By the time fighting slowed down in late 1914, both sides had dug into their positions. However, the German trench system proved much better than the British trenches. The main reasons were the choice of digging locations and the way each side planned to use trenches.
Since Germany controlled large areas, its officers were able to choose high and dry ground. Britain, however, had to stay on lower ground.As soon as British soldiers dug down a little, they reached water. Because of this, British trenches often remained wet and filled with mud and freezing water.
The differences were also caused by how both sides viewed the war.The British military saw trenches as temporary positions before a future large attack. Therefore, they dug simple trenches and built defenses with sandbags and wooden boards. They also feared that making the trenches too comfortable might reduce the soldiers' fighting spirit.
The situation was very different for Germany, which was fighting Russia on the Eastern Front and the Western Allies on the Western Front at the same time. Since Germany had fewer soldiers to defend the Western Front, it built much stronger defenses.
While British soldiers slept in wet and shallow trenches, German soldiers built shelters about thirty to fifty feet deep with strong concrete roofs. They built Stollen, which had bunk beds, electricity, air pipes and kitchens. During Allied artillery shelling, German soldiers could move underground for safety and come back out to defend their positions after the shelling ended.
Thus, British trenches were mainly temporary structures, while German trenches were strong defenses built to last for years.
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