The Tunnelers of WW1

Johnny Johnson

12 Sept 202204:53

Summary

TLDRThis video script delves into the harrowing underground battles of World War I, where tunnel warfare played a critical role. Over 4,800 kilometers of tunnels were constructed with the aim of undermining enemy trenches and planting explosives. The work was perilous, involving constant vigilance against enemy tunnelers and the challenges of poor air quality and potential collapse. The script highlights the expertise of 'clay kickers' or 'moles' who brought their tunneling skills to the war effort, and references two films, 'The War Below' and 'Beneath Hill 60', that depict the Battle of Messines, a significant event in tunnel warfare history.

Takeaways

🌍 World War One was marked by brutal trench warfare and a hidden, underground conflict involving extensive tunnel systems.
💥 The primary goal of tunnel warfare was to plant large amounts of explosives beneath enemy trenches to cause massive destruction.
🔍 Tunnelers engaged in a dangerous game of cat and mouse, digging interception and listening tunnels to detect and counter enemy tunneling efforts.
📉 The advantage in tunnel warfare was to be beneath the enemy, allowing for the sabotage of enemy tunnels and the strategic placement of explosives.
👷 Tunnel systems were labor-intensive, with hundreds of men working on them at any given time, digging slowly and cautiously to avoid detection.
🚫 Evacuating large teams of tunnelers in case of a collapse was nearly impossible, highlighting the extreme risks involved in this type of warfare.
🌪️ Working conditions were treacherous, with concerns over air quality, the risk of flooding, and the constant threat of cave-ins.
🐦 Canaries and other methods were used to test air quality, while tunnelers also had to contend with the psychological strain of working in such confined spaces.
🔨 The first Allied professionals in tunneling were experienced sewer workers, known as 'clay kickers' or 'moles,' who brought their expertise to the war effort.
🎥 Two significant films, 'The War Below' and 'Beneath Hill 60,' depict the intense and anxiety-inducing nature of underground warfare during World War One.
🎉 The Battle of Messines in 1917 was a pivotal moment, where over 454 tons of explosives were detonated, resulting in the largest man-made explosion at the time and causing the immediate death of thousands of Germans.

Q & A

What was the primary objective of the tunnelers during World War One?
-The primary objective of the tunnelers was to place hundreds of thousands of kilograms of explosives underneath the enemy's trenches to cause massive destruction.
How long were the trenches during World War One, and how did the tunnels relate to them?
-The trenches ran approximately 750 kilometers from the North Sea to the Swiss Alps, and there were 4,800 kilometers worth of tunnels that crossed into No Man's Land.
What was the significance of being below the enemy in tunnel warfare?
-Being below the enemy was advantageous because it allowed tunnelers to lay explosives under enemy tunnels, collapse them, and occupy them.
How did tunnelers minimize noise while digging?
-Tunnelers would slowly push their shovels with their feet in front of them to make the least amount of noise possible while digging.
What were the challenges tunnelers faced in terms of evacuation and air quality?
-Evacuating large teams of men all at once was nearly impossible, and they had to worry about air quality, using canaries and water tests to ensure it was safe to breathe.
What was the role of canaries in the tunnels?
-Canaries were used as a traditional way to test the air quality in the tunnels, as they were sensitive to toxic gases.
How did tunnelers deal with the risk of flooding in the mines?
-Tunnelers had to be prepared for the risk of mines flooding, which could make working conditions horrible and potentially deadly.
What was the significance of the Battle of Messines in 1917?
-The Battle of Messines was significant because it involved the largest man-made explosion at the time, which instantly killed ten thousand Germans and allowed the Allies to advance.
Which two films depict the tunnel warfare during World War One?
-The two films that depict the tunnel warfare are 'The War Below' from 2021 and 'Beneath Hill 60' from 2010.
What was the role of the men from Manchester's sewer system in the war?
-The men from Manchester's sewer system, known as 'clay kickers' or 'moles', brought their expertise in tunneling to the Royal Engineers and were sent to the front with minimal military training.
What was the impact of tunnel warfare on the landscape of No Man's Land?
-Tunnel warfare altered the very landscape of No Man's Land, forcing trenches to be wider and creating a complex underground battlefield.

