Six Feet Under

Did trench warfare do anything to aid the swiftness of World War One, or did it simply delay the war causing higher casualties and devastation?  Trenches were introduced into fighting at the Battle of the Marne by the Germans in order to hold what little ground they still occupied in France.  Soon these trenches grew into a way to systematically dismantle an enemy while strategically fighting in a chess like manner, attacking and counter attacking with real men as the pieces.  The shots were called by officers far away from the actual battle and with little risk to themselves.  In a world with one foot in the 19th century and one in the 20th century, trench warfare and advancements in weaponry, changed the outlook of war itself, and the poetic view that it once carried.

            Throughout the centuries, wars fought prior to The Great War consisted of neat little rows of soldiers performing a slow walk towards the enemy and when close enough, lowering the muzzles of their rifles and firing a single shot at the approaching enemy lines.  The two sides would then exchange fire until one side gave up and surrendered.  The problem with this type of fighting can be seen from the effectiveness of the Gatling Gun and a German version of the Maxim Machine gun.  Simply imagine men walking in synchronized step, shoulder to shoulder, and instead of approaching another line of single shot rifles, they approached a cranking machine gun ready to mow them down man by man.

            Those that strategized in the beginning of the war assumed that it would be just like any other conflict fought, and that in a gentlemanly, kind manner, men would respectfully walk towards one another and exchange lead.  This was far from the case, and yet large numbers of cavalry were amassed and men slowly headed off into a blaze of fire.  The problem was that in past conflicts, there was no attacker or defender on a battle field.  There were two opposing armies approaching each other, with no one under any significant coverage or defense.  When trenches are involved no matter how high the spirit of the attackers, there is not sense of fear in the defenders who sit safely behind a wall.  They will not be dominated and submit, but rather trust in their defenses and fire as the enemy approaches.