LIFE IN THE TRENCHES
CENTER TARGETI can explain the way World War I was fought.
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READ ABOUT IT!
Welcome to the Life in the Trenches Virtual Center. The first thing your group needs to do is read about Trench Warfare during World War I. After you read, you need to work together to complete the Life in the Trenches Center Page in your Lesson Chronicles.
TRENCH WARFARE
When World War I broke out, leaders of both sides believed it would be short, perhaps six to eight weeks. In fact Germany’s surprise invasion and attack of France seemed to support that prediction. Had Paris been captured, Great Britain would likely not have entered the war and Russia would have been an easy target for the German forces.
However by 1915, things were not playing out as expected. After the Germans were stopped at the Marne River, the Kaiser’s forces were forced to retreat. The Russians mobilized quickly, and German troops had to be moved east. Divided to fight enemies to both the east and west, the large German army lost its advantage. The battle lines formed as both sides dug deep trenches that stretched from the coast southward all the way to the Alps. Both sides had similar trench lines only a few hundred yards from each other.
DEADLOCKED
The fighting in World War I turned into a war of attrition, as hopes for a quick, decisive victory faded away. Each side tried to wear down the other by inflicting as many casualties as possible. All hoped the other side would eventually sustain so many losses, it would surrender. Fighting consisted largely of one army or the other charging across the “no man’s land,” the dangerous gap between enemy trenches. Soldiers nearing their enemy were mowed down with new, high-powered weapons by men in that trench.
The casualties from these trench warfare tactics were extremely high. Hundreds of thousands of troop deaths brought little or no progress at all, and the stalemate held for more than two years. LIFE IN THE TRENCHES
Life for a typical soldier in the trenches was miserable. The typical trench was about six feet wide and seven feet deep. The trenches were not dug in straight lines, but curved, so that if an enemy sniper did get close enough to shoot men in the trenches, he would not have a clear shot. Lines of sandbags were placed along the front of each trench to absorb bullets and shrapnel. Since the trenches were deep, steps were dug into the side for soldiers to climb to look out the front. Drainage ditches had to be dug to keep water from flooding the trench. Even so, heavy rains often pooled around soldiers when water did not drain fast enough.
A thin trench was often dug perpendicular from the front line. This served as a “listening post” in which soldiers could move closer to the enemy’s trench without being in the line of fire. Backup trenches were also built behind the front lines. These included headquarters for the commanders that were dug 15 meters into the ground; and communications stations to relay instructions between the commanders and troops at the front line.
 trench foot
Diseases such as dysentery, a potentially deadly stomach flu, were common due to the wet, filthy living conditions. Lacking proper bathrooms, soldiers dug latrines in the ground, covering them when they were filled. This was a breeding ground for bacteria and contributed to the high numbers of sick. Soldiers rarely had enough water. So they were often forced to drink from rain puddles which made them sick. Many soldiers suffered from trench foot, which in extreme cases resulted in amputations. Trench foot was caused by standing in wet mud for days at a time, the only way to avoid trench foot was to frequently change socks which were always in short supply.
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TOOL BOX
Important Vocabulary
amputations: the removal of a limb by trauma, medical illness, or surgery
backup trenches: trenches dug behind the front lines that served as commanders headquarters and communications stations casualties: those in the military who are lost through death, wounds, injury, sickness, internment, capture or that are missing in action deadlocked: a stalemate; a situation where neither side is able to gain ground or win a battle dysentery: a potentially deadly stomach flu caused by wet, filthy living conditions and lack of proper bathrooms front line: the military line or part of an army that is closest to the enemy latrine: an outdoor toilet that is usually a hole dug in the ground listening post: a thin trench dug perpendicular from the front line used to monitor enemy activity and to gather intelligence information mobilized: bringing together military forces to prepare for war no man's land: the area between the two enemy trench lines over the top: rising out of trenches and attacking the enemy perpendicular: a straight line at an angle of 90° to a given line, plane, or surface retreat: withdrawing or backing away from the enemy in a battle or in combat shell fire: the continuous firing of shells from artillery weapons shell shock: emotional stress caused by fear, noise, lack of sleep, and lack of proper nutrition from fighting in a war shrapnel: fragments of a bomb, shell, or other object thrown out by an explosion sniper: skilled shooter who kills enemies from a faraway, usually hidden position stalemate: deadlocked; a situation where neither side is able to gain ground or win a battle trenches: long narrow ditches trench foot: a foot disease caused by standing in wet mud for days at a time that often led to amputation of the foot trench warfare: a type of fighting in which two enemy armies dig long, deep ditches called trenches facing each other and fight from these trenches war of attrition: a war where each side tries to wear down the other by inflicting as many casualties as possible in the hopes that the other side would eventually sustain so many losses, it will surrender |
Rats were another big problem for the men in the trenches. The rats were drawn to food in the trenches. These rodents grew as big as cats. The rats would boldly approach sleeping soldiers to steal food right out of their pockets.
