Embedded Files
Learning Intention: We will be learning about the experiences of soldiers in the trenches during World War 1
Success Criteria:
I will be successful when I am able to explain the experiences of soldiers during World War 1
I will be successful when I am able to examine the trench system on the Western and Eastern Fronts and evaluate its impact
I will be successful when I am able to analyse sources to show the nature of World War 1
THE NATURE OF BATTLE - TRENCHES
THE NATURE OF BATTLE - TRENCHES
Look at the following quote:
"...In the 19th century the speedy victory of the Prussian army over France in 1870 convinced European general staff that rapid mobilisation by rail, quicky-firing artillery and a focus on attack would make wars short and decisive. Those ideas were put to the test in World War 1. The four years of trench warfare on the western front proved them wrong..." (British 'Economist' magazine, January 2018)
What does the quote reveal about the nature of battle in World War 1?
Structure of the Trenches
Structure of the Trenches
Comprised the Western Front
There were front line-trenches, communication trenches and reserve trenches. Behind the front line were observation posts, first-aid posts, signal depots, ammunition dumps and so on
In between the allied front line and the German front-line was an area called no-man's land.
No-man's land was a fearful place as it was often mined; it could contain shell craters which could be several metres deep; and men of both sides feared being trapped in no-man's land, perhaps caught on barbed wire which was placed before the front line to protect it
Life in the Trenches
Life in the Trenches
The purpose of any battle along the Western Front was to break through the enemy's line of trenches
As the war of attrition (a war of exhaustion and involves each side attempting to wear down the other side rather than achieving an immediate clear-cut victory) took hold and it became apparent that no breakthrough was coming, trenches became more elaborate as each month passed
German Trenches
German Trenches
As the Germans were the first to decide where to stand fast and dig, they had been able to choose the best places to build their trenches. The possession of the higher ground not only gave the Germans a tactical advantage, but it forced the British and French to live in the worst conditions. Most of this area was rarely a few feet above sea level. As soon as soldiers began to dig down they would invariably find water two or three feet below the surface. Water-logged trenches were a constant problem for soldiers on the Western Front.
The German trenches were sophisticated and elaborate, with some of the living quarters almost 50 ft. below the surface. The German trenches had electricity, beds, toilets, and other necessities that differed from the open-air trenches of the Allies.
"As one can't possibly feel happy in a place where all nature has been devastated, we have done our best to improve things. First we built quite a neat causeway of logs, with a railing to it, along the bottom of the valley. Then, from a pine wood close by which had also been destroyed by shells, we dragged all the best tree-tops and stuck them upright in the ground; certainly they have no roots, but we don't expect to be here more than a month and they are sure to stay green that long. Out of the gardens of the ruined châteaux of Hollebecke and Camp we fetched rhododendrons, box, snowdrops and primroses, and made quite nice little flower-beds."
British Trenches
British Trenches
The typical trench system for the British consisted of a series of two, three, four, or more trench lines running parallel to each other and being at least 1 mile (1.6 km) in depth. Each trench was dug in a type of zigzag so that no enemy, standing at one end, could fire for more than a few yards down its length. Each of the main lines of trenches was connected to each other and to the rear by a series of communications trenches that were dug roughly perpendicular to them.
Food, ammunition, fresh troops, mail, and orders were delivered through these trenches. The intricate network of trenches contained command posts, forward supply dumps, first-aid stations, kitchens, and latrines. Most importantly, it had machine-gun emplacements to defend against an assault, and it had dugouts deep enough to shelter large numbers of defending troops during an enemy bombardment.
"The soil is soft clay, admirably suited for entrenching, tunnelling, and mine warfare - when it is dry. As an outside observer, I do not see why the war in this area should not go on for a hundred years, without any decisive result. What is happening now is precisely what happened last year. The only difference is that the trenches are deeper, dug-outs better made, tunnels are longer, and the charges of explosives heavier.
Everywhere there are trenches, barbed wire, machine guns where they are least expected, and all the complicated arrangements for defence. The trenches are very deep, very narrow, and very wet. Streams of water run at the bottom."
Create a table comparing key differences between the German and British Trenches
Create a table comparing key differences between the German and British Trenches
Create an OPVL Source Analysis for this source:
Create an OPVL Source Analysis for this source:
Watch this video and answer the questions:
Watch this video and answer the questions:
yt5s.io-Trench Warfare in World War 1 I THE GREAT WAR Special.mp4What were the main purposes of trenches in World War I?
How were trenches constructed and what were their basic design features?
What was the daily routine like for soldiers in the trenches?
What were some of the challenges and dangers faced by soldiers in the trenches?
How did communication take place in the trenches and what were the main methods used?
What were some of the hardships and living conditions experienced by soldiers in the trenches, including issues like food, disease, and hygiene?
Analyse the psychological and physical impact experienced by soldiers during trench warfare in World War 1?
Analyse the psychological and physical impact experienced by soldiers during trench warfare in World War 1?
As a class, mark this introduction to an essay answering the question above:
As a class, mark this introduction to an essay answering the question above:
World War I, also known as the Great War, witnessed a horrific phenomenon that would forever change the face of warfare - trench warfare. During this unprecedented conflict, soldiers on both sides endured unimaginable hardships, witnessed horrors beyond comprehension, and faced a profound impact on their psychological and physical well-being. This essay delves into the historical account of the psychological and physical impacts experienced by soldiers during trench warfare in World War I, shedding light on the tremendous sacrifices made by these brave men on the front lines.
Handout: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jKiRaJgS5vab7DKZ05cEx1C9AuMdsF0_aHQuO51FDXY/edit?usp=sharing
Write your own introduction to this essay, using appropriate format.
Blackadder Goes Forth
Blackadder Goes Forth
Page updated
Report abuse