Trench foot

If you thought this was "not a big deal"...

Check this picture if you dare...

www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/FWWfoot.jpg

Trench foot was one of the most widespread and debilitating that affected men from both sides of the lines, it is linked with WW1 hence the name "Trench foot". The disease's origin isn't in WW1 but was first noted in Napoleons army in 1812. It was on the retreat from Russia that it became prevalent, and was first described by Larrey. He observed that this condition didn't occur during the freezing cold of the campaign but when the temperature was near to zero degrees with the presence of moisture. Here lies the clue. During the First war men were exposed to Cold but not freezing conditions often up to their ankles in water that was permanently in the bottom of the trenches. The feet would swell, appear red and blood blistered, the pain would be severe, until the sensory nerves had been damaged and would then be numb causing the man to be evacuated hopefully. The treatment would be basically to elevate the limb, some modest warmth and wait. After a few weeks the limb would return to normal in most cases, but some severe ones that became gangrenous could result in amputation, with all the complications that went with that, some of those that did recover would have nerve damage. . As for the battalion pride in having low trench foot rates, some cases could be prevented with care. Some situations made trench foot more likely, such as poor fitting boots restriciting the circulation, immobility, amount of water and temperature of water in the base of the trench. Some of the preventative measures used were the issuing of gumboots where possible, but keeping feet dry was impossible. I have read accounts of men being forced to apply whale grease to the feet i presume to impart some waterproofness to them. Either way I believe some cases were practically unavoidable, and must have been the devil itself if you got it. The army went to great lengths to find out how to prevent it, employing hygienists, doctors all sorts and the general conclusion was military discipline and good hygiene. That meant where possible boots off and foot inspections carried out, greasing, and charging men who appeared to be neglecting these instructions, remember that there would be individuals who would deliberately contract this illness to get out of the line. Nowadays this illness is still known as trench foot or immersion foot, on the Falklands campaign it amounted to 14% of casualties.

http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homep...let1/tfoot.htm

Controlling the negative effect of winter on front line forces was a critical aspect of combat management. The phenomenon of "trench foot" was one of the important considerations. Bradley had wrestled with the basic problem of replacing battle casualties and was discussing it with Eisenhower when they received the first reports of the German Ardennes offensive. As Bradley wrote later, "Within five short weeks, the winter attack had cost us 64,000 casualties . . . And, as if this were not already a strain, on the bankrupt replacement system, trench foot added almost 12,000 more. Though listed as non-battle loss, trench foot exacted its heaviest toll among the riflemen on the line . . .because the malady caught us unaware partially as a result of our own neglect. By the time we disciplined troops to the care and treatment of wet feet, the infirmity had fallen upon us with the suddenness of a plague." Bradley accepted responsibility for having held up shipment of winter clothing in favor of ammunition and gasoline in support for the race eastward.

http://www.wood.army.mil/2-10IN/Hist...0Bulge%20I.htm

Something interesting from the same site:

Bill observed that by the time the 10th had received its winter clothing, while still in the Saar area, his people had become so ensured to the less warm attire that for some the Army's winter boots seemed too warm. He wasn't aware of this until a doctor came to report something "strange" -- he was treating men in U.S. uniforms that were wearing German boots. When Bill checked into it, he found that the men were taking boots from German soldiers because their own were "too hot."285 Meanwhile, Germans were seizing American boots when the opportunity presented itself.

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