The Western Front: Trenches & Battles

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The Trench System:

  • Trenches were built as a defence system from the enemy.
  • "The Western Front" - A line of trenches built from the English Channel (in the North) to Switzerland (in the South).
  • Front-line Trenches:
    • About 7 feet deep and 6 feet wide.
    • Protected by barbed wire and machinegun posts.
    • Front of the trench was known as the 'parapet' and this would consist of thick sandbags to absorb any bullets or shell fragments.
  • Support & Reserve Trenches:
    • Behind the front-line trenches.
    • These trenches covered about 200-500 yards, including the front-line trenches.
    • Communication Trenches: Were dug near the front-line trench, used to transport men, equipment and food supplies.

Key Battles:

  • 1st BATTLE OF YPRES: (Oct-Nov, 1914) British troops stopped the German army from capturing ports like Calais. This meant that reinforcements and equipment could keep arriving by ship for Britain.
  • 2nd BATTLE OF YPRES:  (Apr-May, 1915) The German army attacked by using…

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