Trench Warfare
Trench warfare speech
I’m here today to talk to you about the techniques and conditions of trench warfare in World War 1.
Trench warfare was a living environment for troops fighting in World War 1. Conditions in trenches were harsh, unsanitary and extremely dangerous, Trenches were always under threat of attack from bombs or other weapons, and there were also many threats to health that developed into big problems for doctors. Apart from the unstoppable cold during the winters in France, trenches were usually completely filled with freezing water and mud, and were full of lice and rats. Diseases such as trench fever (an infection caused by rat faeces), trench nephritis (The kidneys would swell), and trench foot became common medical problems, and caused major losses in manpower.
The trenches were dug in zigzags instead of straight lines so that there would be less damage and less death. Trenches were dug as deep as 6ft so that soldiers could stand in them. I found this bit interesting, new recruits were warned that if they looked over the trenches, they could get shot by a snipers bullet. The trenches were protected from bullets by mud walls and sandbags. A firing step was built for use by troops while shooting. The floors of the trenches were fitted with wooden planks called duckboards. These helped when the trenches would be flooded, making it difficult for troops to walk and also prevented diseases such as trench foot.
Behind the front line was the second line of support trenches and behind the second line were the reserve trenches. Between the front line trenches of the Allied and Central troops was a stretch of land referred to as “No Man’s Land”. Barbed wire fences were put in at night to protect front line troops. Communication trenches were dug connecting the reserve trenches, second and first line trenches.
Tinned “bully” beef, hard tack biscuits, jam and tea were some of the main foods troops would get every day. The Red Cross would send parcels
I’m here today to talk to you about the techniques and conditions of trench warfare in World War 1.
Trench warfare was a living environment for troops fighting in World War 1. Conditions in trenches were harsh, unsanitary and extremely dangerous, Trenches were always under threat of attack from bombs or other weapons, and there were also many threats to health that developed into big problems for doctors. Apart from the unstoppable cold during the winters in France, trenches were usually completely filled with freezing water and mud, and were full of lice and rats. Diseases such as trench fever (an infection caused by rat faeces), trench nephritis (The kidneys would swell), and trench foot became common medical problems, and caused major losses in manpower.
The trenches were dug in zigzags instead of straight lines so that there would be less damage and less death. Trenches were dug as deep as 6ft so that soldiers could stand in them. I found this bit interesting, new recruits were warned that if they looked over the trenches, they could get shot by a snipers bullet. The trenches were protected from bullets by mud walls and sandbags. A firing step was built for use by troops while shooting. The floors of the trenches were fitted with wooden planks called duckboards. These helped when the trenches would be flooded, making it difficult for troops to walk and also prevented diseases such as trench foot.
Behind the front line was the second line of support trenches and behind the second line were the reserve trenches. Between the front line trenches of the Allied and Central troops was a stretch of land referred to as “No Man’s Land”. Barbed wire fences were put in at night to protect front line troops. Communication trenches were dug connecting the reserve trenches, second and first line trenches.
Tinned “bully” beef, hard tack biscuits, jam and tea were some of the main foods troops would get every day. The Red Cross would send parcels