Question

What is trench warfare? Why was it so difficult? What was the "no-man's land"?What challenges did soldiers in the trenches face? How did soldiers in the trenches spend their time when they were not sleeping or fighting? Answer these questions in at least 3-4 sentences.

Answer 1

Trench warfare was a form of fighting in which opposing armies dug long, fortified ditches facing each other and held their ground from these positions, a pattern that became common on the Western Front in World War I. It was so difficult because the front lines were static and exposed to constant artillery, machine-gun fire, mud, and disease, making gains costly and often impossible; supply and sanitation were also major problems. "No-man's land" was the dangerous, barren area between the opposing trenches, often filled with barbed wire, shell craters, and the remains of previous attacks, where soldiers crossing were highly vulnerable. Troops in the trenches faced shelling, sniper fire, gas attacks, trench foot, lice, rats, and psychological strain from fear and boredom. When not sleeping or fighting, soldiers spent time on sentry duty, cooking and eating, repairing and digging trenches, cleaning weapons, writing letters, trading, gambling or playing cards, and trying to rest or socialize to cope with the long waits.