The Trenches

Legends of the Fall What do Alfred and Samuel mean when they say this war is different than others? WWI was expected to be short and a war of great movement “Home for Christmas” What was the “Schlieffen Plan?”

The Schlieffen Plan Was the Schlieffen Plan successful? No. [1] Rather than give up territory, the Germans dug trenches to protect themselves from the guns of the advancing Allies.

The Schlieffen Plan [2] The Allies couldn't break the German trench lines and so followed the German example.

Digging the Trenches [3] Soon, the trench lines spread from the North Sea to Switzerland. This short war turned into a stalemate and war of attrition.

Stalemate A situation in which further progress by opposing parties seems impossible

Attrition Gradual wearing down through sustained attack or pressure

Today’s Topics 1. The Trench System 2. Life and Death in the Trenches 3. Trench Warfare

Expectations Assess Canada’s participation in war and contributions to peacekeeping and security Describe Canada’s and Canadians’ contributions to the war effort overseas during World War I and World War II (e.g. Ypres, Vimy Ridge, Passchendale, Hong Kong, Battle of the Atlantic, Dieppe, Sicily, D-Day; contributions of individuals, such as Billy Bishop, Georges Vanier, Tommy Prince; contributions of groups such as Aboriginal peoples; convoys; liberation of prisoners from Nazi concentration/death camps Analyze the impact of scientific and technological developments on Canadians

The Trench System

There were three components of the trenches: Front line trenches Communications trenches No Man’s Land

Front Line Trenches [4] Were usually about seven feet deep and about six feet wide. [5] They had a zigzag pattern – why? To prevent the enemy from shooting straight down the line.

Front Line Trenches [6] Sandbags were put on both sides of the top of the trench to absorb enemy bullets.

Front Line Trenches [7] Lines of barbed wire protected the frontline trench from enemy attacks.

Front Line Trenches [8] The fire step was cut into the side of the trench allowing soldiers to see the enemy.

Communication Trenches [9] Communication trenches linked the front- line trench to the support and reserve trenches. What were they used for? Movement of men Movement of equipment and supplies Clear the wounded

No Man’s Land [10] No Man’s Land represented the area of ground between opposing armies.

No Man’s Land [11] It varied from as little as a few hundred yards to one kilometer.

No Man’s Land What was the effect of artillery shelling on No Man’s Land? Destroyed vegetation Mud-soaked craters Rotting corpses

KEY WORDS Seven Six Zigzag Shooting Sandbags Bullets Barbed wire Fire step Communication Support Reserve No Man’s Land Kilometre Yards

Life and Death in the Trenches Death was a constant companion to those serving in the trenches.

Life and Death in the Trenches [12] Constant shellfire directed by the enemy brought random death Up to one-third of Allied casualties on the Western Front were actually sustained in the trenches. French soldiers try to move a wounded man along a communication trench on the Western Front.

Pests & Diseases Trench coat was one of the terms that came from this period…

Pests & Diseases “Trench Rats” in the millions [13] Rats would gorge themselves on human remains and grow to be the size of a cat.

Pests & Diseases Men would attempt to rid the trenches of these “trench rats” with gunfire, bayonet, and even clubbing them to death.

Pests & Diseases It was futile however: a single rat couple could produce up to 900 offspring in a year

Pests & Diseases Many veteran soldiers swore that rats sensed impending heavy enemy shellfire and consequently disappeared from view.

Pests & Diseases [14] Lice were a never-ending problem, breeding in the seams of filthy clothing and causing men to itch unceasingly. [15] Lice caused Trench Fever, a particularly painful disease that took up to twelve weeks to recover from.

Pests & Diseases [16] Frogs, slugs, and nits also infested the trenches.

Pests & Diseases Trench Foot was another medical condition peculiar to trench life. It was a fungal infection of the feet caused by cold, wet and unsanitary trench conditions. It could turn gangrenous and result in amputation.

Pests & Diseases

Trench Foot Facts: Around 20,000 casualties resulted from trench foot by the end of Improved trench drainage and conditions in general led to a rapid diminishment of cases Local commanders were also held accountable for outbreaks of trench foot As conditions improved in 1915 it rapidly faded, although a trickle of cases continued throughout the war. Trench Mouth also come from this time period

Life and Death in the Trenches The Smell: Rotting carcasses lay around in their thousands. Overflowing latrines Men who had not bathed in weeks or months Creosol or chloride of lime, used to stave off disease and infection. Poison gas Rotting sandbags Stagnant mud Cigarette smoke Cooking food

The Trench Cycle Front line (70 days) Support lines (30 days) Reserve lines (120 days) Rest (70 days) Typically a battalion would be expected to serve: Trench duty

KEY WORDS Shellfire One-third Rats Human remains Cat Lice Trench fever Frogs Slugs Nits Cold Wet Unsanitary Gangrenous Amputation Battalion Front-line Support lines Reserve lines Rest Trench duty

Daily Routine Dawn: The daily morning ritual was often termed the ‘stand to’ or the 'morning hate'. Everyone was ordered to climb up on the fire step to guard against frequent raids by the enemy.

