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What were the trenches? The trenches were the front lines, only a small portion of the army served there. They ranged in size from small ditches to well maintained structures. The trenches provided cover from the advanced weapons the belligerents possessed. The trench warfare that we think of is known to have began in September of 1914. By the end of 1914, a continuous 475 mile line of trenches was dug from Switzerland to the North Sea. By the time the trench warfare came to an end in November of 1918 nearly 25,000 miles of trenches had been dug.
Fighting Conditions
Trench Life
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“If you have never had trench foot described to you, I will explain. Your feet swell to two to three times their normal size and go completely dead. You can stick a bayonet into them and not feel a thing. If you are lucky enough not to lose your feet and the swelling starts to go down, it is then that the most indescribable agony begins. I have heard men cry and scream with pain and many have had to have their feet and legs amputated. I was one of the lucky ones, but one more day in that trench and it may have been too late.” -Harry Roberts
Trench Construction
The Trenches Today
Trench warfare is still used today.