Trench Warfare
World War 1: The Life in Trenches World War 1 is perhaps best known for being a war fought in trenches, ditches dug out of the ground to give troops protection from enemy artillery and machine-gun fire. In Erich Remarque's novel All Quite on the Western Front that is exactly how he described trench warfare. Remarque showed World War 1 as a war fought in trenches, which he depicted well leaving out only a few minor details. The trenches spread from the East to the West. By the end of 1914 trenches stretched all along the 475 miles front between the Swiss border and the Channel coast. In some places, enemy trenches were less than thirty yards apart. Although trenches spread for many miles their appearance varied. Upon looking more closely, one could see that each army's trench line was actually a series of three trenches. These three lines connected at various points by small, twisted trenches. Trenches varied from eight to six feet in height. In these waterlogged trenches there was a need for extra support so wood boards were placed on the side and on the floor for assistance and a safe area for walking. In spite of the fact that the trenches protected the soldiers, they stood no chance against the diseases. Body lice were among one of the diseases that travelled among the trenches the most. Body lice caused frenzied scratching and led to trench fever. Fifteen percent of sickness was from body lice. Trench foot was another disease found in the trenches. After hours of standing in waterlogged trenches, the feet would begin to numb, change colour, swell, and soon result in amputation. There was one way to cure trench foot without amputation and that was to dry ones feet and change socks regularly. During the winter of 1914-15, over 20,000 men in the British army were treated for trench foot. Whale oil was used to oil the soldier’s feet for it was much easier to take off ones boots. Ten gallons of whale oil was used at the front lines. With the dead and dying...
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