Abby V.
The evolution of trench warfare came about from the increasing competition between the alliances in an arms race as well as new instruments of war being implemented on both sides of the trenches, mostly between Britain, France, and Germany. Britain was now involved in a war where winning meant more than showing up with bigger and better weaponry, such as their war in Africa. The competition between Britain and Germany would make or break the war, and throughout the war France became a threat in trench warfare as well. Generally, soldiers in the trenches carried four weapons including: the rifle; bayonet; shotgun; and grenade, but as WW1 progressed the ability to construct a line of fire decreased due to the development of trench warfare and the use of larger and more destructive instruments, to well, kill. The rise in trench warfare was also due to the ability of one side to keep itself out of the line of fire and still make offensive moves towards the enemy. Thus, the use of the grenades, machine gun, flamethrowers, gas,tanks, and soon enough- aircraft. Machine guns, used first by the Germans in the trench providing a method to break enemy lines and resulted in many British casualties before they gave way in using them as well. Undoubtedly, the goal was to use the most destructive instument of war offensively on the enemy, to demoralize the enemy,and destroy his defenses in the most affective way- all decreasing the threat of casualties of one side.
The evolution of trench warfare came about from the increasing competition between the alliances in an arms race as well as new instruments of war being implemented on both sides of the trenches, mostly between Britain, France, and Germany. Britain was now involved in a war where winning meant more than showing up with bigger and better weaponry, such as their war in Africa. The competition between Britain and Germany would make or break the war, and throughout the war France became a threat in trench warfare as well. Generally, soldiers in the trenches carried four weapons including: the rifle; bayonet; shotgun; and grenade, but as WW1 progressed the ability to construct a line of fire decreased due to the development of trench warfare and the use of larger and more destructive instruments, to well, kill. The rise in trench warfare was also due to the ability of one side to keep itself out of the line of fire and still make offensive moves towards the enemy. Thus, the use of the grenades, machine gun, flamethrowers, gas,tanks, and soon enough- aircraft. Machine guns, used first by the Germans in the trench providing a method to break enemy lines and resulted in many British casualties before they gave way in using them as well. Undoubtedly, the goal was to use the most destructive instument of war offensively on the enemy, to demoralize the enemy,and destroy his defenses in the most affective way- all decreasing the threat of casualties of one side.