Outlines

00:00

💥 The Brutal Reality of Tunnel Warfare in WWI

This paragraph delves into the harrowing conditions of tunnel warfare during World War One, highlighting the strategic and dangerous nature of the conflict that took place beneath the trenches. It discusses the extensive network of tunnels that spanned hundreds of kilometers, with the primary objective of placing large amounts of explosives beneath enemy lines. The process of tunneling was fraught with peril, as tunnelers engaged in a subterranean battle of wits and survival, digging interception and listening tunnels to counter enemy efforts. The physical and psychological toll on the men was immense, with the constant threat of tunnel collapse, poor air quality, and the need for stealth to avoid detection. The paragraph also touches on the use of canaries and water as life-saving tools to detect air quality and the presence of water, respectively. The narrative underscores the bravery and ingenuity of the tunnelers, who often worked in treacherous conditions and were instrumental in shaping the landscape of warfare during this period.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Tunnelers

Tunnelers were specialized soldiers in World War One who dug tunnels beneath enemy lines to plant explosives. This dangerous task was essential for undermining enemy trenches and creating strategic advantages, often involving interception tunnels and listening tunnels to map enemy progress.

💡Trenches

Trenches were long, narrow ditches dug into the ground where soldiers lived and fought. Spanning 750 kilometers from the North Sea to the Swiss Alps, trenches were key in the static, grueling warfare of World War One, representing the brutal and stagnant nature of the conflict.

💡No Man's Land

No Man's Land referred to the disputed territory between opposing trenches, often filled with barbed wire and landmines. It was a dangerous area that tunnelers aimed to reach by digging extensive tunnel networks beneath it, with the goal of placing explosives under enemy positions.

💡Explosives

Explosives played a critical role in tunnel warfare, with tunnelers planting hundreds of thousands of kilograms of explosives under enemy lines to destroy trenches and tunnels. The use of explosives culminated in massive blasts, like the one on June 7, 1917, which killed 10,000 Germans and was felt as far as Dublin.

💡Clay Kickers

Clay Kickers, or moles, were experienced miners, many from Manchester's sewer system, who were recruited by the Royal Engineers for their tunneling expertise. Despite minimal military training, their skills were crucial for digging tunnels and laying explosives during the war.

💡Listening Tunnels

Listening tunnels were small tunnels dug to detect enemy activity underground. Men stationed in these tunnels would spend hours in silence, listening for sounds of digging or movement, sometimes aided by simple tools like a geophone or water in a biscuit tin to detect seismic activity.

💡Battle of Messine

The Battle of Messine in 1917 was a significant event where Allied miners laid over 454 tons of explosives under German lines. The massive explosion on June 7, 1917, was one of the largest man-made explosions at the time and played a crucial role in the Allied advance.

💡Psychological Warfare

Psychological warfare in tunnel warfare involved the constant fear and anxiety experienced by tunnelers. The oppressive silence, the danger of tunnel collapses, and the need to listen intently for enemy movements all contributed to a harrowing psychological environment for these soldiers.

💡Geophone

A geophone is a device used to detect seismic activity, which was employed by tunnelers to listen for enemy digging. This tool helped tunnelers anticipate and counter enemy tunneling efforts, making it a critical component of underground warfare.

💡The War Below

The War Below is a British film from 2021 that focuses on the experiences of tunnelers during the Battle of Messine. It, along with the Australian film Beneath Hill 60, highlights the intensity, danger, and psychological toll of tunnel warfare during World War One.

Highlights

World War One was the bloodiest siege war in human history, with significant suffering in the trenches.

A brutal underground war took place alongside the surface conflict, with thousands of kilometers of tunnels dug into no man's land.

The primary objective of tunnel warfare was to place explosives beneath enemy positions.

Tunnelers engaged in a dangerous game of undermining and intercepting enemy tunnels.

Tunnel systems could have hundreds of men working simultaneously, digging slowly and cautiously to avoid detection.

Evacuating large teams of men from a collapsed tunnel was nearly impossible, highlighting the extreme risks involved.

Air quality and the use of canaries were critical for tunnelers to detect poisonous gases.

Water was a constant threat, as mines could flood, making working conditions treacherous.

Tunnelers were appreciated for digging wells for drinking water, a vital contribution to the troops above.

Listening posts were manned by men who sat in silence, listening for enemy activity, a psychologically taxing task.

Geophones and simple methods like water in a biscuit tin were used to detect nearby enemy digging.

As the war progressed, mining operations became more complex and played a crucial role in the conflict.

The first Allied professionals were sewer workers from Manchester, known as 'clay kickers' or 'moles', who brought their expertise to the front.

Many of these experienced miners were too old for army service but had invaluable decades of tunneling experience.

Pop culture, such as the character Thomas Shelby from Peaky Blinders, has brought attention to the horrors of tunnel warfare.

The British film 'The War Below' and the Australian 'Beneath Hill 60' both depict the Battle of Messines, showcasing the intensity of underground warfare.

The Battle of Messines saw the largest man-made explosion at the time, instantly killing ten thousand Germans and allowing the Allies to advance.

The film 'Beneath Hill 60' is noted for its focus on the slow, ever-present anxiety of waging war underground.