How was it like in World War I trenches?

Answer 1

The 1st world war began in 1914 and lasted until 1918. No-one could have imagined the horrendous conditions the men on the western front would have to live and fight in. When the war began in France there was a deadlock which meant that each side had to dig treched for protection. These trenches stretched from channel ports to Switzerland.

Trenches were built wherever the enemy was found, no matter what was in the way. A trench was usually 2 metres wide and 2 metres deep, and was dug in a zigzag so that the blast from an exploding shell would be confined to only a small section of the trench. Firing steps helped the soldiers to fire through the parapet, a fire-step was dug into the forward side of the trench. The fire-step was 2 or 3 ft high. The elbow rest was also built in the front line.

Answer 2

Life in a trench was foul.

The soldiers would be ankle deep in cold water most of the time, which contributed to the possibility of contracting Trench Foot and other such diseases. Aside from that, there would be the constant clamour of guns that drove many soldiers mad. Shells were continually being dropped by the enemy; shells that would not only kill men, but also bury them so deep that no one could help them.

The smell was indescribably awful with many conflicting sources, such as the rats, mud, and bodies, among other things. Many men were scared into trying to escape from the trenches, because of the fact that death was the closest companion. If you were caught as a soldier running away, you would be executed by the firing squad. In World War One, 306 British and Commonwealth soldiers were executed.

In short, IT WAS CRAP.

Answer 3

Fighting in the trenches during World War I would have been both terrifying and brutal. Death could come for a soldier in many different ways, and it was unsanitary, loud, and caused a lot of men to suffer from PTSD.

Answer 4

they were disgusting. mud rained and disease was a killer. over 200,000 men died but most were claimed by disease.

this is just a brief summary, a more detailed account can be found on wiki answers for "what was life like in ww1 trenches"

Answer 5

It was disgusting in the trenches. It stank, and there were rats running everywhere. The trenches were very shallow and small. There were usually dead bodies and injured bodies just lying around everywhere. It was not a nice place at all. When it rained, the rain mixed with mud and filled the trenches up with smelly stinky mud.

Hope this helps =]