It was hard because they were entrenched in their position, and when not moving forward they are on the defensive. Much of the trench warfare resulted in a deadlock, because of the difficulty of gaining ground. It was difficult because of the no-man's-land in between the enemy trenches covered with barbed wire, and the machine guns that could totally annihilate an entire charge.
They were used for hand to hand combat if the enemy jumped into their trenches. This was the first war with extensive use of trench warfare.
Trench warfare was one type, and one which was used more than it had been in any previous war (and maybe since then). Also, things such as gas attacks are classed as well as use of tanks to invade enemy territory and fighter planes.
Airplanes probably ended trench warfare because they could fly over enemy camps, fire down on them, and gather information about troop arrangements. Source: My social studies teacher (a little) and my inference...
There are two main methods of killing the enemy. The machine gun has come into its own. Artillery has become a very powerful means of killing. Trench warfare can only be sustained because of modern technology: 2 things principly bring this about. Railways & Tinned Food.
To leave the trenches and attack the enemy. A very British tactic you climb out of your trench and walk towards the enemy while being shot at with machine guns. The Somme is one such battle where the tactic was employed resulting in the loss of 58,000 British troops in one day (still a record)
Trench warfare. They would sit in trenches and shoot at the enemy trench
Trench warfare. They would sit in trenches and shoot at the enemy trench
In trench warfare, the lines are protected by miles of wire and entrenchments. It is very difficult for large formations of men and materiel to move across such an environment.
To protect themselves from enemy fire.
There were problems, because it was hard to gain any ground, and the conditions in the trenches were absolutely terrible. They were strewn with dead bodies and waste, not to mention all the mud from rain. It was very unsanitary; trench warfare was really quite terrible.
During WWI, in trench warfare, German armies dug holes in the ground that were 6 to 8 ft. tall, and wide enough that 2 soldiers could walk side by side at the same time! Trench warfare was fought by one group of soldiers advancing across no mans land to assault the enemy trench quickly, before returning to their trench to apply defensive fire on the enemy, who has retaliated by assaulting their trench. Then the enemy return once fire has ceased. Then they wait for the next move to be made.
Trench warfare was mostly used, and planes were used to locate enemy positions
the reason for trench warfare was to take cover from enemy fire and motar shell fargments.
An advantage of a trench is that it was a line of security. Soldiers that were in trenches were able to see enemy soldiers and surprise them by force.
Trench Warfare took place most notably in World War I. This type of warfare involved digging trenches (large lines about 12 feet deep) and slowly wearing down the enemy. Trenches were a good shelter from enemy small arms fire and well protected from most artillery strikes. Hope this helped. Type Trench Warfare Wiki into google.
The defender just sits in the trenches since there is no need to push on the enemy trenches. The enemy has to send soldiers down through the dead zone/no man's land where all or most will get shot down by soldiers firing from the defender's trenches or by artillery fire. In fact, many British and American soldiers died this way when arrogant generals with no trench warfare experience sent squads after squads of men to die rushing the defender trenches. The defender also has the benefit of being more prepared for the trench warfare with more time to plan trench design, better supply stocks and delivery routes. For trench design, the defender can create trenches on high ground which is a critical tactical advantage over the attacker and very difficult to break.
trench warfare