Inside The Trench of Death, 106 Years Later

[@MobileInstinct]

Hey everyone, sorry for the audio issue. I will get a new microphone set up as soon as possible!

[@c.j.1089]

Just duplicate the left channel to the right if you can. Easy fix for this video in the meantime.

[@alexbradmckay]

@@MobileInstinct thank you for all your hard work with these amazing videos!!

[@jellybear35]

You must've fixed it? I don't notice anything wrong with the audio

[@vibingwithvinyl]

@@jellybear35 It's only on left channel.

[@jonathanchalk2507]

I didn't have any problems with the audio. More please 🙏

[@lowercasemike561]

I spoke with a WW1 veteran in 1973 who told me about his experiences in these trenches. He was ordered to climb down to remove the jacket of a dead soldier and put it on to stay warm. He started weeping as he talked about it.

[@24934637]

I've never been lucky enough to meet any Veterans from the First World War, but I've met a few from the Second, and one aspect that they both share is that it was a life changing experience, and it wasn't pleasant. The memories haven't gone away. There were tears in the eyes of the last one I spoke to, as he was telling me about going into Hamburg towards the end of the war, when the majority of Germans KNEW that the war was over, but there were still enough left who just wouldn't accept it.

[@dianesaqib2938]

I think I would also cry 😢 😭 😢about that

[@scottrider641]

I'm loving this series in Belgium I'm impressed, Chris with your thirst for knowledge and you're phenomenal way of explaining what we're all looking at. That has to be one tremendously exciting trip. Thanks for bringing us along on the tour

[@MobileInstinct]

Glad you like them!

[@Liz-cmc313]

So glad these trenches are still there. This stuff needs to be in history books. Thanks Chris for another important fact of history.

[@Tobi-ln9xr]

It is. It’s called WW1.

[@Liz-cmc313]

@@Tobi-ln9xr ... I'm talking about the trenches. 🙄

[@Tobi-ln9xr]

@@Liz-cmc313 Trench warfare was a large part of WW1 and is also being taught in history books and classes.

[@Jackjack530]

​@Liz-cmc313 what books about ww1 did you read that didn't mention trench warfare?

[@Ganiscol]

A lasting reminder that war is hell. And we still haven't figured out how to stay out of it...

[@lablackzed]

Just say NO Read major general Smedley D Butler's book Wars a racket.

[@itchydino15]

The ones that stay out of it are the ones that start it

[@Ms.truecrimebuff]

Thanks Chris for your video. I enjoy history. And enjoy all your videos. You just have a very pleasant personality, relaxing to watch your videos. 🤗

[@jellybear35]

I agree

[@sandysue202]

How awful to spend 3 long years in those tunnels/trenches. Freezing in the winter, sweating terribly in the summer. With all that water around, the mosquitoes would have been wall to wall. Those men were so physically and mentally strong to have endured this. I know that many on both sides didn't ever see home again and their families didn't even have remains to bury in a lot of cases. My uncle fought in France and he never spoke of any of it. In his house, he had a large shell casing that he brought home. I was just a youngster back then and didn't ever ask about it. We cannot forget them...ever!! ❤🤍💙 Thank you for telling their story, Chris!!

[@8alakai8]

summers are not that hot in belgium

[@4002corbe]

They spent time in the line and then withdrew to the rear at intervals, you didn’t spend the entire war in a trench.

[@PAWPatrolLeader01]

Not to mention dealing with trench foot

[@TheLmende]

Thanks Chris! I enjoyed this.

[@pkash9929]

Trenches were zig-zagged/zippered so if an enemy got into the trench, they could not straight fire down a long straight line. Also if a shell, grenade, bomb, etc hit inside the trench, the shrapnel would be limited on travel distance.

[@ianhumphries5063]

I think the main reason for the zig-zag construction is to prevent shock waves from artillery explosions from travelling down the trench.

[@TheCheshireWanderer]

I can to say the same thing.

[@brendakrieger7000]

Whoa! Thanks for filming & sharing Chris!

[@nikkigardiner9426]

Thank you, Chris!❤

[@kimkelly-kline3768]

Wow..mind boggling 3 yrs? Great video..really enjoyed..P S. Where were the Latrines?

