WWI Warfare: German Trench Life

German soldiers in the trenches on the Western Front (aka No Man's Land) had to deal with death, sickness, bombardment, and vermin daily.

The Daily Life

Soldiers in barracks were awoken an hour before dawn, and had to "stand to," then were chosen to go on watch. A multitude of attacks occured during this time even though both sides practiced morning "stand to." (Also called "Morning Hate.")

Chores were assigned to those available, such as digging bathrooms and draining trenches.

When they could, time was spent relaxing or grabbing as much sleep as possible. Some wrote letters home, recounting their days.

When night fell, trenches went into action, sending people to bring supplies, and preparing. Sentries were posted.

All companies were required to rotate to the front lines, but the times they served in the front were inconsistent.

Above: "German Trenches On The Aisne"

http://www.old-picture.com/american-history-1900-1930s/pictures/Trenches-German-002.jpg

Vermin And Sickness

Millions of rats terrorized the trenches, stealing food, and eating off of human corpses. Brown rats, the most feared, could grow to the size of a cat! Bayonets and guns used could not get rid them. Lice also never went away, the eggs always managing to stay in their clothes and hatch after all the other lice were dead. Unknowingly, at the time, lice caused Trench Fever, a sickness with symptoms of pain, then fever. Soldiers also got dysentery from drinking filthy water from shell holes to get the drink that they needed.