MR NYAMUDEZA

HISTORY STUDY PACK: FORM 3

SYLLABUS CODE: 0470

WEEK 4: (LESSON 1)

TOPIC: WORLD WAR 1 -TRENCH WARFARE

(Problems faced by soldiers)
 OBJECTIVES

• Define the trench warfare.

• State the problems faced by soldiers in the trenches.
• Describe these problems.

WEBSITES
Origins & Development of Trench Warfare - YouTube

Key words and their definitions

Static-no movement

Trench warfare – a new type of warfare where soldiers fought from trenches

Casualties- people killed or injured in a war or accident

LESSON BREAKDOWN
TIME ALLOCATED TEACHING AND LEARNING ACTIVITIES
0-10mins • Learners confirm their presence by stating why the trench
warfare developed on the western front.
• Teacher comments on learners’ feedback.
15-20mins • Teacher hammers on important points about this warfare and
leads leaners to problems suffered by soldiers in the trenches.
Teacher then leaves it to the first presenter to describe these
problems
20-40mins • Presenter looks at the conditions and problems faced by
soldiers in the trenches.

40-60mins • Class discussion on the impact of these problems.

• Lesson is concluded by stating of the problems faced by learners to
confirm their understanding.
 Soldiers firing from the trench

Features of a trench

NATURE AND PROBLEMS OF THE TRENCH WARFARE

• Soldiers in the trenches went through a lot of bad experiences that are:
1. Boredom – the experiences in the trenches were so boring because the soldiers
did not spent all the time going over the top to attack the enemy. Rather they
spent much of their time on guard, repairing trenches or just trying to sleep or
rest. Such a lifestyle was boring and stressful to the soldiers
2. Poor sanitation- the sanitational conditions were unbearable to men. Millions of
men and thousand of horses lived close together. The smell of the trenches were
appalling because of a combination of rotting corpses, sewage and unwashed
soldiers
3. Soldiers also suffered infestations from lice
4. Harsh weather conditions. In summer the trenches were hot, dusty and smelly
whilst in wet weather the trenches were filled with water such that soldiers spent
much of their time with their ankles and knees in water. In winter the trenches
were also extremely cold.
5. Diseases – soldiers often suffered from diseases whilst in the trenches. Common
diseases were trench foot which was cau0sed by standing in water for hours or
days as well as frost bites
6. The other problem that the soldiers faced was that of rates. The trenches were
infested by rats. These rats often fed on dead bodies and rubbish created by the
armies.
7. Deaths were another problem. About 10 million soldiers died of bombardments in
the trenches
8. Some soldiers also suffered from injuries. This was so because bombardments
came without warning and sometimes soldiers would be subject to non-stop
bombardment for days in the trenches
Summary of problems in the trenches
However, despite the above problems, the soldiers were so disciplined in the trenches. There
were few desertions by soldiers. The only case of indiscipline was the 1917 mutiny by the
French soldiers who refused to fight after they experienced great losses from their side that
year. Discipline among soldiers was often characterised by

• A sense of comradeship
• Patriotism- soldiers felt that they were fighting for their countries
• Rest- soldiers spent about 60 per cent of their time behind their lines resting. Some took
the time to write in their diaries, playing football matches and some doing light duties
• Respect for their leaders-

PRACTICE QUESTION
Describe the problems faced by soldiers in the trenches. (4)