the trenches

32
THE TRENCHES

Upload: keelia

Post on 24-Feb-2016

62 views

Category:

Documents


0 download

DESCRIPTION

THE TRENCHES. The Origin of Trench Warfare. After defeat at the Marne (in France), Germans retreated to a more fortified position built a small network of trenches (long, narrow holes in the ground that would protect soldiers from gunfire) Why? so they could rest after attacks - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: THE TRENCHES

THE TRENCHES

Page 2: THE TRENCHES

The Origin of Trench Warfare After defeat at the Marne (in France),

Germans retreated to a more fortified position

built a small network of trenches (long, narrow holes in the ground that would protect soldiers from gunfire)

Why? so they could rest after attacks Trenches surrounded with barbed wire

and machine gun nests & supported by heavy artillery

Page 3: THE TRENCHES

Easily defended & almost impenetrable

Germans able to hold off combined British & French attacks

British & French soon built their own trenches out of necessity

Page 4: THE TRENCHES

The Race to the Sea

After discovering that neither side could successfully attack the trenches, both sides tried to “outflank” (go around) their enemy

Both sides raced north, believing that the first to reach the coastline would have a great advantage

Both sides reached the coast at the same time!

The end result was that the small trench system was stretched out and cut a line though all of France (approx. 1000 km)

Page 5: THE TRENCHES
Page 6: THE TRENCHES

The Trenches As time passed, they became more

complex lined with sandbags, tunnels were

dug and underground dugouts were built

In some cases, concrete was poured in and drainage systems installed

The trenches were several levels deep and were connected by small communications trenches

Page 7: THE TRENCHES
Page 8: THE TRENCHES
Page 9: THE TRENCHES
Page 10: THE TRENCHES
Page 11: THE TRENCHES
Page 12: THE TRENCHES
Page 13: THE TRENCHES
Page 14: THE TRENCHES
Page 15: THE TRENCHES
Page 16: THE TRENCHES
Page 17: THE TRENCHES

No Man’s Land

Between enemy trenches was a space called “No Man’s Land”

Entering No Man’s Land meant almost certain death

Most men who were killed in No Man’s Land were left unburied and the smell of death spread for miles in each direction

Page 18: THE TRENCHES
Page 19: THE TRENCHES
Page 20: THE TRENCHES

Over the Top

Soldiers expected to dig & rebuild trenches each night

Generals on both sides not happy to remain on the defensive, & therefore constantly ordered their armies to attack

The order “Over the Top” forced men to get out of their trenches, travel in the open across No Man’s Land and attempt to capture an enemy trench

Millions on both sides died in attacks that accomplished nothing

Page 21: THE TRENCHES
Page 22: THE TRENCHES
Page 23: THE TRENCHES

The Dangers of Trench Warfare The trenches were very dangerous

and horrible places for many reasons You faced the threat of death

constantly You were outside all the time You were constantly wet You were surrounded by dead people

and human waste Some examples of these dangers are

. . .

Page 24: THE TRENCHES

Trench Fever

Page 25: THE TRENCHES

Trench Mouth

Page 26: THE TRENCHES
Page 28: THE TRENCHES
Page 29: THE TRENCHES
Page 30: THE TRENCHES

Lice

Page 31: THE TRENCHES

Rats

Page 32: THE TRENCHES