the trenches
DESCRIPTION
THE TRENCHES. The Origin of Trench Warfare. After defeat at the Marne (in France), Germans retreated to a more fortified position built a small network of trenches (long, narrow holes in the ground that would protect soldiers from gunfire) Why? so they could rest after attacks - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
THE TRENCHES
The Origin of Trench Warfare After defeat at the Marne (in France),
Germans retreated to a more fortified position
built a small network of trenches (long, narrow holes in the ground that would protect soldiers from gunfire)
Why? so they could rest after attacks Trenches surrounded with barbed wire
and machine gun nests & supported by heavy artillery
Easily defended & almost impenetrable
Germans able to hold off combined British & French attacks
British & French soon built their own trenches out of necessity
The Race to the Sea
After discovering that neither side could successfully attack the trenches, both sides tried to “outflank” (go around) their enemy
Both sides raced north, believing that the first to reach the coastline would have a great advantage
Both sides reached the coast at the same time!
The end result was that the small trench system was stretched out and cut a line though all of France (approx. 1000 km)
The Trenches As time passed, they became more
complex lined with sandbags, tunnels were
dug and underground dugouts were built
In some cases, concrete was poured in and drainage systems installed
The trenches were several levels deep and were connected by small communications trenches
No Man’s Land
Between enemy trenches was a space called “No Man’s Land”
Entering No Man’s Land meant almost certain death
Most men who were killed in No Man’s Land were left unburied and the smell of death spread for miles in each direction
Over the Top
Soldiers expected to dig & rebuild trenches each night
Generals on both sides not happy to remain on the defensive, & therefore constantly ordered their armies to attack
The order “Over the Top” forced men to get out of their trenches, travel in the open across No Man’s Land and attempt to capture an enemy trench
Millions on both sides died in attacks that accomplished nothing
The Dangers of Trench Warfare The trenches were very dangerous
and horrible places for many reasons You faced the threat of death
constantly You were outside all the time You were constantly wet You were surrounded by dead people
and human waste Some examples of these dangers are
. . .
Trench Fever
Trench Mouth
Lice
Rats