How were the trenches organised into a system? Long-range artillery 10km behind front line How were the trenches organised into a system? What problems did attacking troops face? No Mans Land churned up by shell fire and muddy in winter Barbed wire placed before front line trenches was meters deep Trench System Between the trenches of opposing sides was a stretch of land known as no-man's land. It had already been deformed by shellfire, and in wet weather it was extremely hard to walk through this area. Behind no-man's land was barbed wire meters deep and it was almost impossible for troops to pass. Next was the front line. Being on the front line was extremely dangerous. You had to worry about shellfire as well as being hit by your own artillery behind you. Beyond the front line were the support and reserve trenches, followed by the communications trench. The communications trenches were used to transport men, equipment, and food supplies. Finally, at the back of the trenches was a lot of long-range artillery equipment. Soldiers usually served eight days on the font line, then four days in the reserve trench. That was followed by a four-day resting period away from the trenches. However, this system wasn't always followed when there was a shortage of men. Sometimes men would serve weeks on the front line. Aircraft overhead can warn of a build-up of enemy troops

Trench warfare

Rules of engagement Divide into 2 opposing armies. Appoint a commanding officer who I, as General, will liase with. Arrange the classroom into a battlefield with trenches (Allies and Central Powers) and a no man’s land. Think about the key features of a trench and do your best with what is around you. Silly questions will be punishable by death! On the signal of “Going over the top” your army is aiming to touch the other sides trench three times. If you are hit with a bullet (rolled up paper!) you are allowed to miraculously go back to your trench and re-enter the war. No correspondence will be entered into once a victor is decided.

“The water in the trenches through which we waded was alive with a multitude of swimming frogs. Red slugs crawled up the side of the trenches and strange beetles with dangerous looking horns wriggled along dry ledges and invaded the dugouts, in search of the lice that infested them.” 

“We slept in our clothes and cut our hair short so that it would tuck inside our caps. Dressing simply meant putting on our boots. There were times when we had to scrape the lice off with the blunt edge of a knife and our underclothes stuck to us. “ 

"We must looked out for our bread "We must looked out for our bread. The rats have become much more numerous lately because the trenches are no longer in good condition. The rats here are particularly repulsive, they are so fat - the kind we call corpse-rats. They have shocking, evil, naked faces, and it is nauseating to see their long, nude tails."

Trench Warfare: Key Words Sandbags Dug-out Duck boards Fire step Wooden periscope Barbed wire Stalemate Sentry No Mans Land Sniper Over the Top Parapet Artillery bombardment Reconnaissance Parados