In between the two opposing trenches, there is a section of land called “No-Men’s Land.” No-Men’s Land is literally no men’s land because of heavy bullet fires from each trenches, it was suicidal to go out to the land. What makes this section of land to be suicidal is due to barbed wires, machine guns, and artilleries. “As defensive and offensive tactics developed later in the war, trench positions became formidable fortresses with barbed wire belts tens of yards deep in front of them, with concrete shelters and emplacements, often below ground level. Machine guns would be permanently trained on gaps deliberately left in the wire, and the artillery would also have the positions registered for firing at short notice” (In the trenches). The No-Men’s Land was the deathliest place in trench warfare. However it is key element to the victory like the usage of “night patrols.” The night patrols’ duty is to cross the No-Men’s Land and to observe enemy trench, and sometimes surprise attack.
During the trench warfare, numerous lethal weapons were invented, to make some progress to slow-going warfare. The new weapons were machine gun, poison gas, and tank. However, the weapons did not exactly made war progressive but rather made it slow and very intensive, Firstly, the machine gun provide heavy gun fires that suppresses enemy forces, which made it impossible for both sides to charge. Secondly, the poison gas made the trench warfare much bloodier because of its super effectiveness in massacring people. When poison gas is released in the trench, it spread out quickly and will stay for long period in enclosed space. Thirdly, the tank provided progress to the war by being the moving shield for ally infantries. However, tank at that time really lack speed; slower than man’s normal walking pace. Also ironically, the tank will fall into trenches because of the deep depth of trench and tank’s slow speed that makes impossible to pass the trench. The new weapons somehow made progressive in slow trench warfare to be ongoing, but made it much slower.
Trenches were infested with rats and lice due to its enclosed spaces. And also soldiers’ bad hygiene that makes them easy target for illness; soldiers were unable to wash themselves because of limited spaces, and water supplies. Sometimes, when it rains, the trenches are flooded with rain water, drowning soldiers or damaging supplies. If the water does not drain fast, it will be contaminated from dead corpses in the trench. Basically the lifestyle in trench was as “hell in earth,’ because of diseases and terrible living conditions.
Blitzkrieg[c]
During the World War II, the German invented a new tactic that would allow brutal but fast pacing victory. German named this tactic, “Blitzkrieg” or the lightening war due to its progressiveness and effectiveness in battles. Through blitzkrieg, German was able to conquer most of the Europe; beginning of the World War II, the invasion of Poland, 1939. “Flying directly ahead of the Panzers, the Junkers Ju-87 dive-bomber (Stuka) fulfilled the role of artillery, and destroyed any strong points in the German path. The surprise German strategy of blitzkreig was based upon continuous advance and the prevention of a static frontline that would permit Polish forces time to regroup” (BBC, Invasion of Poland). Blitzkrieg requires both armored and aerie supports, while the ground forces move or break through enemy defense line.
Heinz William Guderian, a German general and a Chief of Mobiles forces, a inventor of Blitzkrieg. He had claimed that army should exploit the usefulness of tank. He developed the panzer division (a group of men specialized on tank), as a commander or the Chief of Mobiles Forces. His panzer division and their numerous victories led General Heinz Guderian to come out with a tactic, blitzkrieg. He made blitzkrieg to be tank based and also with aerie supports.
Blitzkrieg is performed mainly through well usage of armored forces, tanks and heavy vehicles. The armored forces are used as the defense line to infantry, but also act as a spearhead, penetrating enemy defense with fast mobility and destructiveness. Meanwhile, the armored forces cause destruction to enemy forces; the aerie forces support the ground forces by cutting off enemy supplies and reinforcement. In order to these, there needs to be large number of army and vehicles. Also the pace should be fast, with no delays neither slugging.
Compare
Trench and blitzkrieg are both excellent tactics during their period, WW I and II. The trenches provided good defense and was able to stop enemy forces from invading particular areas. While the blitzkrieg provided brutal forces with fast pace, resulting into many victories within short period of time. However, both tactics have the down side, for trench, it lacked progress and had great number of death and causalities. For blitzkrieg, it was most likely a gamble, if the tactic failed; it was hard to have reinforcement because the army would far apart from their reinforcement due to their fast progress.
The following data shows the death counts during both World War I and II. The death military death count in WWI had exceeded the WWII, which shows that trench warfare caused great number of death than blitzkrieg during WWII. But when looking at the civilian death count, WWII had far greater number than WWI, showing both soldiers and civilians were included when performing blitzkrieg. Meanwhile, trench warfare was purely military versus military. Only looking at the death counts of two World Wars, it already shows that blitzkrieg was far more progressive and effective in battles than trench; less military death due to short period time of battle until the enemy surrenders.
(World War II Statistics)
[d]
Conclusion
Overall, the trenches were used for resist enemy forces, and to protect soldiers from enemy attacks. However, the trench warfare during World War I had greater death counts than World War II mainly because of diseases. In comparison to the trench warfare, blitzkrieg was more successful during World War II; there were lot more progress in the war and more effective. With armored and aerial supports, the army can easily break through enemy defense line. But this tactic lack reinforcement, since blitzkrieg is based on high mobility and offense rather than defense due to limited supplies. These two tactics: trench and blitzkrieg cannot be determines as good or bad tactics because it’s depended on which situation that was used. But the efficiency on the battle will be the blitzkrieg than trench; the high mobility acted as spearhead and breaks through defense line, while trenches are for resist enemy forces.
References:
-Baker, Chris. "In the trenches." The Long, Long Trail. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Feb 2011.
- Hamilton, John. Trench Fighting of World War 1. World War 1 series. Minnesota: ABDO & Daughters, 2004. 32. Print.
- The Trenches: Symbol of stalemate." The Great War. PBS, n.d. Web. 24 Feb 2011. <http://www.pbs.org/greatwar/chapters/ch1_trench.html>.
Blitzkrieg (Lightning War)." United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. United States -Holocaust Memorial Museum, 6/1/2011. Web. 24 Feb 2011.
-Foley, Robert T. "Blitzkrieg." BBC . BBC, 12/2/2011. Web. 24 Feb 2011.
- Rice Jr., Earle. Blitzkrieg! Hitler's Lightning War. Series. Hockessin, Delaware: Mitcell Lane Publisher, 2008. 48. Print.
-Foley, Robert T. "Blitzkrieg." BBC . BBC, 12/2/2011. Web. 24 Feb 2011.
- The Trenches: Symbol of stalemate." The Great War. PBS, n.d. Web. 24 Feb 2011. <http://www.pbs.org/greatwar/chapters/ch1_trench.html>.
- Rice Jr., Earle. Blitzkrieg! Hitler's Lightning War. Series. Hockessin, Delaware: Mitcell Lane Publisher, 2008. 48. Print.
-Baker, Chris. "In the trenches." The Long, Long Trail. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Feb 2011.
Lightbody, Bradley. "Invasion of Poland." BBC history. Available from http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/invasion_poland_01.shtml. Internet; accessed 9 April 2011.
[a]This Paragraph is good, maybe organize it more
[b]be careful of your tenses! just make sure you unify them
[c]is this suppose to be another essay? if it is maybe balance it more... intro should be shorter, develop ideas for your body paragraphs and where is the conclusion?
[d]GSIS Apr 13, '11, 12:03 PM