Lesson 3 - Trenches & Tech

Question 1

What does “over the top” mean?

Answer 1

The action of leaving the trench.

Question 2

What does “no man’s land” mean?

Answer 2

The area in between two opposing enemy trenches.

Question 3

What is “trench foot”?

Answer 3

Being up to their knees in the thick mud for days or even weeks led to an infection called Trench Foot. When their feet are wet, boots or other objects can easily split the soft skin in the area, allowing infection-laced water to enter their bloodstream.
Given enough time, it could reach the leg, causing amputation in a higher area (in other less severe cases only toes or feet would be amputated).

Question 4

What were some new weapons & technologies in WW1?

Answer 4

Some new weapons and technologies in WW1 include the following:

• Poison gas (chlorine gas) and it was used in the Ypres battle. It made peoples eyes and throat burn from the chlorine, appearing as a green-yellow gas cloud. It could be counteracted with a gas mask or peeing in a cloth and covering one’s nose with it until a gas mask could be found, however they weren’t widely available at the time so, it was a “rule of war” not to use it even though it was used in the battle.

(The following is great to know but, focus on the above point, poison gas)

• The Dreadnought battleship, a naval battleship, revolutionizing naval warfare
• Artillery
• Machine Guns
• Barbed wires
• Ammunition
• Tanks