Sub questions
How did the construction of the trenches protect the troops?
The trenches were created to serve and protect the soldiers during ww1. There were wooden planks, called duckboards placed on the floor of the trenches to prevent the soldiers standing in the water and receiving the awful disease called ‘trench foot’. The trenches where build in a zigzag pattern so when the enemy attacked the trench the zigzags prevented the explosion from blowing up the entire length. Sand bags where placed at the opening of the trenches (see figure 4). The sand bags absorbed bullets and saved many soldiers’ lives. Fire steps where built along the floor to allow the soldiers to see over the trench walls so when the enemy was attacking they could see clearly. (Overbey. D, 2017)
How did the trenches affect ww1?
The trenches made a huge impact on the war. The trenches were made so the soldiers could move forward using smart strategies such as frontal attacks. This turned into the main feature of the war. No man’s land was the battle field (see figure 5). Each side would send thousands of men to charge at the enemy’s trench and it was extremely rare that any soldiers would ever return (Ndudzo, S, 2016).
How did trench raiding impact ww1?
Trench raids were a difficult and risky thing to do in the time of war (see figure 6). Raids consisted of men who would blacken their faces with burnt cork before crossing the barbed wire. These men would sneak extremely quietly to the enemy’s trench and try and kill and invade as many men as they could. Any attempt to raid a trench during day time would be hopeless because the men would’ve been quickly spotted and shot right there. If the soldiers got close enough without being spotted they would throw grenades into the dugout sections where enemy troops were sleeping. The purpose of this was to capture and kill enemy troops, destroy artillery and guns. And maintain aggressiveness and fighting spirit in the troops by sending them on such missions (Unknown author A, 2017).
How did the trenches affect the health of a soldier’s future?
The trenches in ww1 were muddy, jam-packed and wet. The trenches were infested with rats and lice, this caused diseases that spread extremely quickly and turned into a major problem. Throughout ww1 soldiers spend weeks and weeks in the wet, cold , muddy trenches and started to receive many things such as swollen limbs, damaged nerves and trench foot. Trench foot made your foot numb and in most cases your foot started to rot. Another major disease that was caused in ww1 was the effects of poisonous gases. Trench foot occurred because soldiers were sleeping, standing and walking in water all day (see figure 1 and 2). The soldiers would check each other’s feet and see if they were developing trench foot (see figure 3). 188,000 British soldiers were killed by these gases (Author unknown, 2012). Shell shock was another condition that was developed by many soldiers in the trenches. Shell shock was caused by the bombardment of shells. The soldiers who suffered from shell shock were treated as weaklings. Early signs of shell shock included tiredness, irritability, giddiness, lack of concentration and headaches. Soon enough the men experienced mental breakdowns. This made it impossible for them to stay and fight in the front lines. This was a ghastly thing as now the side was losing soldiers to fight in the front lines. (Unknown author B, 2017).
Why were the trenches used in ww1?
Hundreds of miles of trenches were dug on both sides for each enemy team. The middle of the trenches was called ‘no man’s land’ and this is where most of the battle took place. On each trench, there was networks of barbed wire looped everywhere to stop enemy soldiers from invading. The trenches protected and served the soldiers. WW1 is the first world war that used lots of artillery and machine guns. At the time soldiers would just run at each other with rifles and knives, Trenches allowed you to get closer to the enemy and try and avoid the machine guns and artillery. They also saved many soldiers from dying. (Ndudzo, S 2016)
How did living and fighting in the trenches affect the soldiers on a personal level?
The impact the war made on the soldiers and their families was enormous. The war caused death and huge impacts on the soldier’s health. Trench warfare was used as a tactic to prevent as many soldiers dying. The trenches sure served their purpose but many soldiers still died in the trenches due to the conditions. The trenches worked well by protecting the soldiers from artillery but once a grenade or mustard gas landed on a soldier there was not much hope of future. The trenches were crowed and there were soldiers dying every day. There were dead friends and enemy soldiers scattered around the floor of the trench making it very smelly and unhealthy. (unknown author A , 2016). The effect of seeing dead comrades would affect the soldiers and change their mental health status. The soldier’s families were also impacted by the trenches as it would’ve been terrifying knowing that your dad, brother or uncle were lining up for death and maybe never coming home. If a soldier got shell shock or died the families would sometimes cause a mental illness and this affected their futures. (unknown author A ,2016).
