The effects of the trenches

Lesson starter:On a new page, put the above heading as the middle of a mind map.

Today we will learn about the effects the trenches had on men

Today we will…

• Understand the physical effects of living in the trenches

• Understand the psychological effects of living in trenches

There were two types of effects the trenches had on men…

PHYSICAL

And

PSYCHOLOGICAL

What do you think each of these mean?

Vocabulary

Physical – affecting the body

Psychological – affecting the mind

Take notes as part of your mind map as we move

through today’s presentation

The effect

s of

the tr

enches

psychological

physical

• Trench Foot was an extremely painful condition that caused a soldiers foot to swell up and go numb.

• Soldiers would often have to have their foot amputated as a result of this.

• Dry socks and whale-oil grease helped to prevent it.

Trench foot

Early stages

Trench foot inspection

Lice

• These parasites were rife in the trenches

• Caused terrible itching

German soldiers picking lice off uniforms

Trench fever• This fever could

last for up to five days

• It was carried from man to man through body lice

• The symptoms were much like a bad flu – fever, nausea, diarrhoea etc

Rats• Primary sources

tell us about ‘rats the size of cats’

• They feasted on dead bodies and soldier’s rations

Rat hunting in the trenches

Gas• Chlorine gas was

greeny-yellow and caused you to choke violently and stopped you being able to see

• It caused a terrible slow painful death

• Gas masks were developed by both sides

• Mustard gas was even worse

• It damaged skin, leaving huge red blisters which were agony

• It also caused internal bleeding and could blind you

Shells• Shells caused the

most injuries of any weapons

• Shrapnel would fly off exploding shells and give men terrible injuries

• Some were blinded or killed by 200mph flying shrapnel

Machine guns• These were

another huge killer

• Many men died at the hands of these killers

• Many lost legs or arms

Shell Shock• This was classed as a

mental illness during WW1

• Those who had shell shock had slower reaction times and tired easily

• They often could not concentrate and were very nervous

• The noise and impact of shells was blamed

Other psychological effects• Men watched friends and family die

• They also had to kill fathers, brothers, sons

• Many suffered from• Depression• Stress• Hallucinations• Anxiety• Nightmares• These things had a huge stigma

attached to them in those days and men were discouraged from discussing their feelings…

• You should now have a detailed mind map showing both physical and psychological effects of trench warfare

• You will now watch several Video clips about trench life

• Add any points you take from these to your mind map

• BBC Clips - trenches

Today we will…

• Understand the physical effects of living in the trenches

• Understand the psychological effects of living in trenches