Trench WarfareTrench Warfare

IB 20IB 20thth Century Topics Century Topics

Trench WarfareTrench Warfare Both sides on the Western front dug Both sides on the Western front dug

themselves in, ending any possible chance of a themselves in, ending any possible chance of a quick war; quick war;

this caused a stalemate, which was to last for this caused a stalemate, which was to last for most of the war. Over 200,000 men died in the most of the war. Over 200,000 men died in the trenches of WW1, most of whom died in battle, trenches of WW1, most of whom died in battle, but many died from disease and infections but many died from disease and infections brought on by the unsanitary conditions.brought on by the unsanitary conditions.

Because of Trench Warfare, WWI is the Because of Trench Warfare, WWI is the bloodiest war in History. bloodiest war in History.

Trench SystemTrench System

Frontline Trench Cross-Frontline Trench Cross-SectionSection

No Man’s LandNo Man’s Land

The space between the trenches was The space between the trenches was called "No-man's Land" because it did called "No-man's Land" because it did not belong to either side.not belong to either side.

It was a horrible sight with dead bodies It was a horrible sight with dead bodies stuck in the barbed wire, broken trees stuck in the barbed wire, broken trees and big holes caused by explosions. and big holes caused by explosions.

Life in the trenchesLife in the trenches

The first thing a new recruit would notice The first thing a new recruit would notice on the way to the Frontline was the smell, on the way to the Frontline was the smell, rotting bodies in shallow graves, men who rotting bodies in shallow graves, men who hadn't washed in weeks because there hadn't washed in weeks because there were no facilities, overflowing cess pits.were no facilities, overflowing cess pits.

The lingering odor of poison gas, rotting The lingering odor of poison gas, rotting sandbags, stagnant mud, cigarette sandbags, stagnant mud, cigarette smoke, and cooking food. smoke, and cooking food.

RatsRats

Rats were a constant companion in the Rats were a constant companion in the trenches in their millions they were trenches in their millions they were everywhere, gorging themselves on everywhere, gorging themselves on human remains (grotesquely disfiguring human remains (grotesquely disfiguring them by eating their eyes and liver) they them by eating their eyes and liver) they could grow to the size of a cat.could grow to the size of a cat.

RatsRats Men tried to kill them with bullets, shovels or Men tried to kill them with bullets, shovels or

anything else they had at hand, but they anything else they had at hand, but they were fighting a losing battle as only 1 pair of were fighting a losing battle as only 1 pair of rats can produce 900 offspring in a year.rats can produce 900 offspring in a year.

Some soldiers believed that the rats knew Some soldiers believed that the rats knew when there was going to be a heavy when there was going to be a heavy bombardment from the enemy lines because bombardment from the enemy lines because they always seemed to disappear minutes they always seemed to disappear minutes before an attackbefore an attack

LiceLice Lice were a constant problem for the menLice were a constant problem for the men They bred in dirty clothing They bred in dirty clothing they were impossible to get rid of even when clothes they were impossible to get rid of even when clothes

were washed and deloused because there would be were washed and deloused because there would be eggs that would escape the treatment in the seams of eggs that would escape the treatment in the seams of the clothes.the clothes.

Lice caused Trench Fever, a particularly painful disease Lice caused Trench Fever, a particularly painful disease that began suddenly with severe pain followed by high that began suddenly with severe pain followed by high fever. fever.

Recovery - away from the trenches - took up to twelve Recovery - away from the trenches - took up to twelve weeks. weeks.

It was not discovered that lice were the cause of trench It was not discovered that lice were the cause of trench fever though until 1918fever though until 1918

Trench footTrench foot The cold wet and unsanitary conditions The cold wet and unsanitary conditions

were also to cause trench foot amongst the were also to cause trench foot amongst the soldiers, a fungal infection, which could turn soldiers, a fungal infection, which could turn gangrenous and result in amputation. gangrenous and result in amputation.

Trench Foot was more of a problem at the Trench Foot was more of a problem at the start of trench warfare; as conditions start of trench warfare; as conditions improved in 1915, it rapidly faded, although improved in 1915, it rapidly faded, although a trickle of cases continued throughout the a trickle of cases continued throughout the war.war.

