Editing Battle of Passchendaele (section)

====Second Battle of Passchendaele====

{{Main|Second Battle of Passchendaele}}

[[File:Second Battle of Passchendaele - Barbed wire and Mud.jpg|thumb|{{centre|Terrain through which the Canadian Corps advanced at Passchendaele, in late 1917}}]]
[[File:Landscape Passendale Tyne Cot 2.jpg|thumb|{{centre|Terrain at Passchendaele near where the Canadian Corps advanced, spring 2015}}]]
The British [[Fifth Army (United Kingdom)|Fifth Army]] undertook minor operations from {{nowrap|20 to 22 October,}} to maintain pressure on the Germans and support the French attack at La Malmaison, while the Canadian Corps prepared for a series of attacks from {{nowrap|26 October to 10 November.}}{{sfnm|1a1=Bean|1y=1941|1p=930|2a1=Edmonds|2y=1991|2p=347}} The four divisions of the Canadian Corps had been transferred to the [[Ypres Salient]] from Lens, to capture Passchendaele and the ridge.{{sfn|Bean|1941|p=929}} The Canadians relieved the [[II Anzac Corps]] on 18 October and found that the front line was mostly the same as that occupied by the [[1st Canadian Division]] back in April 1915. The Canadian operation was to be three limited attacks, on 26 October, 30 October and 6 November.{{sfn|Nicholson|1964|pp=312, 314}} On 26 October, the 3rd Canadian Division captured its objective at Wolf Copse, then swung back its northern flank to link with the adjacent division of the Fifth Army. The 4th Canadian Division captured its objectives but was forced slowly to retire from Decline Copse by German counter-attacks and communication failures between the Canadians and the Australian units to the south.{{sfn|Nicholson|1964|p=320}}

The second stage began on 30 October, to complete the previous stage and gain a base for the final assault on Passchendaele. The attackers on the southern flank quickly captured Crest Farm and sent patrols beyond the final objective into Passchendaele. The attack on the northern flank again met with exceptional German resistance. The 3rd Canadian Division captured Vapour Farm on the corps boundary, Furst Farm to the west of Meetcheele and the crossroads at Meetcheele but remained short of its objective. During a seven-day pause, the Second Army took over another section of the Fifth Army front adjoining the Canadian Corps. Three rainless days from {{nowrap|3 to 5 November}} eased preparation for the next stage, which began on the morning of 6 November, with the 1st Canadian Division and the [[2nd Canadian Division]]. In less than three hours, many units reached their final objectives and Passchendaele was captured. The Canadian Corps attacked on 10 November to gain control of the remaining high ground north of the village near {{nowrap|Hill 52.}}{{sfnm|1a1=Nicholson|1y=1964|1pp=320–325|2a1=Sheldon|2y=2007|2pp=311–312}}{{efn|German troops engaged were from the 239th, 39th, 4th, 44th Reserve, 7th, 11th, 11th Bavarian, 238th, 199th, 27th, 185th, 111th and 40th divisions.{{sfn|USWD|1920}}}}