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Idea of the strength of the German barbed wire at Beaucourt

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Idea of the strength of the German barbed wire at Beaucourt

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Front line trenches on both sides of the Western Front were guarded by belts of barbed wire. The dilemma facing the attacking soldiers was how to cut through such barbed wire defences while under heavy machine-gun fire. Until tanks were used more effectively later on in the struggle, no major breakthroughs were achieved, so the conflict became a war of attrition...As if the deadly combination of barbed wire, snipers and heavy machine-gun fire was not enough, landmines also became a standard defensive strategy on the Western Front - though they were considered far too barbaric to be deployed during the wars early stages. Night patrols had the unenviable task of fixing any parts of the barbed wire defence that had been breached by artillery fire. Given the defensive strength of the opposing trench systems, it is easy to see how the situation soon became one of bloody stalemate...[Original reads: 'OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN ON THE WESTERN FRONT. An idea of the strength of the German barbed wire at Beaucourt.']..digital.nls.uk/74547958 ( http://digital.nls.uk/74547958 )

World War I (WWI or WW1), also known as the First World War, or the Great War, was a global war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918. World War I Images From National Library of Schotland. These photographs form part of the papers of Field Marshal (Earl) Haig (1861-1928), held by the National Library of Scotland. More information is available from the Library's Digital Archive. Like many World War I generals, Haig remains a controversial figure. The collection contains diaries, papers and photographs from every part of Haig’s career, the Great War diaries being of special importance to historians. Photographs in the "Official Photographs" series (which were destined for publication and have captions on the back describing the image) are in black-and-white. World War I saw the development of a system of 'official’ reporting by professionals especially recruited into the forces. Initially reluctant to allow cameras near the fighting, it took some time for the authorities to appreciate the propaganda and recording potential of photography. These photographs provide us with an invaluable record of how the Government and Military wanted the war perceived. Official photographers were encouraged to record morale-boosting scenes of victory and comradeship. Despite the restrictions placed on them, official war photographers succeeded in giving the most comprehensive visual account of the war. It is important to remember that these images were propaganda; few that could depict the war in a disheartening or disconcerting way passed the censors. As a result the photograph taken was often posed. They were intended to reassure those at home and boost morale. They were printed in newspapers, and were intended to confirm that 'Tommy' was winning the war.

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1914
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National Library of Scotland
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