Why was it difficult to attack a German trench?

Answer 1

They were so hard to attack because you had soldiers in them shooting at you. While in the trenches the soldiers were almost invulnerable to gunfire. The only way to attck a trench was for the other side to leave there trench, run through No Man's Land, the center wasteland between the two opposing trenches. You would run from crater to crater created artillery fire trying to avoid getting shot by the enemy or even your old team. You were considered lucky to makee to one of these craters, or foxholes, in one piece. from there you would charge straight towards the enemy trench trying not to get shot. That was an almost inpossible thing to do. If you got in the trench you would need to move through and kill everyone. If you made it that far you would be by yourself because most likely the rest of your squad died. Once in a trench you could not fire straight down it to kill everyone because most trenches were dug in a zigzag formation mainly to prevent that. By doing this trying to attcak an enemy trench, you were going on a suicide mission.

- Your Welcome to anyone this helped

Sincerely,

Brendan A. Sergel

10/17/10

Charlton MA, USA

Answer 2

I would like to know a better answer but these are the reasons I know of:

• There was a lack of technology eg. tanks etc.
• The advantage was with the defender
• Their were so many people involved

Please answer if you know more reasons!!!

The reasons for it being so hard to take enemy trenches in World War One is because of the barbed wire which lay in front of their trenches. This had to be distroyed when shelling it or cut at night. The problem with cutting it at night though was it took along time but sometimes the clicking could be heard by the enemy and then the enemy would fire where the noise was coming from. Also at night you were unable to see where the barbed wire was so could hurt youself.

Answer 3

Trenches were formidable defensive positions, with hundreds of machine guns and rifles, trained across no-man's land, along with artillery support form guns in rear areas. Enemy troops attempting to attack would face a hail of fire. Once they were in the trench the attackers then faced a savage hand-to-hand combat with the defenders.

Answer 4

This applies to both sides:

Trenches are built in such a way that the persons inside are concealed and protected and overlook a clear Field of fire.

The weapons are laid out in such a way that they all areas that can be attacked can be fire on by more than 1 weapon, Usually machine guns.

Ideally three overlapping fire zones from three separate machine guns.

Too attack a certain place you have to get up where the enemy can see you and advance towards them walking or running, while at least three high capacity machine guns and many enemy rifles shoot at you.

That is why it was difficult.

Answer 5

Because the opposing side was dug in, well entrenched, and used devestating weapons like the machine guns, which created bloody stalemate.

Answer 6

It was difficult to attack the enemy from trenches because both sides had machine guns and massive artillery that could turn the ground between the trenches into a slaughterhouse.