Life in the Trenches Essay Example

Life in the trenches during World War 1 were horrible. It was entirely unexpected for those eager thousands who signed up for war August 1914.The Great War- was a phrase coined even before it had begun. It was expected to be very short and like most wars a great movement. However The First World War was symbolized by its lack of movement, the years of stalemate exemplified on the Western Front from autumn 1914 until spring 1918. Now there was a movement on the Western Front during 1914-18; the war began dramatically with sweeping advances by the Germans through Belgium and France en route for Paris. So I ask this question what was life actually like for men serving tours of duty in the line, be they front line, support or reserve trenches?

Death in the trenches were a constant companion to those serving in the line, even when no raid or attacked was launched or defended against. In busy sectors the constant shellfire directed by the enemy brought on random death, it didn't matter whether their victims were lounging around in a trench or laying in a dugout. Similar novices were also cautioned to, like the parapet of the trench of No Man's Land. Many men died on their first day on the trenches because of the sniper bullets precisely aimed at the trenches. It has been estimated that up to one third of allied casualties on the Western Front were actually kept in the trenches. Besides all the injuries, diseases were a heavy toll.

Rat infestation was the worst, their were over a million rats infested in the trenches. There were 2 main types of rats the black and brown rat.. Both were equally despised but the brown rat was especially feared. Goring themselves on human flesh