WW1 Flashcards
new tech, tactics, trench conditions
What were the 4 main reasons of bad trench conditions?
waterlogged trenches, monotony, enemy fire and poor hygiene
What was trench foot?
- due to prolonged exposure to cold and damp environments resulting in uncomfortable and rotting feet
- sometimes resulting in amputation.
Why were daily tasks difficult in waterlogged trenches?
-dragging equipment like stretchers, other supplies through mud
Why was poor hygiene bad in trenches?
rats,lice, tench mouth and disease
Tell me about lice?
- in clothing
-spread rapidly - itching and irritation
- spread trench fever which made up 15% of all casualties in WW1
Tell me about rats?
-gorged on waste and dead bodies
-got used to humans and would snatch food and climb them
Tell me about trench mouth?
- due to not cleaning teeth
- sores, ulcers and bleeding gums
Tell me about cholera (disease)?
-from drinking dirty water
- vomiting and diarrhoea
How did food make trenches monotonous?
-food was repetitive
-meat ration dropped
-led to drops in morale
How did jobs make trenches monotonous?
-daily jobs were highly repetitive
-cooking, cleaning and fixing barbed wire
Tell me about heavy bombardment in the trenches?
-led to instant death
-could lead to shell shock
Whats shell shock?
-the reaction to the intensity of the bombardment
-tremors, confusion and fatigue
-wasn’t understood at the time
- thought to be cowards
What were 8 military tactics?
enfilade fires, night attacks, frontal assault, preliminary bombardment, combined arms, hold + counter attacks, tunnelling and gas
explain enfilade fire?
-when machine guns are positioned on the sides of the battle field which would create a ‘killing zone’
-was effective as if u missed ur target u would probably hit another
explain hold + counter attack?
- u weaken the attacking force then as they retreat launch an attack in hope that their defence would be weaker
-did little to break stalemate
-led to double sided slaughter
