Why were the trenches built in zig zags?

The trench system had a main fire trench or front line. All the trenches were dug in a zig-zag pattern so the enemy couldn’t shoot straight down the line and kill many soldiers.

What are 5 facts about World War 1?

More Interesting Facts about WW1

• An explosion on the battlefield in France was heard in England.
• WW1 journalists risked their lives to report on the war.
• 12 million letters were delivered to the frontline every week.
• Plastic surgery was invented because of WW1.
• The youngest British soldier in WW1 was just 12 years old.

What were duckboards in the trenches?

‘Duckboards’ (or ‘trench gratings’) were first used at Ploegsteert Wood, Ypres in December 1914. They were used throughout the First World War being usually placed at the bottom of the trenches to cover the sump-pits, the drainage holes which were made at intervals along one side of the trench.

Why did trenches have duckboards?

The bottom of the trench was usually covered with wooden boards called duckboards. The duckboards were meant to keep the soldiers’ feet above the water that would collect at the bottom of the trench. The trenches weren’t dug in one long straight line, but were built as more of a system of trenches.

What disease did rats carry in the trenches?

Rats and lice tormented the troops by day and night. Oversized rats, bloated by the food and waste of stationary armies, helped spread disease and were a constant irritant. In 1918, doctors also identified lice as the cause of trench fever, which plagued the troops with headaches, fevers, and muscle pain.

What are some questions about World War 1?

Questions Regarding World War I

• What were the worst conditions soldiers in WWI went through?
• How long did it take to dig up the trenches soldiers fought in?
• Are countries still upset with one another because of WWI?

Do rats eat humans?

Common conflicts and solutions. Food: Rats will eat anything a human will, and more. Burrows: Although rats may create damage with their borrowing, it’s usually more superficial than structural. Chewing: Since their front teeth grow all their lives rats, chew on things to keep them worn down.

What was the worst disease in the trenches?

But the majority of loss of life can be attributed to famine and disease – horrific conditions meant fevers, parasites and infections were rife on the frontline and ripped through the troops in the trenches. Among the diseases and viruses that were most prevalent were influenza, typhoid, trench foot and trench fever.

Did more soldiers died in WW1 or ww2?

World War One lasted more than 4 years but about 16 million people died. That’s even more, but it’s nowhere near 80 million – and World War Two only happened 20 years later.

What disease killed soldiers in WW1?

On Armistice Day, 1918, the world was already fighting another battle. It was in the grip of Spanish Influenza, which went on to kill almost three times more people than the 17 million soldiers and civilians killed during WW1.

Why did US get into ww1?

On April 2, 1917, President Woodrow Wilson went before a joint session of Congress to request a declaration of war against Germany. Germany’s resumption of submarine attacks on passenger and merchant ships in 1917 became the primary motivation behind Wilson’s decision to lead the United States into World War I.

What was the land between the trenches called?

“No Man’s Land” was a popular term during the First World War to describe the area between opposing armies and trench lines.

How did soldiers deal with rats in ww1?

Many troops were awakened by rats crawling across their faces. Cats and terriers were kept by soldiers in the frontline trenches to help free them of disease-carrying rats. The terriers were actually very effective in killing rats.