WORLD WAR 1

How did it start?

• The ‘Great War’ • Began on 28 July 1914.• Started with Austria-

Hungary’s declaration of war with Serbia.

• The first global war.  • Began in Europe but quickly spread

throughout the world.

Allies VS Central Powers

There was a lot of propaganda

(misleading information used to promote war)

Men volunteered to go to war

• Collect information on what life was like in the trenches from the following slides.

• Draw a spider diagram or write a list.

Do not copy all of the information.Read the slides. Jot down points.

Let’s find out what life was like in the trenches

Life in the Trenches

Life in the Trenches

• Trenches were narrow ditches dug by the soldiers.

• It was the place where the soldiers lived.

Life in the Trenches

• The trenches were disgusting places, as there were all sorts of pests (rats, lice, and frogs) living with the soldiers.

• Rats ate the soldiers’ food, and the lice caused a disease called Trench Fever. This created an itch, and caused fever, sore muscles, bones and joints, and headaches.

Life in the Trenches

• The weather didn’t help. Rain caused the trenches to flood and to get more muddy.

• This made it harder to move in battle and jammed their weapons.

• Exposure to this weather could lead to Trench Foot, which could result in having to amputate one’s foot.

• Cold weather was also dangerous.

Life in the Trenches

• Around 8.5 to 12 million soldiers died at war.• One third of these soldiers died when they

were in their trenches.

Life in the Trenches

• Gas was sometimes used to attack the trenches. Soldiers had to quickly put on their gas masks as inhaling these gases could be fatal.

• Chlorine and Mustard gas were most commonly used.

Life in the Trenches

• The area between the two enemy trench lines was called ‘No Man’s Land’.

• This was sometimes covered with barbed wires and land mimes, which made it difficult and dangerous to cross.

References:

KidsKonnect. (2015). WW1 Trenches: Facts About World War I Trench Warfare. Retrieved 26 May 2015, from https://kidskonnect.com/history/ww1-trenches/

Elle310. (2014). Lesson 1 - WW1. (2015). TES resources. Retrieved 24 April 2015.