what were the conditions in WW2 trenches in france?

Question

i need to write a pretend letter as homework for history telling my mum about conditions in the trenches of ww2 france.

Answer 1

I'm wondering if you mean WWI...? The majority of fighting in France during WWII was not in trenches. The trenches left from the first WW were in terrible condition and Patton's army was going much too quickly through France to have any use for them.

But if you are looking at WWI, the conditions were wretched. Basically, the men were living in their own excrement because the trenches filled with water and everything from the latrines was floating around for them to walk through. The boots they were issued weren't well suited to the situation so they ended up getting terrible fungal infections called "Trench foot" which comes from having your feet get wet and stay wet.

It was also a difficult way to live because you had very little freedom. Because of the nature of the fighting, once you were in a trench you might stay there for 2-3 years. Your only glimpses of daylight were by looking straight up and watching the clouds and the birds go by...until the fighting started. Then you were looking at the dismal "No-Man's Land" which was the area between your trenches and your enemy's trenches.

Food was not exactly "mom's home cooking". Chipped beef on toast was a staple of their diet. They came to call it "sh*t on a shingle".

Hope this helps you to write a letter. If you need more, check out some of Ernest Hemingway's writings from the era. He was a firsthand witness to everything that happened by enlisting as an ambulance driver. His insights were exceptional.

Answer 2

Jim has given an excellent answer. I'd only add a couple of things. Because of the danger of constant artillery shelling (the major cause of death), folks dug 'down', so that a trench (on the surface) would contain lots of entrances to underground rooms and tunnels. This was only possible (of course) where the ground was not waterlogged.

On a more macabre note 'trenches' were not just 'slots' dug in the ground, but often included a wall (a mound of earth) on the side facing the 'enemy'. If the wall was constructed in a hurry it could contain bodies and body parts from recent or old fighting.

You could probably do well to look up 'letters from the trenches' in Google to get a sense of both the language and the events - noting though that folk would often not write about the true 'horror' in order not to frighten their loved ones back home.

Answer 3

I think you mean WW1 trenches in France.
I depends on your nationality, frankly. I'm guessing you're a Brit/Ausse/Newzie/Canadian, so something like this:
The trench system works back from the frontline. Your company would rotate 10 days on the line-this is what most folks consider "the trenches", to 10 days in base camp, some 5 miles behind the front, then 10 days "in support" about 1mile - 500meters behind the frontline trenches.
The frontline trenches were usually about nine feet deep, with firesteps and observation posts to survey/engage the Germans. When not at stand-to, or on watch, you would spend the majority of your time in a platoon dug-out . This is just what it implies, a hole essentially, dug into the side of the trench. Normally, trenches had some water in them, also rats and lice were daily problems. You would ideally get one hot meal a day, from the company area. Though usually it was cold, by the time runners got the rations to the frontline. Additionally, there was a daily rum ration. The water had so much chlorine in it, that tea was the best way to consume it. What most soldiers complained about was the boredom, and lack of sleep, actually.

Answer 4

WWII was a very mobile war. If your history teacher is teaching about WWII then you should correct them.

Answer 5

Are you sure you don't mean World War One?