Trench Warfare:
Trench war fare in world war one was one of the most harsh ways of fighting however also one of the most affective. Within trench warfare comes many parts, some including the dieses and sickness that the soldiers were prone to also the harsh ways of battle resulting in thousands of casualties, along with the limit in food and daily necessities. Some parts were horrible such as death as it was a constant companion to those fighting. In busy sectors the constant shellfire directed by the enemy brought random death, whether their victims were lounging in a trench or lying ready to fire.
The dieses in the trenches were horrid. Most are spread and carried by the many thousands of rats, lice and many other rodents. There were two main types, the brown and the black rat. Both were hated but the brown rat was especially feared. They would often get to be as big as a cat; this growth comes from them gorging themselves on human remains. "I saw some rats running from under the dead men's greatcoats, enormous rats, and fat with human flesh…" (life in a trench, 2012) other sicknesses included, Trench Mouth and Trench Fever , and trench foot. Due to the mud and the water infections would happen in the feet leading to trench foot.
Typically, a solider would be expected to serve a spell in the front line. This would be followed by a time spent in support, and then in reserve lines. A period of rest would follow; generally short in duration before the whole cycle of trench duty would start fresh. The men would be inspected by either the company or platoon commander. Inspections included being checked for health issues such as trench foot. “No commander was ever privileged to lead a finer force; no commander ever derived greater inspiration from the performance of his troops.” ― John J. Pershing. (http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/world-war-i) Once this had been completed they would be given daily chores, they could consist of refilling of sandbags, the repair of the duckboards on the floor of the trench and draining of trenches.
Patrols would often be sent out into No Man’s Land. Some men would be tasked with repairing or adding barbed wire to the front line. Others however would go out to assigned listening posts, hoping to pick up information from the enemy lines. Not to mention the amount of fire that they were under whenever they were in the trenches fighting.
Soldiers were equipped with a variety of weaponry, including the grenade; the grenade was the primary weapon for the solider. The hand grenade is an old weapon. The armies found that the hand grenade was suited for trench combat as it was a great way to take out masses of soldiers without requiring precision. Some grenades were homemade, and called "Jam Pots." They were sometimes made from old tin cans.
The machine gun was another weapon of trench warfare, and, often, the weapon we imagine when thinking of World War I. Assaulting the enemy became much more difficult as a result of these weapons. In addition to the machine gun there were snipers, used by highly accurate marksmen as a one shot one kill method. Although not necessarily thought of as weaponry, barbed wire was an important part of trench warfare. It slowed the enemy in crossing the battlefield, and was important defensive equipment. This slowed the enemy advancing fast towards them. One other piece of deadly equipment used in world war one is gas, some types include, mustard gas and chlorine gas. This was used to kill large amounts of people. The gas would not kill instantly but would harm the soldier’s respiratory system.
There was one main way of fighting in the trenches but in the background many other things were taking place, for example tunnels. The soldiers would dig tunnels to place mines in them. These mines would destroy a portion of the enemy trench, and the soldiers could then take advantage of the confusion to launch an attack. However this method did not last long as the tunnels were discovered by the enemy and they would attack them underground. One other method used was raids, where soldiers would gain prisoners. “My centre is giving way; my right is in retreat, situation excellent. I attack.” ― Ferdinand Foch (http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/world-war-i, 2009)
For trench warfare to take place the trenches would have to be constructed. The construction of trenches was difficult. According to the British trench guidelines, it took nearly six hours for 450 men to construct 250 meters of trench. After this they would have to add the other materials necessary this was the barbed wire and duck bored to limit the soldiers walking in water.
Another terrible aspect of the trenches was the weather conditions. Most trenches were muddy, cold, and full of water. Many soldiers simply died from exposure to the cold, as the temperature within a trench was often below zero in the winter. The soldiers would have limited protection at night when sleeping; often resulting in frostbite leading to soldiers losing fingers and toes. “Human nerves quickly get accustomed to the most unusual conditions and circumstances and I noticed that quite a number of men actually fell asleep from sheer exhaustion in the trenches, in spite of the roaring of the cannon about us and the whizzing of shrapnel over our heads.” Fritz Kreisler. (http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/f/fritzkreis373845.html, 2008)
In addition to the physical harm of war, soldiers often suffer from psychological problems as well. Soldiers who would witness some of the traumatic things in war and may never recover. This was called "shell shock", what we would know today as stress disorder. “I would lie here in the trenches with your picture next to me”. (http://www.searchquotes.com/search/Trenches/, 2010)
Some soldiers hated the war so much they wanted to get out, the only way out was an injury. Soldiers sometimes hoped for a “Blighty” wound, and some even took the matter into their own hands. Some soldiers shot themselves in hopes of getting out of war. This was a capital offense, and, for some countries, a man might face execution for this crime.
There was limited food during the time of world war one and, soldiers did not have the luxury of hot meals very often. They had little variety in food, which mostly came in tins or cans. At most times, however, soldiers had to rely on what they had, typically stale crackers and salted meat.
Apart from all the horrid and brutal parts trench warfare came relief when the war finally ended. Trench warfare took its toll on many, but the ones who survived would have to say it was the part of any war that worked, and gained success.
