Why Were The Trenches Built?

Trenches were common throughout the Western Front. Long, narrow trenches dug into the ground at the front, usually by the infantry soldiers who would occupy them for weeks at a time, were designed to protect World War I troops from machine-gun fire and artillery attack from the air.

What was the purpose of the trenches?

Trenches provided relative protection against increasingly lethal weaponry. Soldiers dug in to defend themselves against shrapnel and bullets. On the Western Front, trenches began as simple ditches and evolved into complex networks stretching over 250 miles (402 kilometres) through France and Belgium.

Why did they use trenches in ww1?

During World War I, trench warfare was a defensive military tactic used extensively by both sides, allowing soldiers some protection from enemy fire but also hindering troops from readily advancing and thus prolonging the war.

How did the trenches get built?

The trenches were dug by soldiers and there were three ways to dig them. Sometimes the soldiers would simply dig the trenches straight into the ground – a method known as entrenching. Entrenching was fast, but the soldiers were open to enemy fire while they dug. Another method was to extend a trench on one end.

Who built the first trenches in ww1?

The tactical ancestor of modern trench warfare was the system of progressively extended trenches developed by the French military engineer Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban for the attack of fortresses in the 17th century.

Are trenches still used in war?

In fact, trench warfare remains arguably the most effective strategy for infantry where, for whatever reason, armor and air support are lacking. During the Iran-Iraq War (1980–88), after initial gains by the Iraqi army, the fighting settled into years of trench warfare.

Why were the trenches built in zig zags?

All the trenches were dug in a zig-zag pattern so the enemy couldn’t shoot straight down the line and kill many soldiers. If a mortar, grenade or artillery shell would land in the trench, it would only get the soldiers in that section, not further down the line.

How did they build the trenches in ww1?

In most places, the water table was only a metre or so below the surface, meaning that any trench dug in the ground would quickly flood. Consequently, many “trenches” in Flanders were actually above ground and constructed from massive breastworks of sandbags filled with clay.

What were trenches like in ww1?

Trenches were long, narrow ditches dug into the ground where soldiers lived. They were very muddy, uncomfortable and the toilets overflowed. These conditions caused some soldiers to develop a problem called trench foot. There were many lines of German trenches on one side and many lines of Allied trenches on the other.

How and where were the trenches built?

The trenches weren’t dug in one long straight line, but were built as more of a system of trenches. They were dug in a zigzag pattern and there were many levels of trenches along the lines with paths dug so soldiers could travel between the levels. Soldiers generally rotated through three stages of the front.

What was living in the trenches like?

Trench life involved long periods of boredom mixed with brief periods of terror. The threat of death kept soldiers constantly on edge, while poor living conditions and a lack of sleep wore away at their health and stamina.

Why did ww2 not have trenches?

In summary: The ability of radio-coordinated mechanized forces to maneuver in concert was what made trench-warfare untenable for most World War II fronts. These mechanized forces existed at the end of a long supply line, capable of operating at far greater distances and far greater speeds than previously possible.

What weapons caused trench warfare?

Weapons of the Western Front

• Background. Weapons played a big part in creating the difficult and unusual circumstances of trench warfare which the British Army encountered during the First World War (1914-18).
• Artillery.
• Machine guns.
• Aircraft.
• Mortars.
• Mines.
• Rifles.
• Gas.

How long were ww1 trenches?

In total the trenches built during World War I, laid end-to-end, would stretch some 35,000 miles—12,000 of those miles occupied by the Allies, and the rest by the Central Powers.

Who has the best trenches in ww1?

Differences Between German and British Trenches:
Main difference between the two trenches was that the Germans dug their trenches first, which meant they got the better soil conditions because they dug their trenches on higher ground compared to the British trenches.

Who cleaned up ww1 battlefields?

After 1918 the immense task of “clearing up” was carried out by the military and the civilians who were returning to their shattered communities. The landscape in the fighting lines had been smashed to pieces. Roads, woods, farms and villages were often no longer recognisable.

Where is No Man’s Land?

No Man’s Land is the term used by soldiers to describe the ground between the two opposing trenches. Its width along the Western Front could vary a great deal. The average distance in most sectors was about 250 yards (230 metres).

Were there toilets in the trenches?

They also had dug outs, for rest, and latrines. These latrines were trench toilets. They were usually pits dug into the ground between 1.2 metres and 1.5 metres deep. Two people who were called sanitary personnel had the job of keeping the latrines in good condition for each company.

What were trenches like 3 facts?

Top 10 Facts about The Trenches

• Trench warfare was started by the Germans in The First World War.
• There was 2,490 kilometres of trench lines dug during the First World War.
• Most trenches were between 1-2 metres wide and 3 metres deep.
• Trenches weren’t dug in straight lines.

What did the trenches smell like?

The stink of war
Then there was the smell. Stinking mud mingled with rotting corpses, lingering gas, open latrines, wet clothes and unwashed bodies to produce an overpowering stench. The main latrines were located behind the lines, but front-line soldiers had to dig small waste pits in their own trenches.

What happened to ww1 trenches?

In some places, trenches cut across farms, roads, towns, etc. and were naturally filled in by returning inhabitants. In other places, trenches didn’t get in the way and were simply abandoned to nature. In yet others, especially major battlefields, small sections were deliberately preserved.