Trench Warfare

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

Trench Warfare Duck Boards would line the bottom of the trench, to serve both as a place for the men to stand on the avoid enemy fire, and also 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 from behind the line.

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

Trench Warfare 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.

The distance between opposing trenches was called “no-man’s land” 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.

Trench Warfare On command, soldiers from a trench would charge across “no-man’s” land and attempt to overrun the opponents trench. Once one of the sides overran an opposing trench, the defeated would either be captured, or they would retreat to another set of trenches miles away to renew the battle over a new “no-man’s” land.

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”

Trench Warfare Weapons on the front included: Soldier’s would commonly use rifles, bayonets, spades, clubs, shotguns, helmets, and grenades Armies would use larger items such as machine guns, mortars, artillery, gas, barbed-wire, aircraft, and mines