Editing Nord-Pas-de-Calais (section)

===World War I===
When the [[First World War]] started, the region became a strategic target for the [[Allies of World War I|Allies]] and the [[Central Powers]], mostly because of the coal and mining resources. When the [[Germany|German]] troops launched their [[Schlieffen Plan|attack from Belgium]], the region was one of the first to fall under German occupation. Nevertheless, when the Allies stopped Germany at the [[First Battle of the Marne|Battle of Marne]], the front moved back to the area and stabilized near [[Arras]].
During the next four years, the region was split in two: the German holding the [[French Flanders]] and [[Cambrai]] area, the Allied controlling Arras and the Area of Lens. Nevertheless, the combat did not stop, each side wanting the total control of the area.
[[File:Vimy Memorial (September 2010) cropped.jpg|thumb|[[Canadian National Vimy Memorial]] near Arras]]

The Nord-pas-de-Calais was one of the main theaters of the conflict, with many battles occurring between 1914 and 1918, including the [[Battle of Vimy Ridge]] assault during the [[Battle of Arras (1917)]], the [[Third Battle of Artois|Battle of Artois]], [[Battle of Loos]], and the [[Battle of Cambrai (1918)|Battle of Cambrai]]. By the time the region was finally liberated by the [[Canadian Expeditionary Force|Canadian Expeditionary Forces]], the entire country was devastated, and [[Arras]] had been 90% destroyed. Currently, there are 650 military cemeteries throughout the Nord-Pas-de-Calais, mostly British and Canadian, as well as large memorials such as the [[Canadian National Vimy Memorial]] and [[Notre Dame de Lorette]], the world's largest French military cemetery.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.greatwar.co.uk/french-flanders-artois/memorial-canadian-national-vimy-memorial.htm |title=Canadian National Vimy Memorial, France |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2015 |website=The Great War UK |access-date=31 March 2017}}</ref>