Trench war fare in world war one was one of the most harsh ways of fighting however also one of the most affective. Within trench warfare comes many parts, some including the dieses and sickness that the soldiers were prone to also the harsh ways of battle resulting in thousands of casualties, along with the limit in food and daily necessities. Some parts were horrible such as death as it was a constant companion to those fighting. In busy sectors the constant shellfire directed by the enemy brought random death, whether their victims were lounging in a trench or lying ready to fire.
The dieses in the trenches were horrid. Most are spread and carried by the many thousands of rats, lice and many other rodents. There were two main types, the brown and the black rat. Both were hated but the brown rat was especially feared. They would often get to be as big as a cat; this growth comes from them gorging themselves on human remains. "I saw some rats running from under the dead men's greatcoats, enormous rats, and fat with human flesh…" (life in a trench, 2012) other sicknesses included, Trench Mouth and Trench Fever , and trench foot. Due to the mud and the water infections would happen in the feet leading to trench foot.
Typically, a solider would be expected to serve a spell in the front line. This would be followed by a time spent in support, and then in reserve lines. A period of rest would follow; generally short in duration before the whole cycle of trench duty would start fresh. The men would be inspected by either the company or platoon commander. Inspections included being checked for health issues such as trench foot. “No commander was ever privileged to lead a finer force; no commander ever derived greater inspiration from the performance of his troops.” ― John J. Pershing. (http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/world-war-i) Once this had been completed they would be given daily chores, they could consist of refilling of sandbags, the repair of the duckboards on the floor of the trench and draining of trenches.
Patrols would often be sent out into No Man’s Land. Some men would be tasked with repairing or adding barbed wire to the front line. Others however would go out to assigned listening posts, hoping to pick up information from the enemy lines. Not to mention the amount of fire that they were under whenever they were in the trenches fighting.
Soldiers were equipped with a variety of weaponry, including the grenade; the grenade was the primary weapon for the solider. The hand grenade is an old weapon. The armies found that the hand grenade was suited for trench combat as it was a great way to take out masses of soldiers without requiring precision. Some grenades were homemade, and called "Jam Pots." They were sometimes made from old tin cans.
The machine gun was another weapon of trench warfare, and, often, the weapon we imagine when thinking of World War I. Assaulting the enemy became much more difficult as a result of these weapons. In addition to the machine gun there were snipers, used by highly accurate marksmen as a one shot one kill method. Although not necessarily thought of as weaponry, barbed wire was an important part of trench warfare. It slowed the enemy in crossing the battlefield, and was important defensive equipment. This slowed the enemy advancing fast towards them. One other piece of deadly equipment used in world war one is gas, some types include, mustard gas and chlorine gas. This was used to kill large amounts of people. The gas would not kill instantly but would harm the soldier’s respiratory system.
There was one main way of fighting in the trenches but in the background many other things were taking place, for example tunnels. The soldiers would dig tunnels to place mines in them. These mines would destroy a portion of the enemy trench, and the soldiers could then take advantage of the confusion to launch an attack. However this method did not last long as the tunnels were discovered by the enemy and they would attack them underground. One other method used was raids, where soldiers would gain prisoners. “My centre is giving way; my right is in retreat, situation excellent. I attack.” ― Ferdinand Foch (http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/world-war-i, 2009)
For trench warfare to take place the trenches would have to be constructed. The construction of trenches was difficult. According to the British trench guidelines, it took nearly six hours for 450 men to construct 250 meters of trench. After this they would have to add the other materials necessary this was the barbed wire and duck bored to limit the soldiers walking in water.
Another terrible aspect of the trenches was the weather conditions. Most trenches were muddy, cold, and full of water. Many soldiers simply died from exposure to the cold, as the temperature within a trench was often below zero in the winter. The soldiers would have limited protection at night when sleeping; often resulting in frostbite leading to soldiers losing fingers and toes. “Human nerves quickly get accustomed to the most unusual conditions and circumstances and I noticed that quite a number of men actually fell asleep from sheer exhaustion in the trenches, in spite of the roaring of the cannon about us and the whizzing of shrapnel over our heads.” Fritz Kreisler. (http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/f/fritzkreis373845.html, 2008)
In addition to the physical harm of war, soldiers often suffer from psychological problems as well. Soldiers who would witness some of the traumatic things in war and may never recover. This was called "shell shock", what we would know today as stress disorder. “I would lie here in the trenches with your picture next to me”. (http://www.searchquotes.com/search/Trenches/, 2010)
Some soldiers hated the war so much they wanted to get out, the only way out was an injury. Soldiers sometimes hoped for a “Blighty” wound, and some even took the matter into their own hands. Some soldiers shot themselves in hopes of getting out of war. This was a capital offense, and, for some countries, a man might face execution for this crime.
There was limited food during the time of world war one and, soldiers did not have the luxury of hot meals very often. They had little variety in food, which mostly came in tins or cans. At most times, however, soldiers had to rely on what they had, typically stale crackers and salted meat.
Apart from all the horrid and brutal parts trench warfare came relief when the war finally ended. Trench warfare took its toll on many, but the ones who survived would have to say it was the part of any war that worked, and gained success.