Grade 10 History

TRENCH WARFARE

The Canadian government wanted to encourage men to enlist for war.

They said the war would be safe, hardly any fighting, a good time and over by Christmas.

They used advertising posters to encourage this idea!A picture of soldiers going

‘Over the Top’

Key Points of Trench Key Points of Trench WarfareWarfare

►Trenches were built during WWI Trenches were built during WWI as a defense from machine guns as a defense from machine guns and artillery.and artillery.

►Trenches were built in a zigzag, in Trenches were built in a zigzag, in order to limit the amount of order to limit the amount of casualties from artillery casualties from artillery explosions.explosions.

The reality of ‘going over the top’ was very different!

Soldiers were expected to carry all of their equipment with them at all times.

They were supposed to keep it clean and in good condition – they were members of the British Army after all.

How the uniform and equipment changed after just three weeks in the

trenches…

Posters always showed men ready and willing to fight.

They never showed the boredom of the trenches or actual fighting taking place.

Why do you think the government showed no fighting?

StalemateStalemate► Is a break in fighting and combatIs a break in fighting and combat

►Because armies dug into trenches, it made Because armies dug into trenches, it made it hard to fight.it hard to fight.

► It was difficult to win over or take an It was difficult to win over or take an enemy's trenches defended with machine enemy's trenches defended with machine guns and lined with barbed wireguns and lined with barbed wire

► ►This meant that the war was in a stalemate. This meant that the war was in a stalemate.

No Man’s LandNo Man’s Land

►Between the trenches was no man's Between the trenches was no man's land.land.

► It was pitted with craters and It was pitted with craters and blackened tree stumps from constant blackened tree stumps from constant shelling.shelling.

No Man’s LandNo Man’s Land

Over the TopOver the Top

►When soldiers went into no man’s land When soldiers went into no man’s land towards the enemy trenches into hand towards the enemy trenches into hand to hand combat from the front line to hand combat from the front line trenchestrenches

Going over the topGoing over the top

Digging in – Belgium Troops Digging in – Belgium Troops waiting for German Attackwaiting for German Attack

German TrenchesGerman Trenches

Building the trenchesBuilding the trenches

German Trench in RussiaGerman Trench in Russia

Russian TrenchesRussian Trenches

Home Sweet Home?Home Sweet Home?

Australian Medical TroopsAustralian Medical Troops

Sleeping in the TrenchesSleeping in the Trenches

Types of TrenchesTypes of Trenches

►There were many different types There were many different types of trenches, each one serving a of trenches, each one serving a different purpose. different purpose.

►The The firing trench firing trench was located at was located at the edge of “No Man’s Land”. the edge of “No Man’s Land”. These trenches contained machine These trenches contained machine gun nests and observation posts.gun nests and observation posts.

►Support Trenches Support Trenches contained contained support troops who would back up support troops who would back up the troops in the firing trench the troops in the firing trench when being invaded. when being invaded.

►Communication TrenchCommunication Trench located located within the support trench was within the support trench was used to communicate between used to communicate between trenches.trenches.

►Reserve TrenchReserve Trench contained reserve contained reserve soldiers. Also contained latrines, soldiers. Also contained latrines, aid posts and kitchen.aid posts and kitchen.

►Soldiers would cycle through each Soldiers would cycle through each of the trenches taking turns of the trenches taking turns patrolling each trench. This was patrolling each trench. This was called “called “The Trench Cycle”The Trench Cycle”..

►Barbed WireBarbed Wire was placed a few feet was placed a few feet ahead of the firing trench. This ahead of the firing trench. This was used to slow down enemy was used to slow down enemy attack.attack.

►Trench FootTrench Foot Swelling and rotting Swelling and rotting of legs, feet, toes due to exposure of legs, feet, toes due to exposure to water. Treatment: dry feet, to water. Treatment: dry feet, whale blubber or amputation.whale blubber or amputation.

Wet & MuddyWet & Muddy

Lice:Lice:

► Lice eggs would remain in the seams Lice eggs would remain in the seams of uniforms, hatching as the of uniforms, hatching as the soldier’s body warmed them. Lice soldier’s body warmed them. Lice caused caused “Trench Fever”“Trench Fever”. Treatment: . Treatment: Burn seams, keep hair short.Burn seams, keep hair short.

Rats:Rats:

►Grew to the size of cats, caused Grew to the size of cats, caused disease, spread infection and disease, spread infection and contaminate food. Treatment: Use contaminate food. Treatment: Use guns, bayonets or club rats to guns, bayonets or club rats to death.death.

Shell Shock:Shell Shock:

►Psychological stress from Psychological stress from constant tension of war, bombing, constant tension of war, bombing, fighting. Treatment: virtually fighting. Treatment: virtually none, soldiers considered none, soldiers considered cowards.cowards.

No smiling and relaxed faces…

No clean uniforms…

Their equipment is scattered everywhere…

Boredom and sleep are obvious…

The soldiers had very little decent food, and what food they had was often attacked by rats.

These rats were the size of small rabbits and badgers because they had fed on the decomposing bodies of dead soldiers.

You have looked at the posters that the government used to persuade men to go to war.

You have looked at photographs showing what war was really like.

On your handout, you are to write a proper paragraph explaining what YOU think war was really like. You could describe some of the photographs/posters and explain how they might make people feel about fighting!