Trench warfare on the Western Front
I can describe what conflict was like in World War One.
Trench warfare on the Western Front
I can describe what conflict was like in World War One.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- World War One had many fronts; battles were fought on the Western Front, the Eastern Front, in Africa and in Asia.
- The Western Front saw the use of trench warfare where the conditions were terrible, and many people suffered.
- In some battles, like the Somme in 1917, mass attacks led to thousands of dead or wounded soldiers in a day.
- Many soldiers wrote letters or kept diaries to record their experiences.
Keywords
Front - a front refers to the line where opposing armies meet in battle
Trench - a trench is a long, deep hole dug in the ground, where soldiers fought from, lived in and used to shelter from the enemy
'No Man's Land' - the piece of land in between the defensive trenches of rival armies was called 'No Man's Land'
Morale - morale is a feeling of positivity about what is happening
Common misconception
Pupils may think trenches were dug like long, straight ditches.
Trenches were dug in a zig zag shape for better protection.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
Exit quiz
6 Questions
a line where the opposing armies meet in battle
a long, deep hole dug in the ground
the piece of land between the defensive trenches