Trench Warfare in World War I: Life and Conditions
Life in the Trenches of World War I
Trench warfare became necessary when neither side was able to advance and overtake the other. The first major trench lines were completed in November 1914. By the end of that year, more than 600 km of trenches were built, starting at the North Sea, running through Belgium and northern France, and ending at the Swiss frontier.
Trench Design and Construction
Most of the trenches were built according to the same basic design. The front wall of the trench, known as the parapet, was lined with sandbags from top to bottom. These provided protection. Periscopes and mirrors were also used to see above the sandbags. The rear wall of the trench, known as the parados, was lined with sandbags as well, protecting against a rear assault. Because constant shelling and frequent rainfall could cause the trench walls to collapse, the walls were reinforced with sandbags, logs, and branches.
Trenches were dug in a zigzag pattern so that if an enemy entered the trench, he could not fire straight down the line. The main trench lines were connected by communicating trenches, allowing for the movement of messages, supplies, and soldiers. The trenches were protected by fields of dense barbed wire. The area between the two opposing armies’ front lines was known as “no man’s land.”
Some trenches contained dugouts below the level of the trench floor. Most of these underground rooms offered more conveniences, such as beds, furniture, and stoves. The German dugouts were generally more sophisticated; one such dugout captured in the Somme Valley in 1916 was found to have toilets, electricity, ventilation, and even wallpaper.
Daily Routine and Duties
Soldiers were regularly rotated through a basic sequence: fighting in the front line, followed by a period of time in the reserve or support line, then later, a brief rest period. Each morning and evening, just before dawn and dusk, the troops climbed up almost to the top of the trench with rifle and bayonet at the ready. This served as preparation for a possible attack from the enemy at a time of day — dawn or dusk — when most of these attacks occurred. Following this, officers conducted an inspection of the men and their equipment. Breakfast was then served.
Most offensive maneuvers were carried out in the dark, when soldiers were able to climb out of the trenches clandestinely to conduct surveillance and carry out raids. The relative quiet of the daylight hours allowed men to repair shell-damaged walls, remove standing water, create new latrines, and move supplies. During brief rest periods, men were free to nap, read, or write letters home before being assigned to another task.
Hardships and Hazards of Trench Life
- Flooding and Mud: Heavy rainfall flooded trenches. The mud made it difficult to get from one place to another. Many times, soldiers became trapped in the mud and often drowned.
- Trench Foot: Trench foot developed as a result of men being forced to stand in water for several hours, even days, without a chance to remove wet boots and socks. In extreme cases, gangrene developed and a soldier’s toes — even his entire foot — would have to be amputated.
- Shell Shock: The noises that surrounded the soldiers during heavy shelling were terrifying. In the midst of a heavy bombing, dozens of shells per minute might land in the trench, causing ear-splitting explosions. Few men could remain calm under such circumstances; many suffered emotional breakdowns. The term “shell shock” referred to what was believed to be the result of an actual physical injury to the nervous system caused by exposure to constant shelling. Symptoms ranged from tics and tremors, impaired vision and hearing, and paralysis to emotional manifestations like panic, anxiety, and insomnia.
Night Patrols and Raids
Patrols and raids took place at night, under cover of darkness. For patrols, small groups of men moved forward into no man’s land. They made their way through dense barbed wire. Once the men reached the other side, their goal was to get close enough to gather information by eavesdropping or to detect activity in advance of an attack.