By, Lloyd Aranda, Preston Simpson, and Scotty Curran Trench Warfare By, Lloyd Aranda, Preston Simpson, and Scotty Curran

Definition and Purpose Trench Warfare: -Trench warfare is a type of land warfare using occupied fighting lines consisting largely of trenches. -Trench warfare significantly protected troops from the enemies small arms fire and substantially sheltered troops from artillery. -The most famous use of Trench warfare was used in World War 1 on the Western Front. -On the Western front from 1914-1918 both sides dug elaborate trenches and dugout systems opposing each other along a front, which was protected from assault by barbed wire. The area between both trenches was called “No man’s land”, was fully exposed to artillery fire from both sides and any attacks even if successful usually sustained severe casualties.

Trench Construction -Trench warfare was created by German commander General Erich Von Falkenhayn. -The General not wanting to lose the territory that he Germany had gained he ordered his men to dig to defend against the French and British troops. -Trenches were constructed in two different ways. The first was entrenchment and the second was sapping. -Entrenchment was the faster but most dangerous out of the two methods. Soldiers were equipped with shovels and picks to dig a large portion of the trench at once. It left the troops who were digging exposed to everything.

Trench Construction -The second method is sapping. Where a trench was extended by digging at the very end. It was a much safer method but it took a much longer time to do. -Trenches were never built in straight lines but instead in a zigzag pattern. This method was used so that if the enemy invaded a trench, they would be prevented from firing down its entire length as well as provide as a shield in the event a shell were to explode. -The front-line trench was the first line of defense.Front-line trenches also had the “saps,” which were dug out into No Man’s Land and used as listening posts to find out information about the enemy.

Trench Construction -Behind the front-line trench was the support trench. It held support troops and supplies to aid the front-line trench soldiers when necessary. It also could be used as a fall back point if the enemy occupied the front-line trench. -Beyond the support trench was the reserve trench, which held emergency supplies and troops, in the event the first two failed. -All three of these trenches were connected by communication trenches, which allowed men and supplies to travel safely back and forth. This is also where telephone lines could be run.

Trench Construction

Communication in the Trenches -Carrier pigeons transported messages from one place to another. Pigeons have homing instincts and will always fly back to wherever their nests are. -A runner was a soldier responsible for passing on messages between fronts during war. This was arguably the most dangerous job of all, since these soldiers had to leave the safety of the trench in order to move from one front to the other. -Telephones allowed units on different parts of a WWI battlefield to communicate with each other. Long wires linked the telephones with each other via switchboards. The system was reliable as long as the wires remained intact.

Communication in the Trenches -Radio was widely used in WWI. Combatant armies used mobile radio devices capable of transmitting and receiving Morse code, but they were bulky, often too fragile for trench life and had a very limited range. -Major armies also relied on much less technologically advanced means of visual communication to send messages. Army's used flags, lamp, and heliograph to send messages but at the same time the enemy could could intercept the message.

Communication in the Trenches

Strategy and Tactics At its core the main strategy was to hold one’s own position while being able to make advances on the enemy’s. They often became battles of attrition or simply being able to outlast your opponent. Attempting to march across no man’s land and initiate a full front assault were often detrimental and produced many casualties. In some cases small squads would attempt to stealthily infiltrate the enemy’s trenches. Artillery would be used to provide cover. The Germans became especially adept using this tactic.

Weaponry -Infantry Weapons: consisted of a rifle, bayonet, and hand grenades -Machine guns -Mortars -Artillery -Gas -Flamethrowers -Barbed Wire -Aircraft support

Battle of the Somme The first major confrontation for the British in World War I Fought between July and November of 1916, along the Somme River in France Over 50,000 Casualties on the first day alone 1.5 million total In the early stages artillery played a key role, but did not end the battle fast enough It spiraled into a battle of attrition Gave experience to those that survived and ultimately the Germans were forced to Retreat

Life in the Trenches http://www.history.com/topics/world- war-i/world-war-i-history/videos/life- in-a-trench

Sources "Trench Warfare." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 17 Feb. 2016. Web. 23 Feb. 2016. "Battle of the Somme." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 23 Feb. 2016. "Life in a Trench Video." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 23 Feb. 2016.