The Great War, fueled by the excessive pride of each country, devastated the world. Each side felt superior to the other and would not stop until they became victorious. These countries changed the fighting style from primitive face-to-face combat to a systematic trench fighting style. To adapt to this style, countries developed new weapons and tactics to defeat their enemies. But the war simply remained a draw. Trench warfare prolonged World War I by causing a bloody stalemate where millions died due to modern weapons and horrible living conditions. Trench warfare had been used in past wars, but the Germans popularized this style during World War I. The Germans sought to capture Paris, but clashed with the French on the Marne on September 5, 1914. The French army had halted the German advance and was beginning to push them back (Torr, 30). The German army refused to cede the conquered territory and therefore dug into the ground to resist the French. Without knowing it, the Germans made the biggest mistake of the war. Trenches began to expand and soon became the predominant style of battle. The Germans were not solely responsible for the expansion of trench warfare. Modern machine guns and artillery have made the tactics of past wars obsolete (Torr, 28). The soldiers had no way to avoid the enemy's barrage of shrapnel and bullets. Thus, the trenches became a necessity and a temporary refuge. Initially, trench warfare seemed to be a simple style of battle, but it eventually evolved into a complex system of tunnels. As countries adapted to trench warfare, new techniques and tactics emerged. For example, countries dug trenches in a zigzag pattern and surrounded them with barbed wire so that the enemy could not bomb them in a straight line...... middle of paper..... .declared the countries of Europe and their soldiers. who died because of new weaponry and poor living conditions during World War I. At first, trench warfare seemed beneficial and appropriate, but instead it caused a horrible stalemate that lasted about four years. This new style of fighting led to technological advancements and terrible sanitation that resulted in more brutal deaths. Essentially, the soldiers who survived the trenches survived hell. Works Cited Torr, James D. World War I: Primary Sources. San Diego, CA: Lucent, 2002. Marshall Cavendish, Corporation. “Tactics and weapons on land”. History of the First World War 3. (2002): 808-827. Historical reference center. EBSCO. Internet. October 30, 2011. School of Social Studies, Service. “CHAPTER 5: Life in the Trenches.” Daily life: First World War. 34-41. United States: Social Studies School Service, 2006. Historical Reference Center. EBSCO. Internet. October 30. 2011.