1. Stalemate and Attrition
Trench Warfare
Stalemate and Attrition

2. The Western Front in 1914

3. The Western Front in 1918

4. Change over the course of the war

5. Conclusions?
What can you conclude about the effectiveness of trench warfare during WWI from the maps?

6. Trench warfare had resulted in a “tie”
Neither side could gain territory
Defensive tactics were more effective than offensive
Gains were only measured in metres
Each side seemed to only try to kill as many enemy soldiers as possible

7. Germans dug defensive fortifications (on high ground overlooking their enemies) along a long “front” from Belgium to Switzerland
The French and British, and later Canadians and others, also “dug in” and the armies faced each other in what is now known as trench warfare

8. German Trenches

9. Canadian Trenches

10. The Trench System

11. Going Over the Top

12. The Trench Cycle
Typically, a battalion would be expected to serve a spell in the front lines. This would be followed by a stint in support, and then reserve lines. A period of rest would follow- generally short in duration- before the cycle would begin again.
In reality the cycle was determined by the necessities of the situation. The number of days spent in each part of the cycle varied widely.
In one calendar year, a man might expect to spend…
80 days in the front lone
40 in support
120 in reserve
70 at rest
14 days off

14. Daily Death in the Trenches
Death was a constant companion to those serving in the line, even when no raid or attack was launched. In busy sectors, the constant shellfire directed by the enemy brought random death, whether the victims were lounging in a trench or lying in a dugout. Because of this shellfire, many men were buried instantly and their bodies were never found)
Similarly, novices were cautioned against their natural inclination to peer over the parapet of the trench into No Man’s Land. Many men dies on their first day as a consequence of a well aimed sniper bullet
It has been estimated that one third of Allied casualties on the Western Front were actually sustained in the trenches.

15. Breakfast Truce
In essentially every area of the front line at some time or other, both sides would adopt an unofficial truce while breakfast was served and eaten. This truce extended to the wagons which delivered the food. Truces such as these did not last long.

16. Chores in the Trenches
After breakfast, the commander would assign chores:
Refilling sandbags
Repairing duckboards
Draining water
Reinforcing walls
Cleaning and preparing latrines

17. Daily Boredom
Given that each side’s front line was constantly under watch by snipers and lookouts during the day, movement was logically restricted to night time. Thus, once men had completed their chores, they were free to attend to more personal matters like reading and writing letter home.
Meals were also prepared
Wherever possible, men slept (although often fro only a few minutes before it was time to move on to another task)

18. …And the Smell
Finally, no overview of trench life can avoid the aspect that instantly struck visitors to the front lines: the reek given off by numerous conflicting sources. Rotting carcasses lay around in the thousands (For Example, Approx men lay killed on the battlefields of The Somme).
Overflowing latrines would also give a horrible stench
Men who hadn’t bathed in weeks or even months would smell of dried sweat and dirty feet
Creosol or chloride of lime was used to rid men of constant threat of disease and infection
Also, the smell of cordite (lingering from poison gas), rotting sandbags, mud, cigarette smoke, food, etc.

21. Trench foot: the rotting of flesh in and around your toes
Trench foot: the rotting of flesh in and around your toes. Caused by constantly wet boots.
Trench mouth: a painful infection in their mouth
Shell-shock: a severe nervous breakdown caused by no escape from fire and threat of death.