World War 1 Trench Warfare

No mans land

"No Mans Land.' was the area seperating the allied and the German trenches the distance usually varied between 100-300 meters .

Why Trenches?

1. Improvements in the accuracy of guns increased deaths 2. Protection was needed to reduce casualties. 3. The trench could be created with little materials.

Trench

A long narrow ditch dug by troops to provide protection from enemy fire.

How did tanks affect trenches?

After the tanks entered the fighting, armies could attack across no man's land. This broke the stalemate. The Allies' tanks defeated the Central Power's tanks. Tanks ended the war.

communication trenches.

Communication trenches enabled men to pass food and equipment which passed between the lines without being exposed to enemy fire.

What was trench life like?

Conditions were horrible. Muddy, smelled of rotting bodies, sweat, and overflowing latrines. Soldiers often caught fevers or suffered from painful foot infections called trench foot, which resulted from standing in the mud and cold water that pooled in the bottom of the trenches. Lice, frogs, and rats surrounded the men.

chemical warfare

Fighting using poison chemicals. All sides of WWI used chemical weapons on their enemies. Chemical weapons are a cruel and dangerous weapon.

German trenches > French and British trenches

Germans saw the trenches as long term where as the French and the British only saw it as short term

"Over the Top"

Means leaving your trench and advancing towards the enemy's' trench.

stalemate

Neither side can win or advance

Why did armies find themselves in stalemate?

The new machine guns made it impossible to advance towards the enemy.

Schlieffen plan

This was Germany's war plan. Smash France and take Paris, first. Then once the war in the West is won, attack Russia.

Trench Warfare

Two armies fought each other from trenches facing one and other.

retreat

move backward. Lost territory to the enemy

advance

move forward. Take territory from the enemy.