Shell ShockShell Shock Between 1914 and 1918 the British Army identified 80,000 Between 1914 and 1918 the British Army identified 80,000

men (2% of those who saw active service) as suffering men (2% of those who saw active service) as suffering from shell-shock. from shell-shock.

Early symptoms included tiredness, irritability, giddiness, Early symptoms included tiredness, irritability, giddiness, lack of concentration and headaches. lack of concentration and headaches.

Eventually the men suffered mental breakdowns making it Eventually the men suffered mental breakdowns making it impossible for them to remain in the front-line. impossible for them to remain in the front-line.

Some came to the conclusion that the soldiers condition Some came to the conclusion that the soldiers condition was caused by the enemy's heavy artillery. These doctors was caused by the enemy's heavy artillery. These doctors argued that a bursting shell creates a vacuum, and when argued that a bursting shell creates a vacuum, and when the air rushes into this vacuum it disturbs the cerebro-the air rushes into this vacuum it disturbs the cerebro-spinal fluid and this can upset the working of the brain.spinal fluid and this can upset the working of the brain.

A Day in the Trench: A Day in the Trench: MorningMorning

There was a daily routine in the trenches. There was a daily routine in the trenches. It started 1 hour before dawn with the morning It started 1 hour before dawn with the morning

"stand to" the men were roused from sleep and "stand to" the men were roused from sleep and sent to the "fire step", with bayonets fixed to their sent to the "fire step", with bayonets fixed to their rifles to be on guard for a dawn raid by the enemyrifles to be on guard for a dawn raid by the enemy

Many raids were carried out at dawn by both Many raids were carried out at dawn by both sides although it was common knowledge that the sides although it was common knowledge that the opposing armies were both preparing to deal with opposing armies were both preparing to deal with them.them.

A Day in the Trench: the A Day in the Trench: the morning hatemorning hate

As the first light of day approached As the first light of day approached machineguns, shells, and even handguns machineguns, shells, and even handguns would be fired toward the enemy trenches. would be fired toward the enemy trenches.

Some people said that this was to test the Some people said that this was to test the weaponry. weaponry.

Whatever the reason the first hour of the Whatever the reason the first hour of the soldier's day became known, as "The soldier's day became known, as "The morning hate."morning hate."

A day in the Trenches: A day in the Trenches: breakfastbreakfast

Then it was time for breakfast, unofficially breakfast Then it was time for breakfast, unofficially breakfast time was a time of truce between both sides, both time was a time of truce between both sides, both sides respected this truce for most of the timesides respected this truce for most of the time

After breakfast the soldiers would do daily chores, After breakfast the soldiers would do daily chores, each man would be given a specific chore. each man would be given a specific chore.

Daily chores included the refilling of sandbags, the Daily chores included the refilling of sandbags, the repair of the duckboards on the floor of the trench repair of the duckboards on the floor of the trench and the draining of trenches, repairing the trenchesand the draining of trenches, repairing the trenches

A Day in the Trench: A Day in the Trench: DaytimeDaytime

During the rest of the day movement was During the rest of the day movement was restricted in the trenchesrestricted in the trenches

Soldiers used this time to catch up on Soldiers used this time to catch up on some much needed sleep, write letters some much needed sleep, write letters homehome

Extract from "Death of  a hero" by Extract from "Death of  a hero" by Richard Adlington  (1892-1962) Richard Adlington  (1892-1962)

The days passed into weeks, the weeks into months. He The days passed into weeks, the weeks into months. He moved through impressions like a man hallucinated.  And moved through impressions like a man hallucinated.  And every incident seemed to beat on his brain Death, Death, every incident seemed to beat on his brain Death, Death, Death.  All the decay and death of battlefields entered his Death.  All the decay and death of battlefields entered his blood and seemed to poison him.  He lived among smashed blood and seemed to poison him.  He lived among smashed bodies and human remains in an infernal  cemetery. If he bodies and human remains in an infernal  cemetery. If he scratched his stick idly and nervously in the side of  a trench, scratched his stick idly and nervously in the side of  a trench, he pulled out human ribs.  He ordered a new latrine to be he pulled out human ribs.  He ordered a new latrine to be dug out from the trench, and three times the digging had to dug out from the trench, and three times the digging had to be  abandoned because they came upon terrible black be  abandoned because they came upon terrible black masses of decomposing bodies. masses of decomposing bodies.

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