Post on 15-Jul-2015
American Cultures II Bell ringer
Question: What type of warfare existed after
the Schlieffen Plan ground to a halt?
Answer: trench warfare
The horror of World War I will help lead to World War II.
Life in the Trenches:
The Good, the Bad and
the just plain Nasty
This is what attacking troops faced when
going up against trenches.
Other problems faced by troops:
Defensive Trench System
Airplanes gave
defenders a heads
up and hand
dropped bombs.
Defensive Trench System
Craters in “No
Man’s Land” fill
with water and
hinder attackers.
Defensive Trench System
Heavy artillery fires
high explosives or
poison gas miles
towards No Man’s
Land.
Defensive Trench System
Front line trenches
provide cover from
attacking fire.
Even while sleeping some had to be vigilant ready for attack.
No man’s land was like setting foot on a different planet.
Comradeship was the only thing that kept men sane.
It is a war of ditches and trenches.
12,000 Miles of Trenches from 1914-1918
No man’s land between the trenches was a place of horror and death.
Peeking over the trench is not a good idea. Keep your head down.
Again peeking is not a good idea.
War is always a great place for rats.
A single pair of rats could produced up to 880 offspring in a year.
If you didn’t care for the company of rats their were many other silent companions.
This is trench foot. It occurs when you can’t keep your feet warm and dry.
Despite this, troops will be bandaged up and sent back to the front.
World War I is the first war to see chemical weapons used.
Respiratory Agents: Chlorine and phosgene gases
were severe. Within seconds of inhaling it destroyed
the victim's respiratory organs, bringing on choking
attacks.
Blistering Agents: Mustard Gas…burned and
blistered and rotted flesh.
There are two types of Chemical Warfare
Upon hearing the siren, you had only seconds to get your mask on.
Chlorine gas attacks the eyes.
Mustard gas blisters the skin
The horror of World War I will help lead to World War II.
Life in the Trenches:
The Good, the Bad and
the just plain Nasty