2.2 Trench Warfare On The Western Front Flashcards
What was the Western Front?
The trenches that were across Belgium and France. Both sides were constantly attacking each other
What were defenders protected with?
Defenders were protected with barbed wires and machine guns
Why was that land called “no man’s land”?
Because it was difficult to cross the trenches and difficult to capture
What does it mean to be “sent over the top”?
This meant climbing out of the trenches and charging at enemy lines.
What did the generals think the solution to this would be?
Puzzled by the failure of massed attacks, the only solution the generals could think of was to make the attacks even larger.
What was the result of making the attacks bigger?
Appalling casualties
What did the Germans do when increasing the ittacks didn’t work?
They tried to send clouds of poisonous gas over allied trenches, but these failed too.
Till when were the armies in trenches?
Until 1918
How was life in the trenches?
Life was harsh, squalid and boring.
What were the risks of living in trenches?
Enemy fire snipers and artillery fire, or occasional gas or airplane attacks
How deep were the trenches?
Front line trenches were about 2 meters deep
What precautions were taken when soldiers were living in trenches?
The bottom was lined with wooden duck-boards to prevent people from sinking into the mud.
Where did the soldiers sleep in the trenches??
They slept in shelters dug out of the walls of the trenches. These were baking hot in summer and freezing cold in winter.
How long would a soldier do active service before resting behind the lines?
Two weeks
What are their roles on active service ?
Some time would be spent in the front line of trenches, confronting the enemy. The rest of the time was spent in the support trenches behind the front line.
