How were British trenches different from German trenches?
Differences Between German and British Trenches: Main difference between the two trenches was that the Germans dug their trenches first, which meant they got the better soil conditions because they dug their trenches on higher ground compared to the British trenches. The Allies used four “types” of trenches.
What are the 4 types of trenches?
- Front-line Trench. This type of trench was also known as the firing-and-attack trench.
- Support Trench. This trench was several hundred yards behind the front-line trench.
- Reserve Trench. The reserve trench was several hundred yards behind the support trench.
- Communication Trench.
Why were British trenches so bad?
Much of the land where the trenches were dug was either clay or sand. As well as trenches the shells from the guns and bombs made big craters in the ground. The rain filled up the craters and then poured into the trenches. Conditions got so bad that some men preferred to sleep outside their trenches.
What are the 3 types of trenches?
There were three different types of trenches: firing trenches, lined on the side facing the enemy by steps where defending soldiers would stand to fire machine guns and throw grenades at the advancing offense; communication trenches; and “saps,” shallower positions that extended into no-man’s-land and afforded spots …
What was one reason the German trenches would have been more comfortable than the British and French trenches?
I once read but do not have the source, that the explanation for the difference in trench quality was because the Germans expected to live in them for a long time, so make them slightly more comfortable. Whereas the allied commanders thought it bad for morale if the trench was seen as a longer stay.
What killed thousands of soldiers in trenches?
Heavy Artillery by Colin Gill With the development of trench warfare, increasingly large artillery was developed to fire high explosive shells and smash enemy trenches, like this battery of 9.2 inch howitzers. The majority of casualties on the Western Front were caused by artillery shells, explosions and shrapnel.
What was a frontline trench?
Frontline trenches were usually about seven feet deep and six feet wide. The front of the trench was known as the parapet. The front-line trenches were also protected by barbed-wire entanglements and machine-gun posts. Short trenches called saps were dug from the front-trench into No-Man’s Land.
Why are the British trenches so wet and muddy?
Much of the land where the trenches were dug was either clay or sand. The water could not pass through the clay and because the sand was on top, the trenches became waterlogged when it rained. The trenches were hard to dig and kept on collapsing in the waterlogged sand.
What was the worst thing about living in the trenches?
Life in the trenches was very difficult because they were dirty and flooded in bad weather. Many of the trenches also had pests living in them, including rats, lice, and frogs. Rats in particular were a problem and ate soldier’s food as well as the actual soldiers while they slept.
How did the German trenches differ from the British trenches?
In contrast to the British trenches, the German trenches were sophisticated and elaborate, with some of the living quarters almost 50 ft. below the surface. The German trenches had electricity, beds, toilets, and other necessities that differed from the open-air trenches of the Allies. Diagram of the Trench System.
Where was the first trench in World War 1?
The first was the front-line trench (the firing trench) which was located 50 yards to 1 mile away from the German front line. Behind the front line, several hundred yards away was the support trench which would help assist the front line with men and supplies.
What did trench coats look like in World War 1?
During WWI, trench coats were cut in different lengths; they were generally shorter and sometimes they would just reach above the knee. Moreover, they featured epaulets and D-rings. Almost as famous as the sand, olive, and khaki colors were blue & gray gabardine with a checked lining.
Who was famous for wearing a tielocken trench coat?
Many Boer war veterans would also fight in the trenches of WWI, and the most famous one was Field Marshal Lord Kitchener, who cut an iconic British figure with a mustache and a trench coat. His preferred model was the Tielocken model, which had been patented in 1912 as a coat with a strap and a buckle instead of buttons and buttonholes.