12 / 40
10
trench notes
Barbed Wire
Barbed wire was
invented in America in 1874, to
corral cattle. Barbs of wire were
twisted into a single strand of
wire at 6” intervals and secured
using a second twisted wire.
It became a standard aspect
of all defences from 1914 and
in some places such as the
Hindenburg Line, was particularly
thick. Until the arrival of
the tank, it was a formidable
challenge to get through, round,
over or under. It would often
withstand an artillery barrage.
.