategies—would be applied in later battles, including the more famous but equally brutal battle of Passchendaele. The ability of the Canadian Corps to hold Hill 70 against relentless German counterattacks also foreshadowed the kind of tenacity and resilience that would be required in the final months of the war.

In the aftermath of the battle, the Canadian Corps continued to play a leading role in Allied operations on the Western Front. The success at Hill 70 was not only a military victory but also a moment of national significance for Canada. It was a demonstration of the growing independence and capability of the Canadian military, a force that had evolved from colonial militia into one of the most effective armies in the world. The battle also deepened the bond between Canada and its soldiers, as the sacrifices made on the slopes of Hill 70 became part of the enduring legacy of the First World War.

The Battle of Hill 70, though often overshadowed by larger and more famous engagements, remains one of the key moments in Canadian military history. It was a battle that combined tactical brilliance, immense sacrifice, and sheer determination, and its influence on the course of the war and on Canada’s national identity is undeniable. Hill 70 stands as a testament to the courage and skill of the Canadian Corps, whose actions in 1917 helped shape the outcome of the First World War and the future of Canada as a nation.