What was the trenches like?

Answer 1

Muddy, and lots of dead body lay there. Some soilders saw there fellow friends dead! There were rats and lice aswell. The soldiers could catch diseases form them aswell! :(

front line trenches

These were usually about seven feet deep and about six feet wide. The Allies were forced to dig their trenches in lower ground so they were often waterlogged. They had a zigzag pattern to prevent the enemy from shooting straight down the line. Sandbags were put on both sides of the top of the trench to absorb enemy bullets. Lines of barbed wire protected the frontline trench from any enemy attacks.

Fire step

This was cut into the side of the trench and allowed the soldiers to peer over the side of the trench towards the enemy. It was where the sentries stood or the whole unit when they were on 'standing-to' duty which meant that they were waiting for a possible enemy attack.

No-Man's Land

The land that separated the Allies and the German trenches was a wasteland of craters, blackened tree stumps and the occasional shell of a building. It was normally around 250 yards but could vary between 7 yards at Zonnebeke to 500 yards at Cambrai.

Communications trenches

Linking the front-line trench to the support and reserve trenches. They allowed the movement of men, equipment and supplies and were also used to take the wounded back to the Casualty Clearing Stations.

Answer 2

During World War I, the close proximity of the trenches made for close friendships among the soldiers. During lulls in fighting, the men would take the time to play cards, share cigarettes or reminisce about home. Of course, much of what they could do depended on the weather, and whether or not they were in combat. There were times when soldiers in the trenches had to stand knee deep in mud and filth while fighting.