Tuesday, March 29, 2016

What was life like in the support trench in World War One?

The support trench which was built behind the front trench (attack trench) held men and supplies for those engaged in combat. Trenches built by the Allies were not as sophisticated as those built by the Germans. The Allies built open-air trenches which exposed the men to harsh weather conditions. This made it difficult for men to live within these types of trenches.


On the other hand, German trenches were equipped with living quarters. These quarters...

The support trench which was built behind the front trench (attack trench) held men and supplies for those engaged in combat. Trenches built by the Allies were not as sophisticated as those built by the Germans. The Allies built open-air trenches which exposed the men to harsh weather conditions. This made it difficult for men to live within these types of trenches.


On the other hand, German trenches were equipped with living quarters. These quarters had electricity, toilets and beds. The quarters provided some level of comfort and served as shields from harsh weather conditions. German trenches were more comfortable compared to those of the Allies. However, it was noted that both the trenches were unhygienic. The men had limited access to water, which made bathing an expensive luxury.


The men were exposed to rats and lice, both of which spread deadly diseases such as the infamous Trench Fever. Flooding in the trenches submerged the soldiers’ feet leading to infections such as Trench Foot, which led to numerous amputations. Thus, soldiers were forced to not only contend with the danger posed by the enemy, but also the conditions in the trenches.

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