Trench Warfare Prior to World War 1
The idea of trench warfare first started with the French military engineer Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban. Vauban was in charge of advising and developing new means of fortification for the French army. In terms of trench warfare, he was known for the usage of trenches during the Siege of Maastricht. In this siege, Vauban developed a system of trenches that were dug parallel to the perimeter of the defenses. These parallel trenches were then connected by zig-zag trenches to ensure that the French army would be safe from enemy artillery fire. Vauban was the first to introduce this type of warfare and found it very successful. However, this strategy was only used during one siege. Prior to World War I, trench warfare was most extensively used during the American Civil War. In particular, General Robert E. Lee used trenches to great effect, particularly in the siege at Petersburg.
In the Civil War, field fortifications were imperative to the success of both armies. Because these field fortifications were so important, trench warfare played a large role throughout the war for both sides. Soldiers carried spades and axes with them in the war, which were initially used for digging rifle pits. However, because of the need for protection in battle, these rifle pits were expanded into large trenches. A specific example from World War I is General Robert E. Lee. Lee highly favored the usage of trenches in the war and based a large majority of his battle strategy on trenches. He and his army found success in the trenches by using them as a base for aggressive firing and maneuvering. The notable siege at Petersburg, Virginia consisted of generals Lee and Grant constructing continuous trench lines that resembled the trenches used in World War I.
Britannica Encyclopedia, "Fortification ." Last modified 2012. Accessed October 14, 2012. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/214241/fortification
This website explains the history of trench warfare from 1860-1918. It talks about the use of trench warfare during the Civil War, the origin of trench warfare, and use of trench warfare in World War I. It also talks briefly about the Maginot Line. This source is helpful to my project because it told me the background to trench warfare and where it was used before World War I.
Britannica Encyclopedia, "Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban." Last modified 2012. Accessed October 14, 2012. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/624101/Sebastien-Le-Prestre-de-Vauban.
This source provides the origin of trench warfare. It talks about the first person to come up with the idea for trench warfare and how to use it strategically. It also gives a specific example of the first siege where trench warfare was introduced by the French army. This source is helpful to my project because it helped me determine how trench warfare started. I can also use this as a base to determine how trench warfare has developed since then.
This website explains the history of trench warfare from 1860-1918. It talks about the use of trench warfare during the Civil War, the origin of trench warfare, and use of trench warfare in World War I. It also talks briefly about the Maginot Line. This source is helpful to my project because it told me the background to trench warfare and where it was used before World War I.
Britannica Encyclopedia, "Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban." Last modified 2012. Accessed October 14, 2012. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/624101/Sebastien-Le-Prestre-de-Vauban.
This source provides the origin of trench warfare. It talks about the first person to come up with the idea for trench warfare and how to use it strategically. It also gives a specific example of the first siege where trench warfare was introduced by the French army. This source is helpful to my project because it helped me determine how trench warfare started. I can also use this as a base to determine how trench warfare has developed since then.