WWI Trench Warfare

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Trench warfare was a common form of battle on the Western Front during World War 1. Trench warfare is a military operation in which the soldiers fight from protected ditches. (Danzer, p.1091) The German experience involved weapons, raiding, casualties, and recreation. World War 1 began as a local European war between Austria-Hungary and Serbia on July 28, 1914. It was transformed into a general European struggle by declaration of war against Russia on August 1, 1914. The war eventually became a global war involving 32 nations that lasted between 1914 and 1918. The countries battled mainly on a strip of land called the Western Front that stretched across France, cutting into Belgium and Germany. Fighting also occurred on the Eastern Front, the Italian Front, the Black Sea, and in Africa. (See Appendix B – Pre and Post War Europe)
World War 1 was sparked by an assassination of Austria-Hungary’s Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The assassin of the Archduke (Gaurilo Princip) was in fact a “member of a secret society called the Black Hand.”(Danzer, p.556) The ‘Black Hand’s’ aim was to unite all Serbs under one government. After the assassination, Austria-Hungary declared that they were going to have a bright, brisk little war against Serbia. (Danzer, p.556) The World War was ignited when countries started to join the war to keep alliances. On July 29,1914, Russia announced that to keep its ally, Serbia, they would order a full mobilization of its militants. From August first to August third Germany declared war on Russia due to a treaty with Austria-Hungary; and Germany declared war on France, which was Russia’s ally. From there on, more countries joined to keep alliances. By the end of the war, more than 30 nations had joined World War 1. A key player was Germany.
The Germans used a large variety of weapons in World War 1. Their stock consisted mainly of 77mm machine guns, infantry guns, and trench mortars. The mac...