[@stevenmatthijs1191]

Hello Chris, the bunker you thought was remade is actually original as well. The only thing non original in the trenh is the replacement of sand bags by concrete "bags" as you mentioned

[@ScarlettEmeraldASMR]

Unfortunately past wars have long been forgotten by a lot of young people. Thank you for giving us insight into this moments.

[@derekritch4360]

Wow, another amazing video. Love how you’re traveling and sharing all this with us once again another great video. Keep up the great work.

[@stepps511]

Thank you, Chris, for another illustrative video. One cannot imagine the horrors that took place in those trenches.

[@TheSmallRabbit]

Still going on in the Ukraine funded by the West to keep it up. Disgusting.

[@michelemiller1700]

Thank you for a great video. Hope you are well and safe. Take care

[@JustJay-y7d]

Great video Chris! Thanks for sharing!

[@Belushi87]

the strength of the soldiers to be able to stay there for 3 years is amazing. the things they've seen and heard must have been heartbreaking.

[@Wafflez-Man-YT]

Great video brother. Thank you. That was great to watch. Awsome seeing that last german bunker still barely standing. Insane

[@jontooke846]

That was incredible thanks so much. You are amazing historic facts and story telling about the battle

[@fuse557]

Great video! Thank you!

[@deborahporter187]

I loved this Chris it helps me to visualize the trenches..my grandpa and his 2 brothers were there one brother did not come home he died there..I am so proud of the men that helped save our lives God Bless

[@twonumber22]

good stuff as always

[@ymcavalier3555]

One of your best videos!

[@louisbertaux5193]

Great exploration! Love your T-Shirt

[@cosmos7492]

Hello Chris looking forward to this one

[@ferrisulf]

Wow. I really appreciate the touch of the concrete looking like the sandbags. It gives more of that feel....though the views are much nicer and greener than they would have been at the time. Great video

[@ismewhat1234]

Hope you're having a wonderful week

[@DoctorEnigma01]

The sandbags were filled with dry concrete which would become solid with rain and moisture

[@steve1750]

Correct, thank you, pleased someone understands that.

[@GraveVisitations]

That tunnel was like a little nature reserve 😁 great history and information thanks for showing us Chris 👍

[@georgebaron26]

Excellent video. Thanks for posting!

[@LCafran]

Thank you for a great video and narration.

[@KdDid1976]

Very cool. Thanks for sharing.

[@EJFXxx]

the walls are sacks of concrete stacked when still wet

[@themerchantofengland]

They were sand bags, turned to concrete over the years.

[@EliseMartini-h4s]

Thanks Chris I always thought I would like to visit Belgium

[@janverbanck]

An advice for a good read: "Forgotten voices of the great War" by Max Arthur. Short interviews with veterans who survived this hell in France and Belgium. Really moving, gripping accounts of their own experiences at the front line and in the trenches... Devastating at moments.

[@kitsunelegend7976]

Would love to see you do a video series on the various locations for the first battle of Manassas in VA, especially the Old Stone House along Lee Hwy. Theres still the names of wounded soldiers carved into the floorboards and baseboards in some of the upstairs rooms from that battle, as it was used as a field hospital. I grew up in that area so would love to see you cover it if you haven't already done so! :)

[@Nohandlebar2]

Another great episode

[@johnmclaren7059]

Well done sir! Carry on 👍🇨🇦

[@timvanacker5129]

This is great man! I'm a big fan of JD en Chris Mowry, but if you can create content as good as they do... you've got an extra subscriber to your vlog. I live near the front area of Ypres and go there a lot, so if you are ever nearby, I would love to hang around there with you!!

[@godlyelf]

I love this history it's so interesting to me. Thanks for sharing this one

[@jellybear35]

I am completely blind so thank you for describing it so well it felt like I was there :-)

[@bobbyspapercraft]

Thanks so much for this. World War II or history is a favorite of mine.

