What were trenches like in ww2?

On the Western Front, the war was fought by soldiers in trenches. Trenches were long, narrow ditches dug into the ground where soldiers lived. They were very muddy, uncomfortable and the toilets overflowed. These conditions caused some soldiers to develop medical problems such as trench foot.

Regarding this, did they have trenches in World War 2?

Trenches (fighting holes, slit trenches, etc) were indeed used in World War II by all major combatants. The stark difference between their use in WWI and WWII was that trenches typically did not become static front-lines for long periods of time (lasting more than six months).

One may also ask, how did they build trenches in ww2? The trenches were dug by soldiers and there were three ways to dig them. Sometimes the soldiers would simply dig the trenches straight into the ground – a method known as entrenching. Entrenching was fast, but the soldiers were open to enemy fire while they dug. Another method was to extend a trench on one end.

Also Know, where were trenches used in ww2?

Trenches were common throughout the Western Front. Long, narrow trenches dug into the ground at the front, usually by the infantry soldiers who would occupy them for weeks at a time, were designed to protect World War I troops from machine-gun fire and artillery attack from the air.

How long were the trenches in ww2?

It is estimated that if all the trenches built along the western front were laid end-to-end they would total over 25,000 miles long. The trenches needed constant repair or they would erode from the weather and from enemy bombs. The British said it took 450 men 6 hours to build about 250 meters of a trench system.

36 Related Question Answers Found

Why was WWI so deadly?

Chemical warfare first appeared when the Germans used poison gas during a surprise attack in Flanders, Belgium, in 1915. The result was a war in which soldiers near the front were seldom safe from artillery bombardment. The Germans used super–long-range artillery to shell Paris from almost eighty miles away.

What happened to the trenches after World War 1?

Originally Answered: What happens to the trenches made during WWI? Most were filled in after the war, as the French and Belgian farmers returned the countryside and began trying to cultivate the land again. But in some places, the trenches were left to show the scars of war.

What life was like in the trenches?

On the Western Front, the war was fought by soldiers in trenches. Trenches were long, narrow ditches dug into the ground where soldiers lived. They were very muddy, uncomfortable and the toilets overflowed. These conditions caused some soldiers to develop medical problems such as trench foot.

What happened to the dead bodies in the trenches ww1?

The dead was usually buried right where they fell, and as soon as possible. Burying them was more important than the war itself because piles of rotting bodies would've caused plagues and decimated both sides. For this reason the opponents sometimes declared a ceasefire only to bury the dead.

What was trench foot?

Trench foot is a medical condition caused by prolonged exposure of the feet to damp, unsanitary, and cold conditions. It is one of many immersion foot syndromes. The use of the word trench in the name of this condition is a reference to trench warfare, mainly associated with World War I.

Why did ww2 not have trenches?

Trench warfare happened in WWII when some components were out of proportion. While that is happening, the armoured spearheads push on, and do the same again to successive trench lines. There would not be a No Man's Land to cross, because the Germans would never have entrenched.

Where is No Man's Land?

Between the lines territory was left that was defined as no man's land. Such areas existed in Jerusalem, in the area between the western and southern parts of the Walls of Jerusalem and Musrara.

How many Japanese died in ww2?

Total deaths

Country	Total population 1/1/1939	Total deaths
Japan	71,380,000	2,500,000 to 3,100,000
Korea (Japanese colony)	24,326,000	483,000 to 533,000
Latvia (within 1939 borders)	1,994,500	250,000
Lithuania (within 1939 borders)	2,575,000	370,000

Are trenches still used in war?

In fact, trench warfare remains arguably the most effective strategy for infantry where, for whatever reason, armor and air support are lacking. Drones may have replaced carrier pigeons in the skies above the battlefield, but the use of trenches has changed little since Verdun and the Somme.

What started World War 1?

How Did World War 1 Start? The immediate cause for World War 1 was the assassination of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his pregnant wife Sophie. Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria was the nephew of Emperor Franz Josef and heir to the throne of Austria and Hungary.

Why was World War 1 fought in trenches?

During WWI, trenches were used to try to protect soldiers from poison gas, giving them more time to put on gas masks. Dysentery, cholera, typhoid fever, and trench foot were all common diseases in the trenches, especially during WWI. Gigantic rats were common in the trenches of WWI and WWII.

What was it like for soldiers in ww2?

Originally Answered: What was life like for soldiers in World War II? It would really depend on what theater they were in. They were either cold and miserable, or hot and miserable. Out in the field they slept wherever they could, holes in the ground, damaged buildings, or anywhere they might be “safe” from enemy fire.

Why did Russia leave the war?

Russia leaves the war

In March 1917 riots broke loose in Russia. Lenin wanted to concentrate on building up a communist state and wanted to pull Russia out of the war. He accomplished this by agreeing to the Treaty of Brest-Litvosk with Germany on March 3, 1918.

What was the purpose of duckboards?

A duckboard is a type of boardwalk placed over muddy and wet ground. During World War I, duckboards were used to line the bottom of trenches on the Western Front because these were regularly flooded, and mud and water would lie in the trenches for months on end.

Who won the ww1?

The Allies (mainly Britain, France, US) won WW1 which happened from 1914-1919. Germany was the main loser, along with Austria - Hungary, The Ottoman Empire, and the other Central Powers and also Russia, although Russia withdrew from the war early due to civil war issues at home.

Why did trench warfare end?

Germany Invented the "Storm Trooper" This is the reason that trench warfare ended in 1918. They were desperate for a new tactic and left the trenches behind. Storm Troopers were poised on critical offensive goals that would have detrimental effect on enemy positions. Therefore abandoning the defensive trench strategy.

Who always had the advantage in trench warfare?

They used trenches to protect the troops from deadly bombs, and machine guns. ADVANTAGES:Advantages of trench warfare was that you were invisible to the other enemy because you were protected from inside the trench, you were also protected by enemy fire and shells.