Civilians
Civilians and servicemen caught up in the turmoil of war
During the First World War, living conditions were very difficult for soldiers in the trenches. Life at the front consisted of long periods of boredom punctuated by brief moments of terror. Poor living conditions and lack of sleep undermined the soldiers' health and sapped their stamina, and yet the constant threat of death meant they must remain alert at all times. Neither was the civilian population spared. In fact, the First World War saw civilians endure an entirely new level of suffering as they became targets in their own right. Civilians may not have been at the very heart of the fighting, but they too were affected by the violence of war.
