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Far from being a given, food was often considered a luxury to soldiers in the trenches during World War One. It was almost impossible at times to deliver hot food from the field kitchens to the trenches on the front lines, particularly when battle was in full swing.
12 paź 2012 · Food in the trenches of the First World War was scarce. Rations were measly, meals repetitive, and hunger often the companion of fear and fatigue. With energy-sapping battles to be fought, what exactly was the staple fare of Tommies in the trenches?
By 1918, the British were sending over 67 million lbs (30 million kg) of meat to the Western Front each month. Daily rations were meant to include fresh or frozen meat, but many meals would have consisted of tinned food, which became a familiar aspect of the British soldier’s diet.
One of the most repulsive aspects of trench warfare was the constant presence of maggots in the food. The unsanitary conditions of the trenches made it incredibly easy for flies to lay their eggs on meat and other perishable foods. This led to frequent infestations of maggots.
Food in the trenches was a crucial aspect of soldiers' daily lives, affecting both their physical health and morale. The difficulties in providing adequate and nutritious food underscored the broader challenges of trench warfare.
Read the essential details about trench food. Soldiers in the Western Front were very critical of the quantity and the quality of food they received. The bulk of their diet in the trenches was bully beef (caned corned beef), bread and biscuits.
This article examines the civil and military issues of food and nutrition within the Entente and the Central Powers during the Great War in the context of longer-term developments in global food issues, with a particular focus on the countries of Europe and North America.
