Trench Warfare In World War I

World War I brought many new ideas and different concepts that would either benefit or cause major consequences throughout the war. This was the time of the incredibly dreadful “Trench warfare”. Roden simply placed a picture in our mind by saying “We have had another terrible week of it in the trenches.” These trenches were used as a protective barrier between their enemy and No-Mans Land. Not only did the trenches provide protection, it also brought many other deadly factors such as diseases, rodents, and unfit living conditions. Lice was a very common problem that would terrorize every soldier that would spend time in the trenches. Rats were described as being the size of cats that had invaded the trenches due to its wet and sloppy muddy conditions. Trench foot was the most dreaded

The trenches were ensured to be constructed in a zig-zag pattern because this design prevented a direct line of fire down a single line, if a trench were to be taken over by the enemy.

Many new technological advancements had taken place during WWI, Roden’s letter had described the very minute amount of weaponry that Roden had seen. “Before attacking they used burning liquid on our trenches, and the whole line of trenches were one mass of flames for about 15 minutes. It was a marvel to see how they sent it across. It was worse than gas.” Napalm was a brand new substance that was introduced by the Germans, which was a jelly like substance that could be easily transported and when ignited, would burn ferociously for a long period of time. Chemical warfare was arguably one of the most in humane and dangerous warfare of all time. Chlorine and phosgene gases were the two original gases that were thrown across the battlefield and would be blown through the wind to eventually meet the enemy. Different gases have different devastating effects. The most commonly used gas was