The innovation of trench warfare during WWI had a great impact on civilians, and the troops and governments which were involved with the war.
In regard to civilians, the trench warfare had a scarring and dehumanizing effect. One reason for this effect was that the trenches made the war longer, keeping troops away from their families which in some cases could damage the family's economic situation and definately their emotional and hierarchal structure. Also, the trenches tore apart the landscape, creating thousands upon thousands of miles of unusable land accross the Western portion of Europe, causing villages to be eliminated for new trenches, putting some families out on the street, causing death and poverty to sweep through Western Europe.
In regard to the troops, the trenches took a terrible toll of lives and sanity. One particular disadvatage of the trenches was that it prevented mobility of troops. If a shell came towards a trench, troops were left basically helpless, unable to flee near certain death. Because of the unclinliness of the trenches, the troops had to cope with varous toxic pollutants as well as other damaging factors such as flesh-eating rats. After having to cope with these death-causing elements of the trenches, troops were left with the memories and scenes of the destruction and inhumanity. Because of the terrible length of the war, these experiences were constantly being heaped upon the minds of these soldiers and because of the long periods of inactivity associated with the trenches, the troops were left to brood over these experiences, causing psychological trauma to countless soldiers.
In regard to governments, trench warfare sapped nations of all of their economic resources and oftentimes caused discontent amongst their civilians. In order to maintain their bid in the war, the governments had to continue to pour finances into their military campaigns, causing massive debt and instability for many European governments. If a government in the war was failing to achieve their goals in the war, civilian discontent grew, causing the governments to lose preference in the eyes of their populace, further draining the governments of power.
In regard to civilians, the trench warfare had a scarring and dehumanizing effect. One reason for this effect was that the trenches made the war longer, keeping troops away from their families which in some cases could damage the family's economic situation and definately their emotional and hierarchal structure. Also, the trenches tore apart the landscape, creating thousands upon thousands of miles of unusable land accross the Western portion of Europe, causing villages to be eliminated for new trenches, putting some families out on the street, causing death and poverty to sweep through Western Europe.
In regard to the troops, the trenches took a terrible toll of lives and sanity. One particular disadvatage of the trenches was that it prevented mobility of troops. If a shell came towards a trench, troops were left basically helpless, unable to flee near certain death. Because of the unclinliness of the trenches, the troops had to cope with varous toxic pollutants as well as other damaging factors such as flesh-eating rats. After having to cope with these death-causing elements of the trenches, troops were left with the memories and scenes of the destruction and inhumanity. Because of the terrible length of the war, these experiences were constantly being heaped upon the minds of these soldiers and because of the long periods of inactivity associated with the trenches, the troops were left to brood over these experiences, causing psychological trauma to countless soldiers.
In regard to governments, trench warfare sapped nations of all of their economic resources and oftentimes caused discontent amongst their civilians. In order to maintain their bid in the war, the governments had to continue to pour finances into their military campaigns, causing massive debt and instability for many European governments. If a government in the war was failing to achieve their goals in the war, civilian discontent grew, causing the governments to lose preference in the eyes of their populace, further draining the governments of power.
