2.6A (summarized) (trenches) Flashcards
How large were the trenches?
The trenches extended from Nieuwpoort on the Belgian Coast to
Pfetterhouse on the German/Swiss border
In total, there were 40,000km of trenches; 19,000km were
occupied by the British Allies and the rest by the Germans and
their allies
What were the plans behind the trenches?
The German army was pushing towards the French and Belgian
Coast (intending to get to Britain)
The British and their allies needed to regain the territory and
attempt to push the Germans back
What were the different kinds of trenches?
The front lines, the communication trenches, the saps, the support trenches, and (sorta) the firesteps
How did the front lines work?
They were the lines of trenches closest to the enemy’s lines of trenches
soldiers would fire at eachother from here
How did the communication trenches work?
They were mini trenches that connected the larger trenches together
They allowed messages to be passed to the front lines, and allowed the wounded to be carried back for treatment
How did the saps work?
They were short trenches that went into No Man’s Land, which let soldiers get closer to the enemy to throw grenades, listen to plans, and detect enemy advances
How did support trenches work?
They were pretty much at the backlines
This is where soldiers retreat, where cooks, doctors, and supplies were kept
What were the firesteps?
They were pretty much little footstools carved into the sides of trenches, to let soldiers fire more easily
