World War 1 Trenches

1. World War 1 Trenches By: Thomas Nguyen

2. World War 1 Timeline Battle of Verdun February 16, 1916 French fight a massive war against the Germans. Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria was assassinated on June 28, 1914 by a group called the “Black Hand” Armistice Germany signed an armistice with the Allies. The official date of the end of World War 1. Christmas Truce After fighting for a while there was a cease-fire for Christmas Day. June 28, 1919 June 28, 1914 July 28, 1914 Dec. 25, 1914 Jan. 19, 1917 Nov. 11, 1918 Treaty of Versailles Germany signs the Treaty of Versailles agreeing to the terms in the treaty. Austria-Hungary Declare War On Serbia On July 28th, 1914 Austria declares war on Serbia after the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand U.S. Declares War on Germany The United States decides to declare war on Germany because they overheard that Germany would help Mexico gain back territory from the U.S. . Battle of the Somme July 1st, 1916 French and British fight against the Germans.

3. The Battle of Verdun The Battle of Verdun came about because of a plan by the German Chief of General Staff, von Falkenhaven. He wanted to “bleed France white” by launching a massive German attack on a narrow stretch of land that had historic sentiment for the French – Verdun. On the day the battle started February 21st, 1916, 1000 German artillery guns fired on a six mile line along the French front. Flamethrowers were used by the Germans to help advance the 8 miles that they needed to capture Verdun. By the end of April, the Germans had lost 120,000 men and the French 133,000 men. This is a picture of the French attack on the German lines during the Battle of Verdun

4. On June 21st, Germany launched a huge attack at Verdun. By June 23rd the Germans got within 2.5 miles of Verdun, but the attack faltered because the Germans gave all they got and couldn’t give anymore. By the end of October 1916, the French had re-captured the two forts at Vaux and Douaumont. It is said that the French lost about 360,000 people in the war, and the Germans lost 340,000. To relieve the pressure being felt by the French, the British launched the Battle of the Somme in July 1916. It was hoped that a swift British victory here would force the Germans to remove troops from the Verdun area.

5. Battle of the Somme The Battle of the Somme started on July 1st, 1916. To relieve the French, the Allied High Command decided to attack the Germans to the north of Verdun therefore requiring the Germans to move some of their men away from Verdun. The battle at the Somme started with a weeklong artillery bombardment of the German lines. 1,738,000 shells were fired at the Germans. The logic behind this was so that the artillery guns would destroy the German trenches and barbed wire placed in front of the trenches, but the Germans were very prepared for what was happening. They dug deep trenches underground and waited until it was over. After the artillery was done the Germans expected the French to advance so they came above ground and pointed their machine guns at the British military. No one really won the battle, but By the end of the battle, in November 1916, the British had lost 420,000, the French lost nearly 200,000 men and the Germans 500,000.

6. Battle of the Somme Pictures These were the Trenches that they were in. This is a picture of the British soldiers in the Battle of the Somme.

7. Trenches Grenade Catapult Both sides decided to build trenches to protect themselves from enemy attacks. Trenches were not dug in straight lines because if the enemy got in their trenches they can shoot straight along the line. Front line trenches: usually about seven feet deep and six feet wide. They were protected by barbed wire.

8. Trench Warfare • During the war the military employed miners to dig tunnels under no man’s land. The main idea was to place a mine beneath enemy defense positions. When it was detonated it would destroy the trench. • The soldiers in the trenches developed different strategies so that they can detect if the enemy are mining under them. One way was to put a stick into the ground and hold the other end between the teeth and feel any underground vibrations.

9. Life in the Trenches • Many men killed in the trenches were buried almost where they fell. The corpses attracted many rats. One pair of rats can produce 880 offspring a year so the trenches were swarming with them. • Many soldiers in World War 1 suffered from trench foot. This was an infection of the feet caused by cold, wet and insanitary conditions. In the trenches men stood for hours on end in waterlogged trenches without being able to remove wet socks or boots. They’re feet would turn numb and their skin would turn red or blue. If it was untreated the soldiers would need amputation. during the winter of 1914-15 over 20,000 men in the British Army were treated for trench foot.

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