Date: Name:

Life in the Trenches Notes:

1. What were the trenches?Trenches were long, narrow _________________ dug into the ground where soldiers lived all day and night.Trenches were connected by _________________ trenches.There were many lines of German trenches and many lines of Allied trenches.

2. What are they made of?Built by soldiers, then reinforced by sand, wood, or anything else that could be found. _________________ _________________ was laid out across No Man’s land to prevent the enemy from getting into the trench

3. “Going Over the Top”Attacking infantry _________________ _________________ of their own trenches to attack the enemy. Soldiers had to cross the dangerous "No Man's Land” before getting to the enemy Generally sustained heavy losses, "going over the top" was an _________________ activity for soldiers.

4. Patrolling “No Man’s Land”Patrols would often be sent out into No Mans Land.  Some men would be tasked with repairing or adding _________________ _________________ to the front line.  Others however would go out to assigned _________________ _________________ hoping to pick up valuable information from the enemy lines.

5. Wet, Mud and SmellNo _________________ to keep out the rain and mudRotting bodies lay around in their thousands.  Overflowing latrines would give off the worst smell

Date: Name:

Most men had not had a bath in _________________ or _________________. The feet gave off the worst odor.

6. DeathInexperienced soldiers were cautioned against peering over the _________________ of the trench into No Man’s Land. Many men died on their first day in the trenches due to a precisely aimed sniper’s bullet._________________ of Allied casualties were actually sustained in the trenches. Remember, there weren’t any antibiotics yet so any infections could be deadly. 

7. RatsThere were millions of rats infested trenches.  The _________________ rat was especially feared.  Gorging themselves on human remains, especially the eyes and liver, they could grow to the size of a cat.Rats spread _________________ and _________________ food. 

8. LiceLice were also never-ending problem causing men to itch unceasingly. Even when clothing was washed, lice eggs invariably remained hidden in the _________________.Lice caused _________________ _________________, a particularly painful disease that began suddenly with severe pain followed by high fever.  Many men chose to shave their heads entirely to avoid nits.

9. Trench FootA fungal infection of the feet caused by cold, _________________ and unsanitary trench conditions. It could turn gangrenous and result in _________________. 

10. “Stand To”Most enemy attacks were mounted either before dawn or shortly after dusk under cover of darkness.An hour before _________________ each man would be expected to stand in the trench, rifle loaded, bayonet fixed.