Why Was Trench Warfare so dangerous? The First World War was a horrific few years, several countries in Europe fought in France and that resulted in millions of deaths. These deaths were mostly in trenches, and I would like to explain why trench warfare was so dangerous and resulted in deaths of millions. Firstly, I would like to explain the conditions in trenches; they were not too good. As trenches were dug underground and it rained quite often in the Western front, rainwater would get trapped inside the trenches. And because there was no or poor drainage, the trenches would fill up with water. That will cause most soldiers which walk around the trenches barefoot to have something known as “trench foot”. Trench conditions varied widely …show more content…
Now I would like to explain the military risks. Firstly with the defender or opponent only half a mile to a mile away across no-man’s land, many gun shots or artillery shots and shells may land near or in your trench. Trench warfare was also dangerous as troops ran over the trenches and maybe into the barbwire. If they get stuck, they will definitely get shot and die or fall down and get hit by artilleries. When the opponent team plans a raid, your team will have to react and try to ‘breakthrough’. The chances of a shell from the opponent team to hit your trench while you were defending were very likely. Chance of death was very likely in every attack and the thrill and horror of knowing that death was that likely made trench warfare even more dangerous. Trench warfare was dangerous as if you had to go and fix your barbwire or make it stronger, it was dangerous. You will have to climb over the top and fix …show more content…
If you lived in a trench in the Western front, there was general pattern followed for trench routine was for the person and his section or group to spend 4 days in the front line, then 4 days in close reserve and finally 4 at rest. Although this varied a lot and that depended on the conditions, the weather and the strategies planned in the minds of the leaders or generals. The conditions of trenches were unpleasant, disgusting, filthy and dirty. There was a lot of muddy water from the rain as there is no proper drainage for the rainwater. And as it rained quite often in that region, rainwater was often collected and may overflow in some areas. The Germans had dugouts; they were created so that they would give shelter from enemy shell fire and from the weather. Within a few months, there was even a cellar in the dugouts. A dugout is big enough for a few men (it may be able to hold ten or more). The Germans even included luxuries such as piped water, concrete walls, proper drainage, a sewage system, a telephone system and even heating! This was due to strategy, as the Germans thought they would be in the trenches for longer rather than the British and French which just lived in trenches. All the German soldiers were expected to evacuate the dugouts in less than three minutes before they were allowed to live in