[@thierrygisbert5616]

Bonsoir à vous un grand bravo pour l histoire continuer comme ça 👍👍👏🇨🇵

[@onrycodger]

Awesome video!😎👍

[@Thoosken1386]

The head of the trench is called the mouse trap because of it's purpose. You can see the sentry posts looking at every direction. Guards would look for raiding parties making their way into the trench. When this happened, these guards would retreat and close of the Mouse trap leaving it empty. once the Germans entered this death zone, they would chuck hand grenades and fire rifles into this area from their protected positions killing anyone unfortunate enough to find himself trapped in the Mouse trap. Also, this trench was basicly a "sap" leading out of the main frontline towards the German positions. problem was that if this trench ever fell in German hands they would have a serious issue. therefore the Belgians constructed the "Ruiterschans" (horserider's hideout, because it would sit atop of the frontline like a horserider would sit atop of it's horse) to defend the trench of death. It's unique to because it was constructed on top of the trenches to have an overview of the location. The arched doorway was from the optical signaling post.

[@-FALKOR]

That location is censored on Google Maps....

[@astroboy5137]

It sure is!

[@unpaintedleadsyndrome]

@@astroboy5137 The Dodengang is on miltary owned land, that is always blurred on Google maps.

[@stormlakebobcat9058]

Curious about that. Not like its a top secret lab. 😅

[@bender7565]

I'm thinking it had to happen in Belgium too but the trenches in France added the decking cause they were losing so many soldiers to trench foot. You walk around in mud for a year or two you're gonna catch something,

[@evulclown]

1:16 it also ruined the land which won't be fixed for decades, it was really a massive sacrifice.

[@MagnaQuies]

WOW THAT'S AMAZING! I love how they replicated the sandbags using concrete... super well done

[@TheSmallRabbit]

Yes either these were the original bags that had cement mixed in or they are replicas of the sand bags.

[@solvingpolitics3172]

Thank you for showing us this. Always wondered ( and it would make for a fantastic video) what was the greatest horror of each war, duration,fatalities? I.E. Trenches of WW1, Auschwitz WW2 or Russian front. Andersonville of the Civil War.

[@TheFunkhouser]

How did the Germans build that under fire!! Also, 13:52 the Poppies are nice 🥀

[@Tyr-km4tk]

Ive been there! Its so amazing!

[@madnlooney]

while in Belgium, you should visit Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917, its not far from here an is a real eye opener to how brutal the fighting was. They also have a tench and bunker system there

[@HotRod-05]

I also see some blown out bunkers from WW2 when i go for a walk in the forest which is right next to me, i saw atleast 4 blown out bunkers in there, there could be probably more way inside the forest.

[@Michael_Hunt]

I wonder how the Germans even made that bunker being so close to the enemy. How did they pour the cement and all that without getting shot?

[@BenDover-ob8bf]

They set it up way before its time too fight, or they’ll go there at night and work the whole time digging the trench out n what not

[@itchydino15]

I’ve been getting really into ww1 after not really caring for it for so long but man, even seeing the trenches in a KZbin video I can’t help but imagine the sights and sounds of how horrific it was

[@mariekatherine5238]

Looks miserable! What they show now is dry, but those trenches were pits of mud, water, urine, excrement, blood, rotten food, dead bodies of men and beasts.

[@theone2be33]

Hi all. Let the good times roll.

[@anthonycalbillo9376]

Trench foot too would've been awful.

[@stormlakebobcat9058]

I dont know. My foot never had a trench. 😅

[@anthonycalbillo9376]

@@stormlakebobcat9058 No trench foot was like athlete's foot on steroids.

[@Jack-f6c]

That's some crazy history

[@RealHouseMouse2]

Visited these trenches many times as a kid/young man, but those pictures where not there

[@sixmax11]

as trenches go, this looks like a well developed one. also looks like it would have taken quite a while to construct.

[@davidlamotta1994]

Do the story of the missing 72 year old Annie Laurie Hearin. Her husband was the wealthiest man in the state. It happened in the 1980s. She was abducted from her own home. It may have been an inside job being only her close people new when and where she would be in the house.

[@barrywalker8790]

Hi thank you for an interesting and a great video showing us the trench system and can anyone tell me where this is in Belgium thank you because l would like to visit this next year 👍

[@edwardpickles8583]

The zigzags mainly help to keep shrapnel from flying down the entire length of the trench and killing or wounding tons of dudes.

[@jendagesse4524]

It's like going trough a maze

[@martkbanjoboy8853]

This is not far from the IJzertoren.

