Hi,
For Core WWI, if our exam is on trench warfare, would we talk about weaponry and gas??
Thanks
Hey there,
Here are probably some things to consider when there's a question on trench warfare:
Stalemate/attrition warfare (defensive rather than offensive warfare)
Lack of effective tactics ('over the top')
Phosphene, mustard and chlorine gas (gas masks evolved slowly)
New technology wasn't used properly (pretty sure Lord Kitchener called tanks 'pretty little toys') --> even then, technology was still developing so they couldn't rely on technology too much
Trench life was also quite boring (on a "normal" day, soldiers tend to do housekeeping)
Attempts to break the stalemate (Verdun, the Somme, Passchendaele)
Just remember to not make generalised statements about trench warfare- the Western Front ran from the English Channel to the Swiss border so not all trench experiences are the same (some parts of the Western Front are a lot 'quieter' than other areas).
Hope this helps!