Trench Life

Conditions Constant fear of attack Dead bodies, lice, rats Exposed to weather Mud led to trench foot

Mental Torture Boring, guard duty, repairing trenches High casualties during fighting Shelling, gas attacks led to breakdowns “shell shock”

Frontlines Defense was easier than offense (attack) Sometimes very close (50 yards); sniper attacks Unofficial truces at times

No Man’s Land The ground separating trenches Barbed wire, mines, parapets (sandbags) Whistles blown before attacks Troops ordered to advance “Over the top”

Artillery Barrages Both sides tried to destroy trenches with artillery (giant guns) Often inaccurate and created craters Heavy shelling before major attacks Usually failed to destroy trenches

The Somme The front line – major battle, suffered terribly 70% of troops killed