Life In The Trenches During WWI

World War I or the Great War began in 1914 and ended in 1918. It was one of the largest wars in history with 70 million military personnel involved, 60 million of whom were Europeans. By the end, over nine million combatants and seven million civilians had died, making it one of the deadliest conflicts of history. With the development of new technology and weaponry, a tactical stalemate emerged producing a horrific trench warfare between the two sides. For four years the two sides remained in a stand-off as millions died in a war that changed the world. See what it was like to live in the trenches and the everyday horrors experienced by soldiers in the trenches of World War I.

Troops Lived, Fought, And Died In The Trenches

whatwerethetrenches.jpg

Bain News Service/Buyenlarge/Getty Images

The trenches of World War I were a series of man-made ditches intended to protect the troops from enemies artillery attacks. They were primarily utilized on the Western Front of the Great War and served as the front lines through WWI. Behind the lines were training establishments, stores, supply lines, headquarters and just about everything that involved the war, so it was crucial that the trenches weren’t overrun by the enemies. Because the trenches were where the majority of battles occurred, troops lived, fought, and died within the tight confines and deplorable conditions of these makeshift trenches.