Trench Warfare On The Western Front

Part I of Essay
By the end of 1914, the commencing year of W.W.I, it was apparent that the old fashioned warfare of dashing cavalry charges and rapid movements of troops was over. Soldiers were forced to shelter themselves in trenches from enemy rifle and machine-gun fire and the explosio ....

Part II of Essay
.... to be captured, the “zig-zag” prevented enemy soldiers from firing down the length of the trench. Despite it's name, “front-line trenches” were not the most forward defensive position. Narrow passages called “saps” were dug at 90º to the main trench and were on average 30 yards long. These saps led to isolated positions only large enough for two men and were designed to listen for enemy movement. The sounds of shovels and picks underground were listened for extremely closely because enemy mining parties often tried to burrow beneath the ....