There were three main types of gases (mustard, chloropicrin and prussicpacid). However, the mustard gas was the most brutal biological weapon used in the trenches. This gas was odourless and although it took 12 hours to take effect, it remained active for several weeks and could take up to five weeks to die (schoolhistory, 2014). Blistered skin, internal and external bleeding, sore eyes were all prime symptoms of gases. Thus, the weapons developed for trench warfare impacted the men both physically and mentally, and in many cases resulted in death. .
Their were various tactics used in World War One to fight trench warfare. Some believe it was a very strategic system that had constant revision such as changes to the design to confuse enemy trenches. However, many remember trench warfare to be ineffective and traumatising for young troops. Generals would simply march their men across open land into the face of a quick death ("Under Fire", 1916). Furthermore, the tactics that supported these defensive structures were more sophisticated than "going over the top" (generals would simply march their men across open land). The trenches were dug in zigzag sections rather than straight lines so that if a shell (artillery) explodes inside one of these sections, or an enemy gets into one, only that section would be affected. The trench layout consisted of a frontline, which was lightly occupied by soldiers, a support line, where soldiers would retreat to if the front line is bombarded, and the reserve line, where reserve troops would amass for counter-attacks (Demobilisation of the First World War, NA). There were three main tactics that all opposing sides used to affect men both physically and mentally. Throughout World War One, trench warfare saw many tactics such as; Night raids, snipers, and new technological weapons like tanks,gas,flamethrowers,grenades and artillery bombardment. The aim of the artillery was to soften trenches and attack heavily fortified positions, or compressed land like no mans land or simply the transverse of a section.
