Trench warfare was a devastating part of World War I. It affected almost everyone who participated including soldiers, civilians, and the government. Soldiers spent most of their time in the trenches, where they were exposed to disease, rats (Somewhere said that the rats got to be the size of cats), and lice. The smell of the trenches was overpowering. Soldiers occupied the trenches for weeks at a time and in that time they become numb to what happens around them. Trench warfare is dehumanizing process as was apparent in All Quiet on the Western Front. Civilians were affected by trench warfare more indirectly. They heard the horrible stories of the trenches and began to fear for themselves and for their family members in the trenches. There was also always the possibility of a family member dying or having a serious injury while in the trenches and becoming an economic leech on the family. This would disrupt the harmony of family life and made this time in European history a trying and terrifying time for civilians. The government was impacted the most financially. Trench warfare was a slow process and any amount of significant progress was rare due to the stagnant position of the trenches and difficulty in gaining victory. The government had to continue to supply the troops with weapons, food, and other necessary supplies during this time of stalemate, which grew to be costly. Soldiers were also dying left and right and this obviously hurt the army in the long haul.
P.S. How do you indent on this site?!
P.S. How do you indent on this site?!