World War I Trench Warfare Station # 1 Trench Foot Essential Question(s): I Can Statement(s):

7.H.1.2: How do primary and secondary sources aide in our perspective of Trench Warfare in WWI? 7.H.1.3: Was Trench Warfare an effective or ineffective military/Social/Economic/Political war tactic? 7.G.2.2: How do the use of maps, charts, graphs, and available technology aide in interpreting and drawing conclusions regarding Trench Warfare during WWI?

7.H.1.2: I can use primary and secondary sources to learn about new weapons/technology used during WWI. 7.H.1.3: I can summarize the literal meaning of historical documents to understand the use of new weapons and technology used during WWI. 7.G.2.2: I can use technological tools to interpret and draw conclusions about social and environmental issues of trench warfare.

Watch the videos below FIRST

Frightful First World War - First World War - first aid and hygiene in the trenches (8 min)

Horrible Histories NEW! World War 1 Wee Wee (2 min)

Trench foot as the name indicates is a medical problem concerned with feet and is caused due to long exposure to damp, cold and unsanitary conditions. It is also known

as Immersion Foot Syndrome. Trench Foot is can occur both in cold and warm conditions. In cold conditions, due to repeated exposure to cold and in warm conditions the

constant perspiration in the shoes can also cause it to occur. The term trench has its association with the trench warfare that was an integral part of World War I. Let us

understand what association this condition has with the First World War period and also the problems associated with it.

Blackened,

Dead Toes

What is left

of remaining

toes

Dead or dying tissue

Exposed Heel

bone

(1) After the war, Captain G. H. Impey,

7th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment,

wrote about his experiences of trench life. The trenches were wet and cold and at this time some

of them did not have duckboards and dug-outs. The

battalion lived in mud and water. Altogether about

200 men were evacuated for trench feet and

rheumatism. Gum boots were provided for the troops

in the most exposed positions. Trench feet was still a

new ailment and the provision of dry socks was vitally

important. Part of the trench was reserved for men to

go two at a time, at least once a day, and rub each

other's feet with grease.

What caused Trench Foot?

Describe how you would know if you had Trench

Foot.

What steps did the military take to make

sure soldiers didn’t catch Trench Foot?

Elaborate on how the conditions of Trench Warfare aided in the development of soldiers getting Trench Foot.

Station 1