why were trenches formed in a zigzag course

Because constant shelling and frequent rainfall could cause the trench walls to collapse, the walls were reinforced with sandbags, logs, and branches. Trenches were dug in a zigzag pattern so that if an enemy entered the trench, he could not fire straight down the line.

Full Answer

Why were trenches designed in zigzag patterns?

Because snipers were a constant threat, periscopes and mirrors were used to observe the battlefield. Trenches were designed in zigzag patterns so enemies that penetrated defenses were limited in their lines of fire. Several parallel lines of trenches were dug, and soldiers rotated between the front trenches, support trenches and reserve trenches.

How were the trenches connected in WW1?

The main trench lines were connected by communicating trenches, allowing for the movement of messages, supplies, and soldiers and were lined with barbed wire. The space between the enemy lines was known as "No Man's Land.". The space varied but averaged about 250 yards.

Why were the walls of the trenches lined with sandbags?

The rear wall of the trench, known as the parados, was lined with sandbags as well, protecting against a rear assault. Because constant shelling and frequent rainfall could cause the trench walls to collapse, the walls were reinforced with sandbags, logs, and branches.

Why were trenches not straight lines?

Trenches were not straight lines, but were crooked or crenelated to keep the enemy from setting up a machine gun in your trench and shooting down its length. In the age before antibiotics, trenches killed with disease and filth.

How were trenches connected?

The main trench lines were connected by communicating trenches, allowing for the movement of messages, supplies, and soldiers and were lined with barbed wire. The space between the enemy lines was known as "No Man's Land.". The space varied but averaged about 250 yards.

Why did the Allies dig trenches?

By October 1914, neither army could advance its position, mainly because war was being waged in a very different way than it had been during the 19th century.

How many trenches are there in the trenches?

Trenches were dug in a zigzag pattern so that if an enemy entered the trench, he could not fire straight down the line. A typical trench system included a line of three or four trenches: the front line (also called the outpost or the fire line), the support trench, and the reserve trench, all built parallel to one another and anywhere from 100 to 400 yards apart.

How many people died in trench warfare?

By the time the armistice was signed on November 11, 1918, an estimated 8.5 million men (on all fronts) had lost their lives in the so-called "war to end all wars.".

How deep were trenches?

Some trenches contained dugouts below the level of the trench floor, often as deep as 20 or 30 feet. Most of these underground rooms were little more than crude cellars, but some, especially those farther back from the front, offered more conveniences, such as beds, furniture, and stoves.

How did trench foot develop?

Similar to frostbite, trench foot developed as a result of men being forced to stand in water for several hours, even days, without a chance to remove wet boots and socks. In extreme cases, gangrene would develop and a soldier's toes, or even his entire foot, would have to be amputated.

What was the misery in the trenches?

Misery in the Mud. Life in the trenches was nightmarish, aside from the usual rigors of combat. Forces of nature posed as great a threat as the opposing army. Heavy rainfall flooded trenches and created impassable, muddy conditions.

Why did the Allies and Germans dig trenches?

Although the war began with rapid movement of the German army, when the Allied forces stopped the Germans, both sides dug trenches to help avoid losing territory they had gained. By late 1914 when the Germans and Allies confronted each other, technology, such as heavy artillery and machine guns, precluded the efficiency of a frontal attack. ...

How many miles of trenches were dug on both sides?

Hundreds of miles of trenches were dug on both sides with empty areas between known as no man's land. The length of the trenches made flanking maneuvers impossible. Elaborate networks of barbed wire were strung up to prevent enemy soldiers from advancing.

Why were periscopes and mirrors used in the trenches?

Because snipers were a constant threat , periscopes and mirrors were used to observe the battlefield. Trenches were designed in zigzag patterns so enemies that penetrated defenses were limited in their lines of fire. Several parallel lines of trenches were dug, and soldiers rotated between the front trenches, support trenches and reserve trenches.