Battle of Ypres facts for kids

The Battles of Ypres were a series of important fights during World War I. They happened near the city of Ypres in Belgium. Soldiers from Germany fought against Allied armies, which included troops from Belgium, France, the United Kingdom, and Canada. Sadly, hundreds of thousands of soldiers were hurt or lost their lives in these five major battles.

What Were the Ypres Battles?

The Ypres battles were not just one big fight, but five separate ones that took place over several years. Each battle was a tough struggle, and they are remembered for different reasons.

First Battle of Ypres (1914)

The very first Battle of Ypres happened from October 19 to November 22, 1914. This was during a time called the "Race to the Sea", when both sides were trying to outflank each other and reach the coast. It was a very intense battle, and more than 250,000 soldiers were either killed, wounded, or went missing.

Second Battle of Ypres (1915)

The Second Battle of Ypres took place from April 22 to May 15, 1915. This battle is famous because it was the first time the German army used poison gas on a large scale. It was a terrifying new weapon. This battle also saw a historic moment: Canadian soldiers, from a former colony, achieved important victories against a European power (Germany) on European land. About 100,000 soldiers became casualties in this battle.

Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele, 1917)

The Third Battle of Ypres, also known as the Battle of Passchendaele, was fought from July 31 to November 10, 1917. This battle is remembered for its incredibly muddy conditions, which made fighting extremely difficult. It was one of the deadliest battles, with estimates of 400,000 to 800,000 casualties.

Fourth Battle of Ypres (Lys, 1918)

The Fourth Battle of Ypres, also called the Battle of the Lys or the Battle of Estaires, happened from April 9 to April 29, 1918. This was part of Germany's final big push to win the war. Around 200,000 soldiers were casualties during this intense period of fighting.

Fifth Battle of Ypres (1918)

The Fifth Battle of Ypres is an informal name for a series of battles that took place from September 28 to October 2, 1918. These fights were in northern France and southern Belgium and were also known as the Advance of Flanders. This battle was part of the final Allied push towards the end of the war. Around 10,000 Allied soldiers were casualties, while the number of German casualties is not known.