How were soldiers affected by trench warfare?

Disease and ‘shell shock’ were rampant in the trenches. With soldiers fighting in close proximity in the trenches, usually in unsanitary conditions, infectious diseases such as dysentery, cholera and typhoid fever were common and spread rapidly.

What happened to trenches after ww1?

Originally Answered: What happened to the trenches from World War I after the war was over? They were filled and/or collapsed. The vast majority of the land was reclaimed in Belgium. Large areas of the French battlefields were cleared, but much was simply made military reservations.

How did shell shock affect soldiers?

The term “shell shock” was coined by the soldiers themselves. Symptoms included fatigue, tremor, confusion, nightmares and impaired sight and hearing. It was often diagnosed when a soldier was unable to function and no obvious cause could be identified.

What was trench warfare in ww1?

Trench warfare is a type of fighting where both sides build deep trenches as a defense against the enemy. During World War I, the western front in France was fought using trench warfare. By the end of 1914, both sides had built a series of trenches that went from the North Sea and through Belgium and France.

Why did trench warfare start?

Trench warfare proliferated when a revolution in firepower was not matched by similar advances in mobility, resulting in a gruelling form of warfare in which the defender held the advantage. The area between opposing trench lines (known as “no man’s land”) was fully exposed to artillery fire from both sides.

What made trench warfare so difficult?

Life in the trenches Long, cold, wet winters and hot, dry summers-almost year round unpleasant weather. Snow, rain and extremely low temperatures during winter drastically slower combat. Lack of fresh water, little to no sun coverage, scorching sun, and the stench of the dead bodies and rubbish in the heat would have been unbearable in the summer.

What are the positives of trench warfare?

The pros of trench warfare are that the trenches were a fantastic form of defence against enemy aircraft and bombs as the soldiers could quickly retreat into a covered area or a bomb shelter. Another positive of being in trenches was the soldiers had the safety of a safe area where there was a huge amount of protection against enemy fire.

How did World War One turn into trench warfare?

One reason that World War I became a massive trench war on the Western Front was that western Europe was densely populated. The opposing armies in the west were so vast that they could be deployed across the entire European continent, forming a continuous front.

What are facts about trench warfare?

Trench warfare is a type of fighting where both sides build deep trenches as a defense against the enemy. These trenches can stretch for many miles and make it nearly impossible for one side to advance.