Vimy Ridge 1914–1916 thumb|Location of the Battle of Vimy Ridge Vimy Ridge is an escarpment northeast of Arras on the western edge of the Douai Plain. The ridge rises gradually on its western side and drops more quickly on the eastern side. At approximately in length and culminating at an elevation of or above the Douai Plains, the ridge provides a natural unobstructed view for tens of kilometres in all directions. The ridge fell under German control in October 1914 during the Race to the Sea as the Franco-British and German forces attempted to outflank each other through northeastern France. The French Tenth Army attempted to dislodge the Germans from the region during the Second Battle of Artois in May 1915 by attacking their positions at Vimy Ridge and Notre Dame de Lorette. The French 1st Moroccan Division managed to briefly capture the height of the ridge but was unable to hold it owing to a lack of reinforcements. The French made another attempt during the Third Battle of Artois in September 1915 but only captured the village of Souchez at the western base of the ridge. The Vimy sector calmed following the offensive with both sides taking a largely live and let live approach. The French suffered approximately 150,000 casualties in their attempts to gain control of Vimy Ridge and surrounding territory.
vimy riDge 1914–1916 ThUmB|lOcaTion Of the batTlE oF viMy ridGE Vimy RidgE is AN escarPment nORthEaSt of arraS On tHE WesterN EDge Of the doUai plAin. the ridgE rises gRadUAlLY on itS wESTerN Side aND dRops mOre quiCklY ON the EaStErN side. at ApPrOximAtElY in LeNgTh and cUlminaTInG aT an eLeVaTiOn Of or aboVe The douai plaINs, the RiDge proVides A NATuraL UnobstRuCTeD viEw for tenS oF KIlomEtres In all DirecTIonS. ThE riDgE fELl unDer german coNtrol in octOBer 1914 duriNg tHE raCe To THe seA as tHe FRanCo-BrItIsh anD geRMAn forcES ATtempted to outflAnk each other throuGH northEAsTErn fraNcE. the frencH tenth army aTTempted tO dislodge tHE gErMans from The reGion dUrIng The second battlE Of aRtois In MaY 1915 bY aTtackinG theIR PoSiTioNs at vImy ridge and Notre damE de LOrette. tHe fRencH 1st moRoCcaN dIViSioN mANageD to bRIEfLY cApTuRe The HEIGht of ThE ridge but was unable tO hOlD iT OwIng to a laCk oF rEinforcementS. tHE frENch made ANother aTtEmpt DUring thE tHird BAttLe Of ArtoiS In sEptEmBER 1915 bUt oNlY cAptUrEd The village of sOUChez aT the WEstErn BAse of tHe Ridge. thE vimy seCtor cAlMEd FoLlowing the offeNsivE WiTh boTH SIdeS takIng A LaRgElY LivE aNd Let LIVe apprOach. the frencH suffErEd appROxiMAtELy 150,000 caSualtiEs iN their attEMpts to gain ContrOL oF vImY rIdGE aNd sUrrounding TErRitoRY.