What happened after the front line trench was captured?

[The_Enigma]

So after the infantry of either side secured the frontline trench opposite them, what did they do next? Work their way through the communication trenches to the next line, or clamber their way over the top for a renewed attack?

[JamesL]

It depends .........

From an American point of view based on my research into the actions of my grandfather's infantry regiment and based on ideal conditions.

Those lucky enough to make it to the first line of enemy trenches would kill whatever occupants they readily came across. Then they would pause for a moment for the second wave of 'fillers' to catch up with them. They would then proceed to clamber out of the first enemy trench and continue on across the field to take the second line of enemy trenches, and so on until the day's objectives was secured. It was not a healthy work environment.

The communications trenches were built in a zig-zag pattern with a turn about every 10 meters. It was a bottleneck which funneled the attacker. Every turn posed a potential threat. The defenders could be hiding behind it waiting for the attackers. Thus, a squad of about 8 men was sent down the communications trench to secure it. Ideally the squad was led by a automatic rifleman or shotgunner with grenadiers behind.

Once the communications trench was secured it was used to evacuate the wounded. Since the communications trenches were narrow it was basically one-way traffic.

The third wave would include the 'moppers uppers'. They would clean out the dugouts and other positions bypassed by the previous waves using shotguns, flame throwers and grenades.

I admire the bravery of the WWI infantryman, on both sides, who served along the western front.

For further info may I suggest the following books:
The AEF Way of War: The American Army and Combat in World War I by Mark Grotelueschen.

Doughboy War: The American Expeditionary Force in WWI by James Hallas.

The Doughboys by Capt. Lawrence Stallings USMC.

[pugsville]

Usually , it didnt go well The Enemy artillery then shelled them knowing were their own first line trenches were, the enemy infantry then counter attacked and drove them out. Poor communications and supply across no mans land often resulted in very chaotic situations were the Attacking HQ had no real Idea were their troops were. Often neighboring units had failed, isolated, low on supplies they were lost.

Generals tried to prescript as much as possible as they realized that once the battle started little effective communication with the attacking forces would be possible. Vague reports of what objectives had been taken, were their own troops were often stopped effective Artillery support by the attacker. Both optimistic and pessimistic plans had their problems, and fell apart in the battlefield chaos.

As the war went on better understanding and experience it get better. A vast amount of types of communications methods were tried, and it slowly improved but it was a difficult communications environment,

[The_Enigma]

Intresting stuff, thanks for the replies. I had not realised the communication trenches were built as such.

[Sid Guttridge]

Trenches also had to be "turned round" so that they could resist counter-attacks.

One problem was that the firing steps, MG embrasures, etc, in a captured trench were facing the wrong way.

One reason why an early counter-attack often succeeded was because troops exhausted by nervous tension and losses instinctively relaxed once a trench had been captured and were often slow to "turn round" its defences, leaving themselves exposed.

Cheers,

Sid.

[pugsville]

The Defenders had a fair Idea of where their own trenches were and often better communications, no mans land was often effectively isolating the initial attacking force. The Defenders would shell the surviving attackers then counter attack. Often successfully. Where attacking forces were well protected by a advancing barrage they were often initially successful. But without effective communications it's hard to follow up or provide artillery support. One approach was pre-scripting a lot of the attack, but if attackers were held up, barrages lift before the attackers are close to the trench, or fail to cut the wire the attackers could be massacred. Many opportunities were lost as the communications could not inform the controlling headquarters of the situation. "Bite and Hold" tactics were evolved for this, as small limited objective attacks were more predictable. Sending expected reinforcements to a failed attack (but not known to be) could increase causalities. When defender artillery was not effectively suppressed by counter battery the oblivious nature of most attacks, meant the attacking trenches could be targeted before the attackers ever left their trenches.

The British become very adapt at counter battery using aircraft and sonic (microphones which attenuated for specific frequencies could cross reference both the targeted battery and the fall of shells trying to hit it, very sophisticated dont know any other force did this)

As the war went of better infantry small arms, grenades, flamethrowers, rifle grenades, LMG such as the Lewis gun enabled attacking forces better firepower. BY 1916 the Germans had moved to a more point defense in depth doctrine. Against a well organized well resourced offensive troops in the first line of defense are often poorly situated.

The Battle of Somme regarded as the height of WW1 stupidity ended with 623,907 Allied casualties to 465,000 German. Despite the horrible first day, and Haig's stubbornness at continuing with attacks it wasnt that bad.

[JamesL]

pugsville - excellent writeup!

FWIW, my grandfather's company was wiped out in 1 day. His regiment was wiped out in 5 days.

[pugsville]

Reading a lot of ww1 stuff. Mainly about the British as that is what I have access to. Just finishing "Pyrrhic Victory: french strategy and operations in the great war" (Robert A Doughty) good read valuable insight into the french , and very enlightening of the french perspective on the British.

"With Our Backs to the Wall: Victory and Defeat in 1918" finished recently really opened my eyes to the the last year of the war. The German offensives, the Allied counter. Highly recommend that one.

1914-1915 French had serious causalities running offensives without enough Artillery (heavy , the 75 the bulk of their artillery had short range often unable to fire far enough for counter battery, and it's flat trajectory left reverse slope problems) , which they undertook as an attempt to relieve pressure on the Russians. Then in 1916 there was the meat grinder of Verdun.

