The Western Front Tunnels
World War One
•
17m
The creation of man-made underground tunnels played a huge role in the outcome of the First World War. They were first dug to mine under enemy positions and detonate bombs or attack in desperate and fierce fights. As the war dragged on, nevertheless, they developed another purpose: providing soldiers with safer accommodation and communication routes.
In this episode of Snow on the Road, Dan visits the tunnels of the Vimy Ridge built by Canadian miners and the Carrière Wellington tunnels, now a museum in Arras, France.
Up Next in World War One
-
The Untold Story of the Unknown Warrior
The First World War was a conflict like nothing the World had ever known. More than 700,000 men mobilised in the UK would die during the conflict. Roughly 250,000 of those would have no known grave. The Tomb of the Unknown Warrior became a place where all those people who were denied a grave to v...
-
Forgotten Faces of the Great War: The...
China started out as a neutral country during the First World War. But by early 1917, one thousand Chinese men were on their way to the Western Front. Tens of thousands more would follow, to provide logistical support to the Allies. They constituted one of the largest labour corps of the war. The...
-
What Would I Die For?
A short film created through the 1418-Now art commissions reflecting on the thoughts and emotions of the soldiers of the First World War.