I will be comparing Source C and Source D to see why the battle of Vimy Ridge has been viewed in different ways.

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   Vimy Ridge was captured by the Germans in October 1914 and retained by them until April 1917 when, in three days of fighting the Allies, and in particular Canadian soldiers, recaptured Vimy Ridge in one of the few successful trench attacks in World War One. For this piece of coursework I will be comparing Source C and Source D to see why the battle of Vimy Ridge has been viewed in different ways.

   Starting with Source C, the nature of Source C is a French newspaper, so therefore it can tend to exaggerate or sensationalise its stories and headlines. Also, because it is a newspaper it could be controlled by the government, so therefore it can only show a limited amount of the real story or lie and show another story. The main reason why I believe that the French newspaper calls the Vimy Ridge battle ‘great success’ and ‘splendid victory’ is because it was the first time the Germans has a defeat, due to the fact that the Germans had the upper hand during the war and this was the first time the attacking side (Allies) had won a battle. Also, Vimy Ridge had been tried many times by the attacking side but had never won, so this proved that if one German line can be broken, all can, so it was a kind of motivation to the Allies, that the fight ahead was not impossible.

   The origin of the newspaper, can be two things, either a first hand reporter at the battle or information can be supplied by the government to the French newspaper. I personally believe that the information has been supplied by the government, due to the fact that it would be extremely hard for a reporter to have a line of communication between the front line and the French newspaper headquarters. Although it is not impossible. The French newspaper printed its article on the 10th April. The battle started on the 10th of April and finished on the 12th of April. Furthermore I believe this to be evidence that the government supplied the information because a reporter would not say ‘splendid victory’, when the war is still going on, they would say that the Canadians have made an aggressive start by shelling the Germans and forcing them to retreat back over the hill, ect. Also I believe that by telling the public and other Allied troops that there has been a successful attacking side, its motivates the public because they will think that maybe the war will be soon be coming to an end, and it motivates the Allied troops because it tells them if another regiment of the army can brake the German line, then it is not impossible, and so they think it can be done where they are too.

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   The purpose of the French newspaper is to supply information the public about the war and all the current movements of the German and Allied troops. It is a source of information which can motivate the public or scare the public, e.g. a splendid victory of which the Allies should be proud of, or the Allied front line has been pushed back 500 meters. Although because the government was supplying all the information, all information would be made to boost the French morale during the war. Especially when the battle of Vimy Ridge was won. Due to the numerous ...

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