A shell shocked soldier
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In addition to the huge numbers of casualties from enemy fire and cannons, many soldiers also died from sniper fire. So even committed suicide. Commanders continued to order troops “over the top” to charge the enemy trench, despite huge casualties and past failures. With time “no man’s land” between the trenches became even harder to cross, as the ground there was badly damaged by shell fire.
 over the top
Shell shock was another common problem among soldiers. Soldiers literally “went crazy” from the endless shell fire. They could never get good night’s rest nor any break from the horrors of the trenches and the constant terror. Getting food to the soldiers was always a challenge. The meals they did eat were almost never hot and rarely even nutritious.
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ANALYZE IT!
In today's Analyze It Activity, you will investigate life in the trenches during World War I by doing several small activities. Follow the instructions below for each mini-activity.
PART 1: INTERACTIVE TRENCH
First, click on the icon below Interactive Trench Activity. Click on different pictures in the diagram to find out about trench warfare. Then look at the diagrams below. Use the diagrams and what you learned from the interactive to complete the Interactive Trench Activity Section in your Lesson Chronicles.
PART 2: A DAY IN THE LIFE
In this part of the activity, you and a partner will read about daily life for the soldiers in the trenches and work together to complete the - A Day In the Life Activity Section in your Lesson Chronicles. Click on the links below to learn about the daily life of a World War I Soldier!
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PART 3: A PICTURE IS WORTH 1000 WORDS
The following are descriptions of life in the trenches told by real World War I soldiers. Read each description with a partner. Using these descriptions, the reading, and everything else you have done in this lesson to create a list of words that describe life in the trenches. When you complete your list, click on the Tagxedo icon below. You will create a word art picture using your list.
Follow the instructions below to create your word art.
1. Click on the Tagxedo icon.
2. Click on Create.
3. Click on Shape - choose a shape
4. Change color scheme by using Theme.
5. Select font type by clicking on Font (the smaller the font and the more the words, the better the shape will fill out.)
6. Enter in words by clicking on Load; type in words that describe life in the trenches in World War I and submit
7. Click on Save/Share/Print, click on Save
8. Save it to your name and homeroom [Ex. (JOHNKENNEDYHOLT)] on your desktop.
9. Airdrop it to me.
1. Click on the Tagxedo icon.
2. Click on Create.
3. Click on Shape - choose a shape
4. Change color scheme by using Theme.
5. Select font type by clicking on Font (the smaller the font and the more the words, the better the shape will fill out.)
6. Enter in words by clicking on Load; type in words that describe life in the trenches in World War I and submit
7. Click on Save/Share/Print, click on Save
8. Save it to your name and homeroom [Ex. (JOHNKENNEDYHOLT)] on your desktop.
9. Airdrop it to me.
EXTENSION ACTIVITY: WWI THEATER
If you finish before everyone else is done, you may plug in your earbuds and watch the following video clips about life in the trenches. You may also watch these anytime you like at home. Remember, all other work must be done before you do the extension activity.
PROVE IT!
You just learned about life in the trenches during World War I. Now you need to show off what you know. Complete the Center Check by clicking on the Center Check Icon below and answering the questions.
CENTER COMPLETE!
You have completed the Life in the Trenches Virtual Center. Click on the button below to go back to the Lesson 3 - America Enters World War I.