WWI TRENCH WAR TRENCHES FROM ABOVE n Trenches

WWI TRENCH WAR

TRENCHES FROM ABOVE

n Trenches held water and created such problems as: n n Disease Rats Lice Fungus

Trench Foot

n Soldiers lived for weeks and months at a

n Soldiers would climb to a “Fire Step” in order to begin shooting into the enemies trenches

n For further protection they would build fences to stop enemy charges

NO MAN’S LAND Between enemy trenches was the area known as “No Man’s Land” n

n Soldiers would storm across no man’s land

n Such attacks were largely unsuccessful and left many dead.

n Bodies would be left in this area for days and weeks as it was far to dangerous to retrieve them. What would this cause?

n No Man’s land after battle

Christmas Truce in No Man’s Land n In spirit of the holiday’s troops sent ceasefire agreements across to one another. On Christmas Eve and day their was a ceasefire and British and German troops even met and sang with one another.

Conclusions Trench warfare led to a War of Attrition- a virtual stalemate after initial gains. n Both sides begin to look for new ways to win the war n

Break of Day in the Trenches The darkness crumbles away It is the same old druid Time as ever, Only a live thing leaps my hand, A queer sardonic (mocking) rat, As I pull the parapet's (wall) poppy To stick behind my ear. Droll rat, they would shoot you if they knew Your cosmopolitan sympathies, Now you have touched this English hand You will do the same to a German Soon, no doubt, if it be your pleasure To cross the sleeping green between. It seems you inwardly grin as you pass Strong eyes, fine limbs, haughty athletes, Less chanced than you for life, Bonds to the whims of murder, Sprawled in the bowels of the earth, The torn fields of France. What do you see in our eyes At the shrieking iron and flame Hurled through still heavens? What quaver (quiver) -what heart aghast (shock)? Poppies whose roots are in men's veins Drop, and are ever dropping; But mine in my ear is safe, Just a little white with the dust. - Isaac Rosenberg

Your Task n Create a perspective piece on a day-in-the-life of a trench inhabitant. Explain how you would feel about being there, what do you think conditions would be like, how would you spend your day, etc. n Formats: Choose one of the following formats. § § Letter Home Journal Entry Poem Breaking News Article