The Trenches

Legends of the Fall

What do Alfred and Samuel mean when they say this war is different than others?

WWI was expected to be short and a war of great movement“Home for Christmas”What was the “Schlieffen Plan?”

The Schlieffen Plan

Was the Schlieffen Plan successful?No. [1] Rather than give up territory, the Germans dug trenches to protect themselves from the guns of the advancing Allies.

The Schlieffen Plan

[2] The Allies couldn't break the German trench lines and so followed the German example.

Digging the Trenches

[3] Soon, the trench lines spread from the North Sea to Switzerland.This short war turned into a stalemate and war of attrition.

Stalemate

A situation in which further progress by opposing parties seems impossible

Attrition

Gradual wearing down through sustained attack or pressure

Today’s Topics

1. The Trench System2. Life and Death in the Trenches3. Trench Warfare

Expectations

Assess Canada’s participation in war and contributions to peacekeeping and securityDescribe Canada’s and Canadians’ contributions to the war effort overseas during World War I and World War II (e.g. Ypres, Vimy Ridge, Passchendale, Hong Kong, Battle of the Atlantic, Dieppe, Sicily, D-Day; contributions of individuals, such as Billy Bishop, Georges Vanier, Tommy Prince; contributions of groups such as Aboriginal peoples; convoys; liberation of prisoners from Nazi concentration/death campsAnalyze the impact of scientific and technological developments on Canadians

The Trench System

The Trench System

There were three components of the trenches:

Front line trenchesCommunications trenchesNo Man’s Land

Front Line Trenches

[4] Were usually about seven feet deep and about six feet wide. [5] They had a zigzag pattern – why?

To prevent the enemy from shooting straight down the line.

Front Line Trenches

[6] Sandbags were put on both sides of the top of the trench to absorb enemy bullets.

Front Line Trenches

[7] Lines of barbed wire protected the frontline trench from enemy attacks.

Front Line Trenches

[8] The fire step was cut into the side of the trench allowing soldiers to see the enemy.

Communication Trenches

[9] Communication trenches linked the front-line trench to the support and reserve trenches. What were they used for?

Movement of menMovement of equipment and suppliesClear the wounded

No Man’s Land

[10] No Man’s Land represented the area of ground between opposing armies.

No Man’s Land

[11] It varied from as little as a few hundred yards to one kilometer.

No Man’s Land

What was the effect of artillery shelling on No Man’s Land?

Destroyed vegetationMud-soaked cratersRotting corpses

KEY WORDS

SevenSixZigzagShootingSandbagsBulletsBarbed wire

Fire stepCommunicationSupportReserveNo Man’s LandKilometreYards

Life and Death in the Trenches

Death was a constant companion to those serving in the trenches.

Life and Death in the Trenches

[12] Constant shellfire directed by the enemy brought random deathUp to one-third of Allied casualties on the Western Front were actually sustained in the trenches.

French soldiers try to move a wounded man along a

communication trench on the Western Front.

Pests & Diseases

Trench coat was one of the terms that came from this period…

Pests & Diseases

“Trench Rats” in the millions[13] Rats would gorge themselves on human remains and grow to be the size of a cat.

Pests & Diseases

Men would attempt to rid the trenches of these “trench rats” with gunfire, bayonet, and even clubbing them to death.

Pests & Diseases

It was futile however: a single rat couple could produce up to 900 offspring in a year

Pests & Diseases

Many veteran soldiers swore that rats sensed impending heavy enemy shellfire and consequently disappeared from view.

Pests & Diseases

[14] Lice were a never-ending problem, breeding in the seams of filthy clothing and causing men to itch unceasingly.[15] Lice caused Trench Fever, a particularly painful disease that took up to twelve weeks to recover from.

Pests & Diseases

[16] Frogs, slugs, and nits also infested the trenches.

Pests & Diseases

Trench Foot was another medical condition peculiar to trench life. It was a fungal infection of the feet caused by cold, wet and unsanitary trench conditions. It could turn gangrenous and result in amputation.

Pests & Diseases

Pests & Diseases

Trench Foot Facts:Around 20,000 casualties resulted from trench foot by the end of 1914. Improved trench drainage and conditions in general led to a rapid diminishment of casesLocal commanders were also held accountable for outbreaks of trench footAs conditions improved in 1915 it rapidly faded, although a trickle of cases continued throughout the war.Trench Mouth also come from this time period

Life and Death in the Trenches

The Smell:Rotting carcasses lay around in their thousands. Overflowing latrines Men who had not bathed in weeks or monthsCreosol or chloride of lime, used to stave off disease and infection.Poison gasRotting sandbagsStagnant mudCigarette smoke Cooking food

The Trench Cycle

Front line (70 days)

Support lines (30 days)

Reserve lines (120 days)

Rest (70 days)

Typically a battalion would be expected to serve:

Trench duty

KEY WORDS

ShellfireOne-thirdRatsHuman remainsCatLiceTrench feverFrogsSlugsNits

ColdWetUnsanitaryGangrenousAmputationBattalionFront-lineSupport linesReserve linesRestTrench duty

Daily Routine

Dawn: The daily morning ritual was often termed the ‘stand to’ or the 'morning hate'.Everyone was ordered to climb up on the fire step to guard against frequent raids by the enemy.

