What was going over the top in ww1 like?

Men ordered to attack – or ‘go over the top’ – had to climb out of their trenches, carrying their weapons and heavy equipment, and move through the enemy’s ‘field of fire’ over complex networks of barbed wire, keeping low to the ground for safety.

What does over the top mean in trench warfare?

Today we use the expression ‘over the top’ to mean something that is extreme, outrageous or inappropriate. Most soldiers in the Great War must have felt the same way about orders to go ‘over the top’. For them it meant leaving the safety of their trenches and attacking the enemy.

Who has the best trenches in ww1?

Differences Between German and British Trenches: Main difference between the two trenches was that the Germans dug their trenches first, which meant they got the better soil conditions because they dug their trenches on higher ground compared to the British trenches.

Why did men go over the top in ww1?

In order to attack opposing trench lines, infantry were required to climb over the barrier of their own trench and cross “no man’s land”. Going “over the top” meant taking ground from the enemy to have a better place to fight. Going “over the top” was a good attempt at ending a stalemate war.

Do any ww1 trenches still exist?

A few of these places are private or public sites with original or reconstructed trenches preserved as a museum or memorial. Nevertheless, there are still remains of trenches to be found in remote parts of the battlefields such as the woods of the Argonne, Verdun and the mountains of the Vosges.

Which country first used poison chlorine gas in ww1?

On April 22, 1915, German forces shock Allied soldiers along the western front by firing more than 150 tons of lethal chlorine gas against two French colonial divisions at Ypres, Belgium. This was the first major gas attack by the Germans, and it devastated the Allied line.

What did soldiers eat in trenches?

The ‘trench ration’ was designed to feed a certain number of soldiers. It was used when the food prepared in the field kitchens could be delivered. It included corned beef, sardines, salmon, coffee, salt, sugar and even cigarettes. The ’emergency ration’ included highly caloric aliments, such as chocolate.