History Unit 1: Trench Warfare During World War One

Question 1

What is the schlieffen plan

Answer 1

Aug 1914- Europe was in a state of war

• Germany made the first move
  
  • > offensive plan (schlieffen plan)
    • > attack through neutral Belgium
    • > then attack Russia in the east
• soon Germany invaded Belgium, British and France troops help defend (Belgium put up more resistance then Germany thought)
• combine defences stopped German advance + both sides begin to ‘dig in’ ->hold ground
• a.h stiff resistance in the east coast

Question 2

What does it mean when both sides dig in

Answer 2

• ensuring stalemate, both sides dig trenches to solify advances and protection/ shelter for soldiers
• trenches were intended temporarily, allowing both sides to regroup and reorganize
• became clear, ww1 became a war of attrition

Question 3

What is digging cont

Answer 3

1916 - clear war was not going to end quickly

 - > both sides began to build more permanent systems of trenches  - organized - front line trenches, support trenches w/ communication lines
 - > included latrines, medical areas, rest areas, dug outs, and command centres

Question 4

What is no mans land

Answer 4

• area between opposing trenches
• bombs and artillery fire left ground disturbed w/ she’ll holes and creators
  Scene -> devastation bodies, wounded soldiers, dead animals, wrecked equipment, little to no cover
• going ‘over the top’

Question 5

What was life like in the trenches

Answer 5

• difficult
• constant threat of being killed or wounded, very poor living conditions
• filthy + unhygienic
• rarely washed open latrines
• slept in dug outs
• lice, rat, dead bodies everywhere
• diseases like trench foot, trench mouth, trench fever, shell shock (PTSD)
• long periods of boredom w/ intense moments of terror

Question 6

What was a ww1 diet like

Answer 6

• it was suppose to be really good meal but ended up being:
• diet: beef bully/bread/biscuit (hard tack)
• bread made with dried ground turnips
• issued maconochie stew thin soup w/ potatoes
  Later: pea soup w/ horse meat