ed of Germany, Italy, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, Turkey, Libya, Sicily, Sardinia, and the Ottoman Empire. Spain, Switzerland, Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden remained Neutral Nations throughout the war. One change that occurred as the war went on is that in 1915, Italy re-aligned to the Entente from the Alliance.In September 1914, the First Canadian Division assembled and left for Britain. Volunteers jumped at every opportunity to join the army. In a country of just eight million people, and average of ten thousand men volunteered each month. Why did these men volunteer for a war that was being fought so far away? Some were attracted by the adventure and romance of war, but most volunteered out of a sense of patriotism or duty. The patriotism was for Britain though, not for Canada. In some parts of Canada, support for the war was so strong that young men not in uniform were called cowards.The Canadian army entered combat in the spring of 1915. Five thousand Canadians were killed or wounded in the first week alone. Canadians back at home read about the poison gas attacks at Ypres and the hand-to-hand fighting between Canadians and Germans. The war dragged on, and the Canadian army was involved in many bitter battles. Thousands died in the trenches, and yet the struggle aroused pride in Canadians. Canada’s army quickly gained a reputation for bravery and being a good organization. There were many Canadian victories in battle, such as Ypres, Vimy Rigde, Passchendaele, Hill 70, Sanctuary Wood, Amiens, and Cambrai.During the battle at Ypres, the Germans used chlorine gas against the Canadian troops. The troops knew that they had to have some sort of damp material over their noses and mouths or they would be killed by the gas. Having no source of liquid around them and no time to go back for water, the troops simply had to urinate on their handkerchiefs and hold them to their noses. The Canadian troops pushed on through...
