Trench Warfare
Bodies were left to rot in trenches.
In the times even before World War I, the Great War, it was thought the war would be fast, and over quickly. However, the war is most noted for its lack of movement, especially on the Western front, between the British and French, and the German armies.
War was gloried for the citizens back home. Heroes were made everyday, and even the simplest of people could sign up to be one.
But, nothing was magnificent about the war front. People were dying from gun shots, artillery explosions, and daily raids on outposts and trenches.
As the vast number of the combined British/French armies met with the sturdy Germans armies, they clashed in southern Belgium and northern France, neither army was gaining ground. Rather than attempt to push forward, they dug down into the dirt.
Thus, Trench Warfare was born.
War was gloried for the citizens back home. Heroes were made everyday, and even the simplest of people could sign up to be one.
But, nothing was magnificent about the war front. People were dying from gun shots, artillery explosions, and daily raids on outposts and trenches.
As the vast number of the combined British/French armies met with the sturdy Germans armies, they clashed in southern Belgium and northern France, neither army was gaining ground. Rather than attempt to push forward, they dug down into the dirt.
Thus, Trench Warfare was born.
Death by the dozens
People were killed everyday in the trenches, an elaborate maze of holes dug into the ground, troops weaving in and out of them like ants in an ant hill.
Trenches were overcrowd and holes were dug into the side of the walls for men to hide in to get out of the way of the medics and troops running back and forth to aid the wounded.
Stray bullets killed men each day, whether they are staking out a trench, or "relaxing" in a dugout. Nobody was spared.
Mother Nature showed no mercy either. Rain would fall by the gallons into the trenches, creating rivers of water, mud, blood and corpses.
Snipers were constantly on watch, taking off helmets and heads whenever they could. Many men, who spent only their first day in the trenches, were killed by snipers, or buried by artillery explosions.
Trenches were overcrowd and holes were dug into the side of the walls for men to hide in to get out of the way of the medics and troops running back and forth to aid the wounded.
Stray bullets killed men each day, whether they are staking out a trench, or "relaxing" in a dugout. Nobody was spared.
Mother Nature showed no mercy either. Rain would fall by the gallons into the trenches, creating rivers of water, mud, blood and corpses.
Snipers were constantly on watch, taking off helmets and heads whenever they could. Many men, who spent only their first day in the trenches, were killed by snipers, or buried by artillery explosions.
Critters Galore
German soldiers and their rat collection.
Gunfire wasn't the only thing that worried troops.
Rats were constantly running up and down the trenches, vastly outnumbering the troops. The rats lived off of the poorly kept food rations, and off of the rotting corpses of the dead. It wasn't uncommon for men to find rats the size of small cats. The dead bodies were disfigured beyond recognition, the rats would eat out the eyes, and chew off their lips, nose an
Rats were constantly running up and down the trenches, vastly outnumbering the
troops. The rats lived off of the poorly kept food rations, and off of the rotting
corpses of the dead. It wasn't uncommon for men to find rats the size of small
cats. Their faces were disfigured beyond recognition, the rats would eat out
their eyes, and chew off their lips, nose, and ears. Everything was tried to get
rid of the pest, poisons were set out, bayonets were used, and they were even
beat to death with clubs or knives.
One no ted disease was Trench Foot. Trench foot was a fungus that effected the feet of solders, resulting in the foot tissue dying, and finally amputation. This was caused by the mud and water men constantly stood in. As the war went on, the trenches were drained daily, and less men were effected by this terrible fungus.
Rats were constantly running up and down the trenches, vastly outnumbering the troops. The rats lived off of the poorly kept food rations, and off of the rotting corpses of the dead. It wasn't uncommon for men to find rats the size of small cats. The dead bodies were disfigured beyond recognition, the rats would eat out the eyes, and chew off their lips, nose an
Rats were constantly running up and down the trenches, vastly outnumbering the
troops. The rats lived off of the poorly kept food rations, and off of the rotting
corpses of the dead. It wasn't uncommon for men to find rats the size of small
cats. Their faces were disfigured beyond recognition, the rats would eat out
their eyes, and chew off their lips, nose, and ears. Everything was tried to get
rid of the pest, poisons were set out, bayonets were used, and they were even
beat to death with clubs or knives.
One no ted disease was Trench Foot. Trench foot was a fungus that effected the feet of solders, resulting in the foot tissue dying, and finally amputation. This was caused by the mud and water men constantly stood in. As the war went on, the trenches were drained daily, and less men were effected by this terrible fungus.
Combat
Each morning, men were assigned to watch the trench walls, prepared to counter an enemy invasion. Although both sides knew troops were assigned to watch the walls in the morning, many raids still went on at this time.
Food was distributed among the men, and an unofficial truce was made during this time as men ate.
Chores and duties were constantly given, men would drain trenches, repair walls, refill sandbags, dispose of bodies, or create latrines.
Rest was taken whenever possible, between watch duties and chores, even if it was for only a few minutes.
Food was distributed among the men, and an unofficial truce was made during this time as men ate.
Chores and duties were constantly given, men would drain trenches, repair walls, refill sandbags, dispose of bodies, or create latrines.
Rest was taken whenever possible, between watch duties and chores, even if it was for only a few minutes.