The combination of wire and firepower was the cause of most failed attacks in trench warfare and their very high casualties. Liddell Hart identified barbed wire and the machine gun as the elements that had to be broken to regain a mobile battlefield.
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Why did trenches fail?
The widespread use of machine guns and rapid-firing artillery pieces on the Western Front meant that any exposed soldier was vulnerable. Protection from enemy fire could only be achieved by digging into the earth. Assaults were carried out across “No Man’s Land” between the opposing trenches.
Why was trench warfare so bad in ww1?
Rain caused the trenches to flood and get muddy. Mud could clog up weapons and make it hard to move in battle. Also, the constant moisture could cause an infection called Trench Foot that, if untreated, could become so bad that a soldier’s feet would have to be amputated. Cold weather was dangerous, too.
Was trench warfare a successful tactic?
Trench warfare caused enormous numbers of casualties.
Not surprisingly, this approach was rarely effective, and often led to mass casualties.
In what way did trench warfare turn out to be a disadvantage?
In what way did trench warfare turn out to be a disadvantage to both Germany and the Allies in the war? Troops were basically trapped in their trenches, preventing progress toward seizing enemy territory.
What was the result of trench warfare?
In battle, soldiers had to charge out of the trenches and across no-man’s land into a hail of bullets and shrapnel and poison gas. They were easy targets and casualties were enormously high. By the end of 1914, after just five months of fighting, the number of dead and wounded exceeded four million men.
What was the worst thing about trench warfare?
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.
What did ww1 smell like?
Question: What was the smell like while fighting in the trenches in World War I? Answer: The smell in the trenches can only be imagined: rotting bodies, gunpowder, rats, human and other excrement and urine, as well as the damp smell of rotting clothes, oil, and many other smells mixed into one foul cesspit of a smell.
Did rats eat soldiers ww1?
More horrifically the rodents were sometimes referred to as corpse rats. They bred rapidly in their millions and swarmed through No-Mans Land gnawing the corpses of fallen soldiers. The rats would taut sleeping soldiers, creeping over them at night. There were long bouts of boredom and rat hunting became a sport.
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 was there no trench warfare in ww2?
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.
Do ww1 trenches still exist?
A few of these places are private or public sites with original or reconstructed trenches preserved as a museum or memorial. Nevertheless, there are still remains of trenches to be found in remote parts of the battlefields such as the woods of the Argonne, Verdun and the mountains of the Vosges.
What were the pros and cons of trench warfare?
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF TRENCH WARFARE
Trenches were easy to make, easy to defend, cheap to build, and don’t need lots of men to defend them. Unfortunately trenches are wet, cold, and hard to get in an out of without being seen by the enemy.
How did trench warfare impact the home front?
The war led to inflation and many poorer families could not afford the increase in food prices. The impact of the German U-boat campaign also led to food shortages and this hit home when rationing was brought in by the government in February 1918.
What broke the stalemate of trench warfare?
The treaty of Versailles was signed in November 1918, it signalled the end of the gruelling 4 years of trench warfare. The German’s attack was what finally broke the stalemate, but if the other factors weren’t taken into account, it could have been a very different story.
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.
How did soldiers sleep in trenches?
Getting to sleep
When able to rest, soldiers in front line trenches would try and shelter from the elements in dugouts. These varied from deep underground shelters to small hollows in the side of trenches – as shown here.
Which war was the worst?
Wars and armed conflicts
| Event | Lowest estimate | Location |
|---|---|---|
| World War II | 70,000,000 | Worldwide |
| Mongol conquests | 30,000,000 | Eurasia |
| Taiping Rebellion | 20,000,000 | China |
| European colonization of the Americas | 8,400,000 | Americas |
What was the worst job in ww1?
Of all the jobs in the infantry, “the runner’s job was the hardest and most dangerous,” World War I veteran Lt. Allan L. Dexter observed in a 1931 newspaper article. “With a runner, it was merely a question of how long he would last before being wounded or killed.”
How many people died in ww1 because of trench warfare?
The total number of deaths included 9.7 million military personnel and about 10 million civilians.
How did soldiers go to the toilet in ww1?
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.