Trench Warfare

only wide enough to allow two men to pass side-by- side. Trenches elongated pits dug 6-8 ft. into the earth, and stretching out over hundreds of miles.

Duck Boards line the bottom of the trench, to serve both as a place for the men to stand on the avoid enemy fire, and to raise men above the mud, rats, blood, and bodily wastes that filled the bottom of the trench. Parapets served as a rest for a gun, and the Parados protected the men from exploding shrapnel

Trench Warfare - Diagram

Barbed-wire was lined up in front of a trench to protect the men from attack.

Trench Warfare Dugouts in the side of the trenches provided shelter for the men to live in, and protection from incoming artillery fire.

The entrance to a “dugout”

Trench Warfare – Dugout

Three interlocking trench lines would be used: a front line for attack and defense, a middle line of defense, and a rear line of reserves. An encampment of tents and hospitals would be located behind the third line. Men spent anywhere from one day to two weeks on the lines before given a day of rest.

Three interlocking trench lines would be used a front line for attack and defense, a middle line of defense, a rear line of reserves An encampment of tents and hospitals would be located behind the third line.

Men spent anywhere from one day to two weeks on the lines before given a day of rest.

The distance between opposing trenches was called “no-man’s land”. This distance could be as short as 30 meters, or as wide as 1 mile.The distance between opposing trenches was called “no-man’s land”. This distance could be as short as 30 meters, or as wide as 1 mile.

“Over the Top”On command, soldiers from a trench would go “Over the Top” and charge across “no- man’s” land and attempt to overrun the opponents trench.

Often,a periscope would have been used to see the enemy, without putting a soldier in the direct line of fire.

Retrieving a dead soldier from “no-man’s land” Check out this mud!

Lots of Mud! So keep those socks dry! Drying his socks over a fire!

…or else!! Trench Foot

Keeping those feet dry isn’t always easy…

Lice Hunting

Oh Rats!

Corpse Rats German soldiers after rat hunting in their trenches

GAS!

Could this break the stalemate of trench warfare? Mustard Gas Chlorine Gas Tear Gas And more!

Poison Gas

This is similar to what Paul and his friends wear in All Quiet on the Western Front.

Mustard Gas Victims

Soldier’s would commonly use rifles, bayonets, spades, clubs, shotguns, helmets, and grenades Weapons of War

–Armies would use larger items such as machine guns, mortars, artillery, gas, barbed-wire, aircraft, and mines

Food was generally very bland and in short supply (particularly for the Germans)

Can of “Bully Beef”…yum! Two pieces of bread today, awesome!

…awful tough to keep clean.. Rain filled shell-hole makes a great bathtub!