2. THE FIRST WORLD WAR, 1914-18 War broke out in Europe in August 1914.
GB, France and Russia V Germany, Italy and Austria-Hungary.
People thought the war would be ‘over by Christmas.’
But, because of new weapons such as machine guns, both sides soon dug trenches for protection.

3. A picture of soldiers going
The British government wanted to encourage men to enlist for war.
They said the war would be safe, hardly any fighting, a good lark and over by Christmas.
They used advertising posters to encourage this idea!
A picture of soldiers going
‘Over the Top’

4. The reality of ‘going over the top’ was very different!

5. Soldiers were expected to carry all of their equipment with them at all times.
They were supposed to keep it clean and in good condition – they were British after all.

6. How the uniform and equipment changed after just three weeks in the trenches…

7. Posters always showed men ready and willing to fight.
They never showed the boredom of the trenches or actual fighting taking place.
Why do you think the government showed no fighting?

8. Conditions in the trenches
Boredom: there were long periods between fighting.
Constantly walking in muddy water caused soldiers feet to rot – trench foot
Rats were everywhere, the size of cats, feeding off dead bodies.
Men’s bodies were covered in lice.
They suffered from ‘shell-shock’ due to the fear brought on by being constantly bombed.

10. No smiling and relaxed faces…
No clean uniforms…
Their equipment is scattered everywhere…
Boredom and sleep are obvious…

11. Mass Devastation

12. Freezing Winters

14. The soldiers had very little decent food, and what food they had was often attacked by rats.
These rats were the size of small rabbits and badgers because they had fed on the decomposing bodies of dead soldiers.

15. Trench Foot