War - Ww1 -German Elastic Defence In Depth Poem by Paul Warren

The Western Front of the Great War
Was in stalemate in a trench system flawed
This trench system was dug to save lives from the shells
With each side digging deep meant good cover as well

The Germans built their trenches with bunkers underground
And at least three trench lines with the Hindenburg Line found
They used a system of elastic defence in depth when attacked
That gave ground to the second and third lines going back

When the attacking troops had been decimated in the fight
The Germans counter attacked to retake the trench just right
Allied troops never had enough men to defend the captured places
So even the best planned attacks failed due to these deadly races.

© Paul Warren Poetry