The battlefield tactic from the First World War that's being killed off by Ukraine

PUTTEN, NETHERLANDS – Think of war and you’re likely to picture trenches. From the Battle of the Somme to the invasion of Ukraine, trenches have become synonymous with land warfare.

Trench warfare began on a massive scale in the First World War, used to hide troops, push forward, deliver supplies and evacuate casualties. Today, it remains a staple of the curriculum for infantry training, officers at Sandhurst and the University Officer Training Corps, which The i Paper joined on an exercise in the Netherlands.

But as the invasion of Ukraine changes the face of warfare, trenches are being abandoned as militaries pursue other tactics.

Shorts

During the First World War, the main trench system spread approximately 475 miles from the English Channel to the Swiss Alps, containing command posts, first-aid stations, kitchens and latrines, as well as emplacements for machine guns.