By mid- to end-October 1914, the line of trenches stretched from the border of neutral Switzerland, through France and Belgium to the North Sea. The lines of the trenches would move forwards and backwards throughout the war, during offensives (or attacks) by both sides. In some areas, at the beginning of the war, trenches were no more than shallow ditches, or even interconnected shell holes. As the war of movement came to an end and the war of attrition began, the trenches became more and more advanced, both in depth, breadth and forms of construction. Materials commonly used to support the trenches (it's important to note that the majority of trenches were dug into the clay soil of that part of France) were wood, as in the limbs of trees and planks, sheet metal, sand bags, and concrete.
Because they were fighting a war!!!
They used shovels and picks to dig out the trenches.
The trenches on the western front were built in a more or less continuous line from the North Sea all the way to the border of Switzerland. A distance of about 750 km; considering that both sides used multiple trench lines, plush support trenches, and zigzags across the landscape there would have been several thousand kilometres of trenches being used by either side at any given time.
After the war the trenches went away as the land returned to its original uses, but I found a couple of them left that you can visit. One is Vieil Armand in Alsace, and the trenches were mostly carved in stone so they are well preserved. Also, World War 1 trenches in the Meuse have been restored to their original condition so that people can visit them. The German trenches there were built with concrete reinforcements, but the French trenches had filled in over the years and had to be dug out again.
Trenches were usually built from some of the items below:- Soil Sand Sandbags Planks Duckboards Wood Concrete Sleepers Trees Bodies However, the German trenches were usually more substantial than that of the Allied forces. This is because they were fighting a defensive war, and their front line did not alter much. Their trenches were deep, and often had connecting "cellars" very strongly made of concrete for their own troops to shelter in while the allied artillery blasted empty trenches; the Germans thus re-emerged unscathed when the bombardment was lifted.
To prtect the army from getting shot
by digging trenches and connecting the rivers
they built trenches for procetion and they used it as a base.
The trenches were called saps and the people who dug them were called sappers.
Trench warfare used several different types of trenches. Firing trenches were used by soldiers to protect themselves while firing their weapons at their enemy. Cover trenches were often built next to the firing trenches as a second line of defense in case the enemy captured the firing trench. Support trenches were used as rest areas for off-duty troops, who sometimes lived in dugouts excavated in the sides of the trench. A network of reserve and communications trenches was used to bring supplies and fresh troops to the front.
Because they were fighting a war!!!
Thessaloniki, or Salonika.
They used shovels and picks to dig out the trenches.
Many things made it possible to fire from the trenches. Mortars and field artillery were often fired from trenches. Trenches usually had berms (low dirt walls) built in front of them with firing positions along the top of the berm. Trenches sometimes had benches or ladders for gunners and snipers.
to protect soilders. from enemy shells and mortars but also a place to watch the enemy
with trenching spades if they didn't dig quick enough they risked being shot
The trenches on the western front were built in a more or less continuous line from the North Sea all the way to the border of Switzerland. A distance of about 750 km; considering that both sides used multiple trench lines, plush support trenches, and zigzags across the landscape there would have been several thousand kilometres of trenches being used by either side at any given time.