The Need to relive allies is a constant theme, Hiag started the Somme before he was ready due to the pressure of Verdun.

Need to read some stuff about other armies, German, Russian, Turkish, Austrian, Italian. Thinking of enrolling in University next year just to get access to a decent library.

[Trackhead M2]

pugsville - excellent writeup!

FWIW, my grandfather's company was wiped out in 1 day. His regiment was wiped out in 5 days.

Dear JL,
Are you working from histories only, or did you have the privilege of having your grandfather share his service with you? I would also recommend John S.D. Eisenhower's "Yanks" and a Scholastic Book Service book "The US in World WarI". The Scholastic Book Service book includes information on Frank Luke, Samuel Woodfil, and Alvin York.
Strike Swiftly,
TH-M2

[JamesL]

Track - I have the Morning Reports for my grandfather's company. I have the company roster. I can list each soldier by name, rank, serial number and his status - KIA, DOW, WIA, Gassed, etc.

I also have the regimental history, the division history, and some general reference books. One newspaper report covering the regimental reunion noted that the regiment lost 1,000 men in 1 hour! I also met with the division historian.

Then I went to France and spent a week walking the battlefield, noting the terrain, positions, ravines, streams, etc.

I've been working on this for about 20 years.

[Trackhead M2]

Track - I have the Morning Reports for my grandfather's company. I have the company roster. I can list each soldier by name, rank, serial number and his status - KIA, DOW, WIA, Gassed, etc.

I also have the regimental history, the division history, and some general reference books. One newspaper report covering the regimental reunion noted that the regiment lost 1,000 men in 1 hour! I also met with the division historian.

Then I went to France and spent a week walking the battlefield, noting the terrain, positions, ravines, streams, etc.

I've been working on this for about 20 years.

Dear JL,
So I guess, he gave his life in action. My condolences. If my assumption is wrong, what else did he share with you?
Strike Swiftly,
TH-M2

[JamesL]

Actually, he survived but WIA. The 190 man company suffered about 90% casualties in 1 day.

I have a picture of him with two of his buddies. Both of his buddies were killed by artillery.

I found that men of the flanking regiments were awarded a number of Medals of Honor. None to my grandfather's regiment since there weren't enough surviving witnesses.

[Trackhead M2]

Actually, he survived but WIA. The 190 man company suffered about 90% casualties in 1 day.

I have a picture of him with two of his buddies. Both of his buddies were killed by artillery.

I found that men of the flanking regiments were awarded a number of Medals of Honor. None to my grandfather's regiment since there weren't enough surviving witnesses.

Dear JL,
To steal a line from "The Big Red One"; the only glory in war is surviving. You have no idea how glad I am that my assumption was wrong.
Strike Swiftly,
TH-M2

[monk2002uk]

The consolidation process varied as the war went on. Considering the latter half of the war, it should be recalled that Allied and German attacks often threatened, sometimes overran, the gun lines. This meant that the attack on the ground caused significant disruption to the enemy artillery response. By late 1916, it was already know that consolidation of captured enemy trenches was a no-no. Engineers in the NZ Division on the Somme, for example, went forward and created new strongpoints. There were dug in a + shape and positioned well ahead of the German trenches. Even the placement of barbed wire had to be carefully considered, as the shiny new wire would stand out and mark the new positions. Strongpoints were then linked together as new trenches, and communication trenches were dug, as mentioned above.

As the war progressed, trench lines became less and less important. They were often smashed out of recognition by shellfire, which meant that defenders were in shellholes or in pillboxes, standalone shelters and blockhouses. Once captured, these would be used as command, medical and observation posts. The entrances faced the wrong way, ie towards the enemy. Extra sandbags and other precautions would be taken to protect against blast.

A crucial aspect of consolidation was mopping up. Earlier in the war (and in some of the early American attacks later in the war) German defenders in dugouts and other shelters would be bypassed. They would then emerge and machine gun the attackers from the rear. Defended villages were very important in this regard. All sides developed mopping up teams (the French called them nettoyeurs - cleaners), whose role was to go around behind the newly captured front line and bomb dugouts and the like. Hermann, in his book on Verdun, describes a nettoyeur coming down into his underground bunker and threatening to blow up the men who were huddled there. This is how he was captured.

Accurate German retaliatory artillery fire did not normally begin until at least 24 hours later. In the immediate aftermath, the Allied approach lines would be shelled because these were usually known. As mentioned, in very successful attacks then the amount of German artillery was much reduced as gun teams were moved back and re-positioned, while new gun teams were brought in to salvage the situation.

German counter-attacks were of two types. There was the immediate counter-attack that was launched by troops on the ground without significant artillery support. These were common and often ended in disaster if the initial enemy attack was successful. During Third Ypres, for example, Gegenstoss attacks were often predicted by the British and Dominion forces. Intelligence officers went forward with the attackers and immediately interrogated prisoners/read captured documents. In real time, they could work out how the Gegenstosstruppen would attack and then arrange interdiction with artillery, MG fire and LMG teams.

The second type of counter-attack (Gegenangriff) was deliberately planned, usually days after the attack. This involved specialised Stosstruppen, often including Flammenwerfer. Heavy artillery and Minenwerfer support was a prerequisite for these attacks, which were often successful (unlike Gegenstoss).

Robert