Rifles
Most soldiers on the battlefield were equipped with bolt-action rifles. These rifles fired rounds individually, requiring the soldier to open and close the bolt after each shot. Reloading was done by inserting a clip into the magazine, and regular cleaning was necessary due to the dirt and mud of the trenches.
Key rifles used by the Allied Powers included:
- Short Magazine Lee-Enfield (SMLE) (.303 caliber) – Britain
- Lebel and Berthier Rifles (8mm) – France
- Carcano M1891 (6.5mm) – Italy
- Mosin-Nagant M1891 (7.62mm) – Russia
- Springfield M1903 (.30-06 caliber) – USA
The Central Powers fielded rifles such as:
- Mauser Gewehr 98 (7.92mm) – Germany
- Steyr-Mannlicher M1895 – Austria-Hungary and Bulgaria
- Mauser M1877 (7.65mm) – Ottoman Empire
Bayonets
Though bayonets were still issued during WWI, their use became more psychological than practical. These blade attachments for rifles were used in close combat and had non-combat purposes, like opening cans or making campfires. While they were used in battle, trench warfare often limited their practicality.
Machine Guns
The machine gun was one of the deadliest advancements of WWI. Hiram Maxim’s 1884 design allowed for sustained fire of 450-600 rounds per minute. This led to waves of soldiers being cut down on the battlefield.
Notable machine guns of the war included:
- MG 08 – Germany's heavy machine gun.
- Lewis Gun – Used by British forces, featuring a distinctive top-mounted drum magazine.
- Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) – Used by the U.S. towards the end of the war. It was faster to reload than the Lewis Gun or the French Chauchat.
Submachine Guns
The German MP 18 was one of the earliest submachine guns, introduced in the final stages of the war. It was highly effective in the close-quarters combat of trench warfare.
Flamethrowers
The Germans first introduced flamethrowers in WWI. These terrifying weapons used nitrogen pressure to spray burning fuel on enemy soldiers, particularly in trench assaults. They were an effective, though horrifying, weapon in the war.
Grenades
Grenades became a vital part of trench warfare, used to flush out enemies from their dugouts or trenches. Types of grenades included:
- Hand grenades – Thrown by soldiers, with different fuses such as impact or timed detonation.
- Rifle grenades – Launched from rifles for longer range.
Sidearms
Officers, pilots, and tank crews often carried pistols due to the cramped conditions they worked in. These smaller firearms were ideal for close-quarters combat. Some notable pistols include:
- Luger P08 – Germany
- Colt M1911 – USA
Trench Clubs
A brutal and almost medieval weapon, the trench club was used in silent trench raids. These blunt instruments allowed soldiers to strike down enemies quietly in close combat.
