Life in the trenches 100 years on, why has trench warfare come to define WWI?
World War I represented a major shift in warfare practice. Aircraft and machine guns were two examples, but what truly dictated this conflict was trench warfare. The first trenches of note were dug by Germans in September 1914 after their charge through France was halted by Allied forces. In order to avoid losing ground, they dug in, creating deep crevasses to hide in. The Allies quickly realised they couldn’t breach these defences and followed suit. What ensued was a race to outflank the opponent along northern France. The first trenches were fairly shallow ditches, but evolved into an elaborate system of frontline
trenches, support trenches and barbed wire fences. It would take 450 men six hours to construct a trench of just 250 metres (820 feet), after which sandbags, wooden walkway planks and barbed wire needed to be strategically placed to stop flooding, collapsing and enemy advances. They were dug in zigzag patterns to stop enemies taking out an entire group of soldiers in one attack. The most time-effective method of trench digging was standing on the ground and digging downward, but that left soldiers at the mercy of enemy fire. The alternative was to dig down then along, while still in the hole. This was safer but much slower.
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WWI battlefield revealed See how the complex trench system was laid out
Artillery store This area housed heavy artillery and soldiers waiting to be pushed forward. It was located away from the front line to avoid being detonated.
Support road This track was used to bring supplies and weaponry to the front line and remove bodies and soldiers leaving the danger zone.
Front line First line of defence and attack. Most dangerous and at risk of shelling.
Support truck
Artillery
Secondary trench
Refuge area
This vehicle would bring supplies and rotate troops.
Heavy-duty, long-range weaponry stationed well out of enemy reach.
Location for troops waiting to relieve the front line.
Area used by soldiers to hide during heavy shelling attacks. Although slightly in the line of fire, it allowed for swift repositioning after shelling ended.
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