Vimy Ridge was so well fortified that all previous Allied attempts to capture it had failed. The Canadians spent the winter strengthening defenses, carrying out raids on enemy trenches and gathering intelligence, in preparation for the spring offensive. On April 2, 1917 the bombardment was stepped up. Few guns survived and the Germans called the period "the week of suffering." Trenches were shattered and a new artillery shell-fuse demolished many barbed-wire entanglements, making it easier for the Canadians' to take Vimy.
German observation aircraft and balloons were attacked and shot down. This was important and dangerous since balloons were defended by fighters and anti-aircraft guns. The Canadian fighter pilot, Billy Bishop, won the Military Cross on April 7 for shooting down a balloon near Vimy. The Canadians practiced the creeping barrage technique for long periods of time before the battle. At 5.30 am on April 9, 1917, the creeping artillery barrage began to move steadily toward the Germans. Behind it advanced 20,000 Canadian soldiers. Guided by paint-marked stakes, they crossed No Man's Land, going through shell-holes and shattered trenches.
There was some hand-to-hand fighting, but most of the casualties were from the machine-guns in the German line. Three of the four divisions captured their part of Vimy successfully. The 4th Canadian Division's objective was Hill 145, the highest and most important feature of the whole Ridge. On April 10, the Canadians attacked the summit of Hill 145 and placed Vimy Ridge in Canadian hands. Two days later, the 10th Canadian Brigade successfully stormed the Pimple. The Germans then pulled back more than three kilometers.
Vimy Ridge marked the only significant success of the Allied spring offensive of 1917. Although they had won a great victory, there were 3,598 Canadians that died. Canadians proved they were one of the outstanding formations on the Western Front and masters of offensive warfare. Canadians were recognized for there creeping barrage technique that made it possible to take Vimy ridge. The Canadian identity changed drastically and people recognized Canada as a country that is powerful and loyal to the British empire. People living in Canada felt more united than they were before as a country and not a colony of Britian.