assignment breakdown - history

• How long did the Western Front extend?

  Approximately 440 miles (700 kilometers)
• What were some major battles fought on the Western Front?

  Somme, Verdun, and Passchendaele
• What was the Western Front during World War I?

  A key battleground with extensive trenches
• What years did the First World War take place?

  1914 – 1918
• What is trench foot?

  A condition caused by prolonged wet exposure
• What were the conditions like in the trenches for soldiers?

  Particularly bad with various hardships
• What problems did mud create for soldiers in the trenches?

  Prevented keeping feet dry and clean
• What other significant trench conditions affected soldiers?

  Shell shock and disease/infection
• Why was trench foot considered one of the worst conditions?

  It caused severe physical disability and amputation
• What footwear issues contributed to trench foot?

  Tight boots and wet socks
• What were the symptoms of trench foot?

  Swelling, blistering, and blue discoloration
• What caused the symptoms of trench foot?

  Prolonged exposure to waterlogged trenches
• What measures were implemented to prevent trench foot?

  Changing socks and using whale oil
• How many cases of trench foot were reported in the winter of 1914-1915?

  20,000 cases
• How many British soldiers were estimated to be affected by trench foot by the end of the war?

  74,000 soldiers
• Why was shell shock considered the worst trench condition?

  It had severe psychological impacts on soldiers
• What symptoms were associated with shell shock?

  Exhaustion, tremors, and severe anxiety
• What is shell shock now known as?

  PTSD
• What misconception existed about the cause of shell shock?

  It was thought to be from physical nerve injury
• How did the understanding of shell shock evolve?

  Recognized psychological factors as key causes
• What was a consequence of not recognizing shell shock as an illness?

  Some soldiers were shot for cowardice
• What long-term effects did shell shock have on soldiers?

  Difficulty reintegrating into civilian life
• What conditions contributed to the spread of disease and infection in the trenches?

  Overcrowding, poor sanitation, and waterlogged ground
• What illness was caused by lice bites in the trenches?

  Trench fever
• What caused dysentery among soldiers?

  Consuming contaminated food and water
• Why was the spread of disease significant for soldiers' fighting abilities?

  It debilitated them physically and emotionally
• What was the impact of poor sanitation in the trenches?

  Led to widespread disease and illness
• What was the estimated number of British soldiers who suffered from trench fever?

  380,000 to 520,000 soldiers
• How did measures like improved drainage and lice control affect disease impact?

  They helped mitigate the disease's impact
• Why was shell shock particularly feared among soldiers?


  It could strike any soldier unpredictably
• What was the conclusion regarding trench conditions faced by soldiers?

  Shell shock was the worst due to its impact
• Where was the Craiglockhart War Hospital located?

  Edinburgh
• Why did soldiers feel ashamed in specialist hospitals?

  They felt helpless for not fighting
• What stage of trench foot is characterized by tissue damage and ulcers?

  Stage III
• What are the symptoms associated with Stage III of trench foot?

  Tissue damage and ulcers
• How did trench foot affect soldiers' health in severe cases?

  It could lead to gangrene and amputation
• What was the most significant effect of trench foot on soldiers during World War I?

  Severe impairment of mobility and fighting ability
• Which trench condition is considered the most severe and why?

  Shell shock due to its psychological impact
• What is the nature of the condition known as trench foot?

  It is a physical condition
• What unsanitary conditions contributed to the spread of diseases in the trenches?

  Wet clothes, waste accumulation, overcrowding