Problem: The new weapons of World War I led soldiers to dig trenches across France. Unlike the use of trenches in previous wars, where soldiers would take a defensive position in the trenches but then abandon them after the battle, the trenches of World War I became more permanent. The stress that resulted from the brutality of World War I sometimes manifested in physical form in soldiers. This condition was referred to as shell shock. After reviewing the assigned sources, please answer the following questions:
What led to trench warfare? What impact did this have on the way World War I was fought and on the soldiers in the trenches? To what extent were soldiers prepared for the type of fighting they would face? What stood out the most about trench warfare and shell shock?