Figure 1.--Here a youthful Britih Tommy emptis the latrine bucket. Conditions in World war I trenches were horrible. This included the constant artillery firemand , sniping mixed with boredom , terrible food, mud, and unsanitary conditins. Here in many cases the Germans grabbed the high ground. Thus it was the Allies who had the greatest problem with mud and standing water. Conditions in the front-line trenches were horrendous. There almost always was filthy standing water. There were no santary facilities or toilets. The men could not get out of the renches during the day and as they were underground, out houses could not be built.

The trenches provided protection from the terrible fire power arranged on both sides of the opposing lines. Trench life had, however, tirtures of it own, the constat artillery fire, snipingmixed with boredom , terible food, mud, and unsanitary conditins. Here in many cases the Germans grabbed the high ground. Thus it was the Allies who had the greatest prblem with mud and standing water. Conditions varies depending on which line of trenches the indvidual was stationed. The most primitive conditions were in the fornt-line trenches. World War I trenches were constructed so they could sustain enemy attacks. Even if the enemy attack penetrated the front line treches, the area trench would stop the advance and potential break out. And indeed break out never came despite the expenditure of hundreds of thousands of young lives until the Anglo-American Hundred Day Campaign racked open the German lines, ending the War (August-November 1918). Behind the front-line trenches lay support and reserve trenhes. Because of the stress on the men in the front-line trences,the standard practice was to ritate the men to limit time at thefront. Conditions were considerably better in the rear area trenches. Units were also allowed to spend short intervals in rest areas. Some individuas wer granted home leaves. Unlike World War II, the distances from home (except the colonial forces and the Americans when they arrived, were not long and men could often be home in a mattr of hours. This varies among the different belligerant countries. The French in particular were reluctant to grant home leaves out of fear the men would not return. The amount of time spent in the front lines could vary by sector. In the areas of intense activity or during offensives, more time might be spent at the front and as a result less time in rest areas. And timeat the front asio increased as the War progressed. Trench life varied somewhat among the different natioanl armies, but there was considrable similarity. A rare degree of civility that was often observed was a breakfast truce.

Living Conditions

World War I trenches provided protection from the terrible fire power arranged on both sides of the opposing lines. Trenches were not new in warfare. The existed even in ancient times The leel of fire power in World War I wad new. Trench life had, however, tortures of it own, especilly the front-line trenches. These included the constat artillery fire and snipeing mixed with boredom, homesickness, terrible food, mud, and unsanitary conditins. Here in many cases the Germans grabbed the high ground. Thus it was the Allies who had the greatest problem with mud and standing water. Conditions in the front-line trenches were horrendous. There almost always was filthy standing water. There were no santary facilities or toilets. The men could not get out of the trenches during the day and as they were underground, outhouses could not be built. Rats were a major problem as were fleas. Conditions varied depending on which line of trenches the indvidual was stationed. The most primitive conditions were in the fornt-line trenches. World War I trenches were constructed so they could sustain enemy attacks. Even if the enemy attack penetrated the front line treches, the area trench would stop the advance and potential break out. And indeed break out never came despite the expenditure of hundreds of thousands of young lives until the Anglo-American Hundred Day Campaign racked open the German lines, ending the War (August-November 1918). Behind the front-line trenches lay support and reserve trenhes.

Rotation

Rest Areas

Units were also allowed to spend short intervals in rest areas.

Home Leve

Some individuas wer granted home leaves. Unlike World War II, the distances from home (except the colonial forces and the Americans when they arrived, were not long and men could often be home in a mattr of hours. This varies among the different belligerant countries. The French in particular were reluctant to grant home leaves out of fear the men would not return.

Variations

The amount of time spent in the front lines could vary by sector. In the areas of intense activity or during offensives, more time might be spent at the front and as a result less time in rest areas. And time at the front alsi increased as the War progressed.

Daily Routine

Trench life varied somewhat among the different natioanl armies, but there was considrable similarity. A rare degree of civility that was often observed was a breakfast truce. The day in a World War I trench begn with the Stand-to-Arms. This occurred before dawn because raids and full-scale atacks were often staged at dawn. It was in part aoll call go make sure everyone was accounted for. The men had to roused early to be ready for actions at dawn. Te men were positioned on the firestep to be ready for enemy attacks. As dawn approached, the men would open blindly up in the morning mist on the area on non-man's land facing them. This became known as the 'morning hate'. This discouraged raiders. An as a result the men were safe at dawn. Then began as what became as the 'breakfast truce' which was widely adopted in the more quiet sectors. The Brtish might issue rum at this time. We are not ure about the French or Gernans yet. There was no American alcoholic ration. In fact when the American returned, they would be confronted with Prohibition. The men used the breakfast break to clean their weapons. This was a difficult under taking in the filty, muddy conditgions of most trenches. nly after the officers inspected the men's weapons, was breakfast issued. The men gradually adopted a 'breakfast truce' in the less active sectors. This was not something the commanders ever ordered or even necesarily approved of, but the ordinay soldiers did so they could eat their food in peace. When breakfast was finished, company commanders inspected their men and made duty assignments. Ther were ll kinds of needed tasks. The duckboard to keep walkways above water were in constant need of repair. There was a constat need of filling sandbags to fortify the trenches. And water had to be pumped out, usually by hand. Another Stand to Arms was held at dusk, another time because of the decling visability that raids might be stahged. With nightfll there w a fkury of activity as the fark mant that the men were less exposed to snipers. Therewere a range of supply and maitenance duties. Men might go to the support trenches in the rear for amunition, food, water, and other supplies. Some men were assigned to patrol No-Mn's-Land. Others stood sentry duty on a rotating basis. The sentries stood on the fire step to observing the opposing trenches and look for any raiders trying to cross No-Man's Land. Anyrotation of troops took place at night as the dark obsured movement and prebented accurate eneny fire.

Created: 6:28 PM 7/20/2014
Last updated: 6:28 PM 7/20/2014