The trenches were created to serve and protect the soldiers during ww1. There were wooden planks, called duckboards placed on the floor of the trenches to prevent the soldiers standing in the water and receiving the awful disease called ‘trench foot’. The trenches where build in a zigzag pattern so when the enemy attacked the trench the zigzags prevented the explosion from blowing up the entire length. Sand bags where placed at the opening of the trenches (see figure 4). The sand bags absorbed bullets and saved many soldiers’ lives. Fire steps where built along the floor to allow the soldiers to see over the trench walls so when the enemy was attacking they could see clearly. (Overbey. D, 2017)
How did the trenches affect ww1?
The trenches made a huge impact on the war. The trenches were made so the soldiers could move forward using smart strategies such as frontal attacks. This turned into the main feature of the war. No man’s land was the battle field (see figure 5). Each side would send thousands of men to charge at the enemy’s trench and it was extremely rare that any soldiers would ever return (Ndudzo, S, 2016).
How did trench raiding impact ww1?
Trench raids were a difficult and risky thing to do in the time of war (see figure 6). Raids consisted of men who would blacken their faces with burnt cork before crossing the barbed wire. These men would sneak extremely quietly to the enemy’s trench and try and kill and invade as many men as they could. Any attempt to raid a trench during day time would be hopeless because the men would’ve been quickly spotted and shot right there. If the soldiers got close enough without being spotted they would throw grenades into the dugout sections where enemy troops were sleeping. The purpose of this was to capture and kill enemy troops, destroy artillery and guns. And maintain aggressiveness and fighting spirit in the troops by sending them on such missions (Unknown author A, 2017).
How did the trenches affect the health of a soldier’s future?
The trenches in ww1 were muddy, jam-packed and wet. The trenches were infested with rats and lice, this caused diseases that spread extremely quickly and turned into a major problem. Throughout ww1 soldiers spend weeks and weeks in the wet, cold , muddy trenches and started to receive many things such as swollen limbs, damaged nerves and trench foot. Trench foot made your foot numb and in most cases your foot started to rot. Another major disease that was caused in ww1 was the effects of poisonous gases. Trench foot occurred because soldiers were sleeping, standing and walking in water all day (see figure 1 and 2). The soldiers would check each other’s feet and see if they were developing trench foot (see figure 3). 188,000 British soldiers were killed by these gases (Author unknown, 2012). Shell shock was another condition that was developed by many soldiers in the trenches. Shell shock was caused by the bombardment of shells. The soldiers who suffered from shell shock were treated as weaklings. Early signs of shell shock included tiredness, irritability, giddiness, lack of concentration and headaches. Soon enough the men experienced mental breakdowns. This made it impossible for them to stay and fight in the front lines. This was a ghastly thing as now the side was losing soldiers to fight in the front lines. (Unknown author B, 2017).
Why were the trenches used in ww1?
Hundreds of miles of trenches were dug on both sides for each enemy team. The middle of the trenches was called ‘no man’s land’ and this is where most of the battle took place. On each trench, there was networks of barbed wire looped everywhere to stop enemy soldiers from invading. The trenches protected and served the soldiers. WW1 is the first world war that used lots of artillery and machine guns. At the time soldiers would just run at each other with rifles and knives, Trenches allowed you to get closer to the enemy and try and avoid the machine guns and artillery. They also saved many soldiers from dying. (Ndudzo, S 2016)
How did living and fighting in the trenches affect the soldiers on a personal level?
The impact the war made on the soldiers and their families was enormous. The war caused death and huge impacts on the soldier’s health. Trench warfare was used as a tactic to prevent as many soldiers dying. The trenches sure served their purpose but many soldiers still died in the trenches due to the conditions. The trenches worked well by protecting the soldiers from artillery but once a grenade or mustard gas landed on a soldier there was not much hope of future. The trenches were crowed and there were soldiers dying every day. There were dead friends and enemy soldiers scattered around the floor of the trench making it very smelly and unhealthy. (unknown author A , 2016). The effect of seeing dead comrades would affect the soldiers and change their mental health status. The soldier’s families were also impacted by the trenches as it would’ve been terrifying knowing that your dad, brother or uncle were lining up for death and maybe never coming home. If a soldier got shell shock or died the families would sometimes cause a mental illness and this affected their futures. (unknown author A ,2016).