The effects of the trenches
Lesson starter:1. Describe the condition ‘Shell Shock’.2. In what other ways did the war affect men psychologically?
Today we will…
• Identify the physical effects of living in the trenches
• Identify the psychological effects of living in trenches
I can…
• Create a mind map on living in the trenches
• Describe some effects of living in the trenches
There were two types of effects the trenches had on men…
PHYSICAL
And
PSYCHOLOGICAL
What do you think each of these mean?
Vocabulary
Physical – affecting the body
Psychological – affecting the mind
Take notes as part of your mind map as we move
through today’s presentation
The effect
s of
the tr
enches
psychological
physical
• Trench Foot was an extremely painful condition that caused a soldiers foot to swell up and go numb.
• Soldiers would often have to have their foot amputated as a result of this.
• Dry socks and whale-oil grease helped to prevent it.
Trench foot
Early stages
Trench foot inspection
Lice
• These parasites were rife in the trenches
• Caused terrible itching
German soldiers picking lice off uniforms
Trench fever• This fever could
last for up to five days
• It was carried from man to man through body lice
• The symptoms were much like a bad flu – fever, nausea, diarrhoea etc
Rats• Trench Rats• Primary sources
tell us about ‘rats the size of cats’
• They feasted on dead bodies and soldier’s rations
Rat hunting in the trenches
Gas• Chlorine gas was
greeny-yellow and caused you to choke violently and stopped you being able to see
• It caused a terrible slow painful death
• Gas masks were developed by both sides
• Mustard gas was even worse
• It damaged skin, leaving huge red blisters which were agony
• It also caused internal bleeding and could blind you
Shells• Shells caused the
most injuries of any weapons
• Shrapnel would fly off exploding shells and give men terrible injuries
• Some were blinded or killed by 200mph flying shrapnel
Shell Shock• This was classed as a
mental illness during WW1
• Those who had shell shock had slower reaction times and tired easily
• They often could not concentrate and were very nervous
• The noise and impact of shells was blamed
Other psychological effects• Men watched friends and family die
• They also had to kill fathers, brothers, sons
• Many suffered from• Depression• Stress• Hallucinations• Anxiety• Nightmares• These things had a huge stigma
attached to them in those days and men were discouraged from discussing their feelings…
Trench rats
Trench Foot
Shell shock
Trench mouth
Gas
Lice
conchie
pacifist
• You should now have a detailed mind map showing both physical and psychological effects of trench warfare
• You will now watch several Video clips about trench life
• Add any points you take from these to your mind map
• BBC Clips - trenches
Today we will…
• Understand the physical effects of living in the trenches
• Understand the psychological effects of living in trenches