Daily Routine

Breakfast:In some areas rum might then be issued to the men. They would then attend to the cleaning of their rifle equipment, which was inspected by officers.Unofficial truce at breakfast, even extended to wagons delivering food.

Daily Routine

Inspection and Chores:Inspections by the company or platoon commanderAssignment of daily chores:

Refilling of sandbags The repair of the duckboards Draining of trenches Repairing the trench itself Preparation of the latrines

Daily Routine

Daylight:During the day, men could read and write home.Sleep, if possible.Because of snipers, movement was restricted to night.

Daily Routine

Dusk:Morning ritual was repeated again to guard against a surprise attackPatrols would often be sent out into No Man’s Land to repair or add barbed wire to the front line. Others would go to listening posts to spy on the enemy.

Daily Routine

Night:Patrolling No Man's Land – two options if enemy encountered

1) Hurry separate ways2) Engage in hand-to-hand combat – why no

handguns?• Handguns attract machine gun fire

Daily Routine

To stop British night patrols the Germans used a light-shell rocket and pistol flares to light up the battlefield. The most dangerous part of a patrol was returning to their own trenches – why?Because sentries often fired at any movement in front of them.What is this called?

Friendly fire

KEY WORDS

Stand toFire stepEnemyBreakfastUnofficial truceInspectedDaily choresReadWrite homeDuskSurprise attackPatrols

No Man’s LandRepairAddListening postsHurry separate waysEngage in hand-to-hand combatHandguns attract machine gun firePatrolsLight-shell rocketPistol flaresReturning to their own trenchesSentries

Trench Warfare

Trench Warfare

Before WWI, commanders placed a great deal of emphasis on using the infantry for massed bayonet charges supported by the cavalry and mobile field artillery.

Machine Guns

Infantry tactics had to be reassessed after armies suffered heavy casualties during attacks against machine-guns.

Could fire 400-600 small-calibre rounds per minuteEstimates range that a single machine gun to be worth as many as 60-100 rifles

Machine Guns

German machine-gunners were often housed inside pillboxes which were miniature fortsThey were deeply hated by the infantry and they were more likely to be killed when captured than other soldiers.

Chemical Warfare

The Germans also employed chemical warfare with chlorine and mustard gas.

Chemical Warfare

Chlorine gas destroyed the respiratory organs of its victims and this led to a slow death by asphyxiation.These had to be employed with the right winds or their own troops would be gassed.

Chemical Warfare

At first, Allied troops were supplied with masks of cotton pads soaked in urine to neutralize the chlorine.By July 1915 soldiers were given efficient gas masks and anti-asphyxiation respirators.

Otto Dix, A German Gas Attack (1924)

Chemical Warfare

Mustard Gas was first used by the German Army in 1917. It was the most lethal of all the poisonous chemicals used during the war.

SnipersSnipers crept out at dawn into No Man’s Land land and remained there all day. They wore camouflage and used the cover of a fake tree, waiting for a British soldier to look over the parapet. A common trick was to send up a kite with English writing on it. Anyone who raised his head to read it was shot. Snipers killed many men on their first day.

Flame-throwers

Flame-throwers had a short range Contained enough oil to burn 40 seconds at the time. Short-life span because they were the target of rifle and machine-gun fire.

Tunneling

Tunneling was also used to dig under No Man’s Land to place mines. Different strategies to discover enemy tunneling:

Drive a stick into the ground and hold the other end between the teeth and feel any underground vibrations. Sinking a water-filled oil drum into the floor of the trench, to listen for any noise.

It could take as long as a year to dig a tunnel and place a mine.Occasionally, opposing tunnels would be dug into each other

Resulted in an underground fight. Destroyed by placing an explosive charge inside.

Legends of the Fall conclusion…

Conclusion

Consequences of Trench WarfareDeeply marked those who experienced itRomantic notions of war were goneDeparture popular view of war as an opportunity for glory

British soldiers recovering from

amputations

Question to Ponder

Why was World War I the last time the tactic of trench warfare ever used?

Research Suggestions

www.firstworldwar.comAll Quiet on the Western Front – Erich Maria Remarque

“Over the Top” (1918)John Nash

KEY WORDS

BayonetCavalryArtilleryMachine guns400-600ChlorineMustard gasWindsGassedCotton padsUrineGas masks

SnipersLook overKiteEnglish writingFlamethrowersTunnelingMinesThose who experienced itOpportunity for glorywww.firstworldwar.comAll Quiet on the Western Front