Trench Warfare in World War I The adoption of trench warfare in World War I was a response to advances in technology that resulted in vast and numerous losses in the accomplishment of few significant victories. Maxims rapid-fire machine gun, first manufactured in 1889, forever changed the face of the battlefront. The old tactics of infantry and cavalry charges were suddenly obsolete, as a charge led through an open field could now be mowed down in a matter of seconds. Thus, troops were forced to entrench themselves below the surface of the earth in defense against the powerful artillery and had to rely heavily on the element of surprise and the cover of darkness to gain any ground offensively.This powerful new weaponry was the primary reason for the vast number of casualties in the war. Soldiers venturing into no mans land were vulnerable to the deadly machine guns as well as enemy shells and poison gas. Those wounded had little chance at successful rescue and treatment, and those killed often remained where they fell, their bodies littering the expanse between enemy lines. In addition to those falling victim to enemy tactics, many did not survive the foul and squalid conditions inside the trenches. Poor diet, dampness, filth, and the constant presence of rats, lice, and rotting corpses provided an ideal breeding ground for disease.Despite the heavy sacrifices of the soldiers involved, trench warfare saw little success. The enormous difficulty in charging and overtaking enemy trenches left few options for offensive strategy and resulted primarily in defensive stalemates. The dank, drab environment and bleak hope for success left soldiers relying almost solely on the sight of the sky above and occasional rum rations for encouragement. One can imagine that military morale, or the lack thereof must have been an additional factor in the lack of success of trench warfare....
