How did the trenches develop

• When did Britain declare war on Germany and what happened?

  -August 4th 1914

  -The British Expeditionary Force (BEF) was sent to France to stop the Germans advancing through Belgium
• Why did soldiers begin to dig small trenches?

  To shield themselves from machine gun fire
• What had happened in the early stage of the ww1


  -stalemate had developed-neither side could advance, so both dug in to hold their ground

  -eventually a line of trenches stretched from the English channel in the north to Switzerland in the south
• What changed in the trench system from 1915?

  -more complex trench system

  • there was a frontline trench, where attacks were made from
  • Behind this was the support trench
  • Behind the support trench was the reserve trench
  • These trenches were connected by a communication trench
  • trenches were dug in a zigzag pattern
• What was the space between the two lines of trenches called?


  No mans land

  -barbed wire was placed in no mans land to slow down enemy attacks
• What are dugouts ?

  Holes that were dug into the side of the trenches, where men could take cover
• Generally how deep were trenches ?

  2.5m deep