Trench Warfare

Trench warfare, a type of land warfare, occurs when two opposing armies are in battle and are forced to make trenches (or ditches) and fight from these positions. When trench warfare is necessary, it is because both armies are facing a stalemate. A stalemate is defined as, "a position counting as a draw, in which a player is not in check but cannot move except into check" and is basically when neither army could move up or down the battlefield. Despite the fact that trench warfare had been used in past battles, it was revolutionary when introduced and used on the Western Front in World War I. Being a soldier during this time was significantly difficult due to the fact that they had to endure with diseases, night patrols, raids, gas attacks, "shell shocks, etc. 



Trench warfare was first introduced in World War I in September of 1914 during the First Battle of the Marne, also recognized as the Miracle of the Marne. This battle was fought between September 5th and September 12th in Paris and resulted in an Allied victory. Modern weaponry hindered the armies from using head-on attacks and they were consequently forced to adapt to tench warfare. At first, this tactic was though to be temporary; however, due to its success, it became a crucial feature to World War I. The First elaborate trench line was 475 miles long. It was complete by November of 1914, with a starting point at the North Sea and ending point at the Swiss frontiet. This trench line ran through Belgium and France.

Despite the fact that trench warfare was a revolutionary tactic during WWI, it also introduced, not so new yet crucial issues. Before trenches were fully developed they were also used for protection; however, death was coming their way from other directions including: rat infestation, frog and rat diseases, etc.  Rats, both black and brown, infested the trenches during this time. They would eat the remains  of dead soldiers and often grew to be the size of cats. Rats were greatly feared considering the fact that they not only spread infections but ultimately contaminated food. Rats were capable of producing 900 offspring yearly, making this issue even more severe. Trench Fever and Trench Foot were two feared diseases. Trench Fever was detected by mild pain and fevers, the victims of this disease did not recover until having been at least twelve weeks away from the trenches. Trench Foot, on the other hand, was a fungal infection ultimately caused by unsanitary conditions in the trenches.