[@joebird3122]

The zig zags also helped to deflect shrapnel!

[@manfredlombrez21]

It’s not a canal, it’s a river called “de ijzer”. It starts in France and as you said ends in Nieuwpoort.

[@idc-_-on120fps]

You should do stuff about the Normandy landings or just stuff about ww2 I’m a nerd at it😂

[@TUTELREAL]

You may see this as ww1 trench but you need to remember, lives were lost on the trench

[@jamesholt7612]

Awesome history.

[@asdf9890]

Thank you for these videos. I live in America but hope I can someday visit these sites. I work with a lot of Belgians at my job (our main European site is there) and I think they get tired of me asking about the sites and their monastic breweries 🤣

[@stormlakebobcat9058]

Shame on ya, bloody Yank. Thinking about fine hops and yeast whilst on the job. 😅😅

[@aceydeucey566]

Those names you find around the 9:00 minute mark are real names of the Belgian soldiers. It wasn't uncommon for soldiers so carve their names and even drawings into bunker walls whilst sheltering from barrages. Really humanizes the horror doesnt it.

[@jessicapayne8622]

The sandbags have turned to cement/concrete over time. They have not been replaced and are the original in situ.

[@TheSmallRabbit]

They must have had cement in them to start with as sand does not turn into concrete without cement.

[@jessicapayne8622]

@@TheSmallRabbit they’re over 100 years old. They are the original sandbags!!

[@evilcarlonis9015]

Very cool place but very haunted too.

[@indoor420]

Those are probly original working and bags of concrete mix piled then soaked with water to make the walls

[@martinUTFR]

Claustrophobic inside there , the heat / cold must of been pure hell 😖

[@ferrisulf]

Also remember that illness and other ailments from being in so much mud and bad conditions killed more men that the actual fighting.

[@LordBelial1978]

Look at the sheer volume of sandbags involved in making these trenches.

[@janverbanck]

Strange how the Germans got across the Yser river and even built a bunker on the Belgian side under (presumably) constant fire. It doesn't seem like anything you can do overnight so how on earth did they even manage to construct this outpost ?

[@Kalanioccc]

your recent videos have a weird audio thing where it only comes through the left channel

[@MobileInstinct]

Ive been having a problem with my microphone. I ll buy a new one as soon as possible

[@Kalanioccc]

@@MobileInstinct no worries, videos have been amazing regardless!

[@adventuresinmichiganwlisa9852]

Thanks for sharing 👍🤓

[@hambam7533]

my granfather spent time in the U.S. army fighting in siberia russia in a place called archangel russia not taking baths for 8 months or so it was cold and ruff, when they returned they had to be de liced from bugs living in their skin, war is hell

[@Show_quality_trash]

I wonder what the location looked like soon after in ww2

[@williamcattr267]

Were any of these trench structures used again during WW2 (either by the Allies or Germans)?

[@tucoblondy1643]

And that’s when PFC. Sakrete had an idea ?

[@dalerobertson45]

great

[@wyattsdad8561]

I wonder if Those bags of concrete are really new or redone? Would it be out of the ordinary for them to use bags of concrete? They would’ve stacked them just like a sandbag. And once some moisture got to the sack it would mix chemically and become concrete

[@Robotron2084psn]

Are those sand bags or 1000s of rounded rocks?

[@themerchantofengland]

Yeah, sand bags just turned to concrete over the years.

[@IntrepidMilo]

If you look at this place on Google Earth is it pixelated except for the German fort.

[@nimitz1739]

I don’t see how the Germans had time to build that out of concrete 10:16 While they’re enemy was so close literally shelling them from 100 feet away

[@oldrok]

no audio on two different browsers

[@prmath]

Rough job…. Sandbag Filler 🤷🏻🤷🏿🤷😳

[@jessicapayne8622]

If you haven’t watched blackadder goes forth, watch it. It’s very informative, precise and funny. Get your hankies out for the last episode. Oh and WOOF!

[@stanvandenbeghe6162]

that is less than 3 km from my house I live in Diksmuide

[@MrRugbylane]

For some reason, Google Maps pixelates this area

[@TubesWatch]

11.18 mark solider walking