Daily Routine Breakfast: In some areas rum might then be issued to the men. They would then attend to the cleaning of their rifle equipment, which was inspected by officers. Unofficial truce at breakfast, even extended to wagons delivering food.

Daily Routine Inspection and Chores: Inspections by the company or platoon commander Assignment of daily chores: Refilling of sandbags The repair of the duckboards Draining of trenches Repairing the trench itself Preparation of the latrines

Daily Routine Daylight: During the day, men could read and write home. Sleep, if possible. Because of snipers, movement was restricted to night.

Daily Routine Dusk: Morning ritual was repeated again to guard against a surprise attack Patrols would often be sent out into No Man’s Land to repair or add barbed wire to the front line. Others would go to listening posts to spy on the enemy.

Daily Routine Night: Patrolling No Man's Land – two options if enemy encountered 1) Hurry separate ways 2) Engage in hand-to-hand combat – why no handguns? Handguns attract machine gun fire

Daily Routine To stop British night patrols the Germans used a light- shell rocket and pistol flares to light up the battlefield. The most dangerous part of a patrol was returning to their own trenches – why? Because sentries often fired at any movement in front of them. What is this called? Friendly fire

KEY WORDS Stand to Fire step Enemy Breakfast Unofficial truce Inspected Daily chores Read Write home Dusk Surprise attack Patrols No Man’s Land Repair Add Listening posts Hurry separate ways Engage in hand-to-hand combat Handguns attract machine gun fire Patrols Light-shell rocket Pistol flares Returning to their own trenches Sentries

Trench Warfare

Before WWI, commanders placed a great deal of emphasis on using the infantry for massed bayonet charges supported by the cavalry and mobile field artillery.

Machine Guns Infantry tactics had to be reassessed after armies suffered heavy casualties during attacks against machine-guns. Could fire small-calibre rounds per minute Estimates range that a single machine gun to be worth as many as rifles

Machine Guns German machine-gunners were often housed inside pillboxes which were miniature forts They were deeply hated by the infantry and they were more likely to be killed when captured than other soldiers.

Chemical Warfare The Germans also employed chemical warfare with chlorine and mustard gas.

Chemical Warfare Chlorine gas destroyed the respiratory organs of its victims and this led to a slow death by asphyxiation. These had to be employed with the right winds or their own troops would be gassed.

Chemical Warfare At first, Allied troops were supplied with masks of cotton pads soaked in urine to neutralize the chlorine. By July 1915 soldiers were given efficient gas masks and anti-asphyxiation respirators. Otto Dix, A German Gas Attack (1924)

Chemical Warfare Mustard Gas was first used by the German Army in It was the most lethal of all the poisonous chemicals used during the war.

Snipers Snipers crept out at dawn into No Man’s Land land and remained there all day. They wore camouflage and used the cover of a fake tree, waiting for a British soldier to look over the parapet. A common trick was to send up a kite with English writing on it. Anyone who raised his head to read it was shot. Snipers killed many men on their first day.

Flame-throwers Flame-throwers had a short range Contained enough oil to burn 40 seconds at the time. Short-life span because they were the target of rifle and machine-gun fire.

Tunneling Tunneling was also used to dig under No Man’s Land to place mines. Different strategies to discover enemy tunneling: Drive a stick into the ground and hold the other end between the teeth and feel any underground vibrations. Sinking a water-filled oil drum into the floor of the trench, to listen for any noise. It could take as long as a year to dig a tunnel and place a mine. Occasionally, opposing tunnels would be dug into each other Resulted in an underground fight. Destroyed by placing an explosive charge inside. Legends of the Fall conclusion…

Conclusion Consequences of Trench Warfare Deeply marked those who experienced it Romantic notions of war were gone Departure popular view of war as an opportunity for glory British soldiers recovering from amputations

Question to Ponder Why was World War I the last time the tactic of trench warfare ever used?

Research Suggestions All Quiet on the Western Front – Erich Maria Remarque “Over the Top” (1918) John Nash

KEY WORDS Bayonet Cavalry Artillery Machine guns Chlorine Mustard gas Winds Gassed Cotton pads Urine Gas masks Snipers Look over Kite English writing Flamethrowers Tunneling Mines Those who experienced it Opportunity for glory All Quiet on the Western Front