Never Before Published Photos Show What Trench Warfare Really Looked Like
This year marks the centenary of the start of World War I. Thought of as the "war to end all wars," it left Europe in shambles, led to the deaths of over 9 million people, and drew in countries from every continent.
To commemorate the start of the war, Reuters has released previously unpublished photos of World War I that evoke the lives and struggles of ordinary soldiers during the world's first truly global war.
The pictures are the work of an unknown photographer, and were left behind on glass plates in various archives by a Viscount in the Armored Cavalry Branch of the French Army.
World War I was the most prominent example of trench warfare in history.
Denise Follveider/REUTERS
Trench warfare resulted from a revolution in firepower that was not matched by advances in mobility.
Denise Follveider/REUTERS
Due to this discrepancy, the defensive position always had a clear advantage in battle.
Stringer ./REUTERS
The trenches, in which soldiers spent most of their time, were surrounded by razor wire to limit the effectiveness of an enemy trying to overrun the position.
Denise Follveider/REUTERS
Trenches could be hundreds of miles long, and would require constant upkeep.
Denise Follveider/REUTERS
They had special structures built for machine gunners.
Denise Follveider/REUTERS
Here, French soldiers pose in a trench above Ablain-Saint-Nazaire in the Artois front in northern France.
Denise Follveider/REUTERS
Outside of the trenches, soldiers built makeshift huts. This one was named "The Chalet."
Denise Follveider/REUTERS
Due to the lack of progress in combat mobility, this French Cavalry Corps was comprised of bicyclists.
Denise Follveider/REUTERS
Limits on the availability of motorized engines led to the use of pack animals. Here, a dog pulls a Belgian machine gun.
Denise Follveider/REUTERS
Since meals ready to eat (MREs) were not yet invented, soldiers had to prepare their own food on the front lines.
Denise Follveider/REUTERS
Since trench warfare often resulted in a stalemate, soldiers did their best to adjust to their sometimes-monotonous lives in the field. Here, a soldier leaves a shower at the rear guard house by the front lines. The sign reads "Thermal complex of the Poilu, showers, massages, chiropodist, manicurist. Free massages for women. "
Denise Follveider/REUTERS
To boost moral, shows were also performed ...
Denise Follveider/REUTERS
... As was mass.
Denise Follveider/REUTERS
- I'm an interior designer. Here are 10 things in your living room you should get rid of.
- A software engineer shares the résumé he's used since college that got him a $500,000 job at Meta — plus offers at TikTok and LinkedIn
- A 101-year-old woman keeps getting mistaken for a baby on flights and says it's because American Airlines' booking system can't handle her age
- The Role of AI in Journalism
- 10 incredible Indian destinations for family summer holidays in 2024
- 7 scenic Indian villages perfect for May escapes
- Paneer snacks you can prepare in 30 minutes
- Markets crash: Investors' wealth erodes by ₹2.25 lakh crore
- Nothing Phone (2a) blue edition launched
- JNK India IPO allotment date
- JioCinema New Plans
- Realme Narzo 70 Launched
- Apple Let Loose event
- Elon Musk Apology
- RIL cash flows
- Charlie Munger
- Feedbank IPO allotment
- Tata IPO allotment
- Most generous retirement plans
- Broadcom lays off
- Cibil Score vs Cibil Report
- Birla and Bajaj in top Richest
- Nestle Sept 2023 report
- India Equity Market