Introduction: Vimy 2017

Abstract

A century has passed since the Canadian Corps stormed Vimy Ridge.  The intention of Vimy 2017:  From Both Sides of the Ridge was to deepen our understanding of what really happened there, to dispel the many myths surrounding the battle, especially those gripping Canadians, and to remind historians and members of the public alike that there were, indeed, two sides of the ridge, two armies whose soldiers fought and died there, two societies from which those soldiers were drawn, and two sets of historical memories and consequences.  As the various papers that follow attest, the superb scholarship on display at the conference went far toward achieving this goal.