What were conditions in the trenches really like?

Lesson Objective• To understand the layout of a trench

Key wordsKey wordsTrench footCamaraderie

Why was the war fought in trenches?

• Both sides expected the war to be over by Christmas. Instead it lasted 4 years and 10, 000, 000 people were killed

• One of the reasons why the war lasted so long was the type of warfare used, most importantly, the trenches.

• The French and British forces were trying to defend France from the advancing German army. So they dug in to hold their position.

• Both sides dug trenches to protect themselves. At first these were just ditches, but it soon became clear that the soldiers would be in them for some time.

• Once in the trenches they would be able to keep each other pinned down with machine gun fire.

Why was the war fought in trenches?

No Mans Land

Front Line

Support

Reserve

Actual view of

part of the

Western Front

Latrine(Toilet)

Sandbags

The Soldier Machine Gun

Duckboards

Periscope

Firestep

Barbed Wire

L.O to understand the L.O to understand the layout of a Trenchlayout of a Trench

Your Task:Label the features of trench

Review- Why was the war fought in the

trenches?

Discuss with the person next to you (1 minute)

What were conditions in the trenches really like?

LICERats

Food Trench Foot

Camaraderie Boredom

&

&

ReviewReview- Out of all the conditions in the trenches what problem do you think

was the worst and why?