Trench Foot in WWI - 75k+ casualties

As if surviving the awful nature of warfare in WWI wasn't enough, Soldiers on all sides had to work to avoid trench foot. This condition was sort of like frost bite and could turn numb to the point where a Soldier couldn't stand. In extreme situations, it could lead to gangrene requiring amputation.

#shorts#ww1#wwi#militaryhistory#ww1trenches#trenchfoot#military#history#trenchwarfare#combatmedic#britishmilitary#westernfront#warfare

[michaelscott]

I work in excavation and one morning I slipped in a manhole and filled my boots with water. I emptied my boots and proceeded to work 16 hours. At the end of the day my feet hurt so bad I could barely walk. I can't even imagine being like that for weeks.

[shawnr]

As a former infantry soldier and a construction worker for over 20 years.

My feet are one of my most important assets.
If I cant walk I cant make money.

I buy the best fitting, waterproof(Gortex), comfortable work boots I can afford.

I keep a couple of extra pairs of dry socks in my gear just in case.

Dont skimp your feet, knees, hips and back will thank you when you get old.

[ashenmoonclash]

If you don't take care of your feet the rest of your body is pretty useless. Can't imagine the time these guys spent in trenches filled with water. My workboots get soaked for the day of work and then the feet need a couple days to repair after. Just horrible what these soldiers went through then and now.

[narekhart]

It happened to me in my pilgrimage to go get baptized in Armenia. I was 12 and I laid in the tent for 2 days before I could put my foot down... everything else is fine lol

[andrewcombe]

I spent a week in winter on exercise with wet boots. Nothing could dry out the feet. We were walking through shin deep mud where trucks had been, crossing creeks and rivers, patrolling in long wet grasses from dew and rain and sleeping with boots on. At the end of the week when I took off my socks my heels came with them.

[ItBeLucid]

I surprisingly got this skateboarding. I skate to maximum 12 hours. Now I do rock tube socks (fuck off I hear the comments not) and a pair of vans. Now I actually had zero clue what was going on with my feet at all. Definitely wasnt going to the doctor either since im apart of the no health insurance gang. Now my shoes are tied pretty tight, and due to all the sweating water builds up and I didn't know. A month ago I felt a sharp pain and didnt know what it was. I took off my shoe and socks an essentially saw the first picture. I was a lil scared, but had a feeling it had to do with my shoes and socks. I took my feet out for about and hour or two and my foot slowly reverted back to normal. Very interesting to watch honestly. My tiny bid of advice: dont tie your shoes too tight, and occasionally take off your shoes for a breather.

[reekhavoc]

And here i am with a corn developing in between my toe. It hurts so bad i cant even explain.

[faelela]

And yet my troop still can't bring a heater to dry off

[qwertykeyboard]

Domt take for granted How many years it took to make a waterproof and breathable gore tex boot you can
Use comfortably for hours in all conditions replace them every six to ten months your feet will thank you

[strictlyaroundtheworld]

I didn't know Owen Wilson was in world war II

[mcgee]

Trench foot is one of the last things I would want to have dealt with if I were to be fighting in a war...

[godistheonetruegod.]

I’ve gotten trench foot a few times, didn’t know it was this deadly, but I could barley walk after

[mrhairypalm]

I'm sure the blood and guts didn't help 😞

[barryon]

I wonder how much this will impact the Russo-Ukrainian war.

[karinstegs]

The Germans with giga 🧠 pumped out water when spotted so no trench 🦶

[billysgarden-us]

this was caused by sound canons in ww1 to slow down the enemy by creating liqufaction. then it made everyone mentally sick and was stopped? causing a mud flood just like the last reset

[logancliff]

WW2 was bad, I think a lot for the ignorance (in varying horrific degrees) but WW1 was in some ways worse, for the fact your own side knew what fucked up this was going to happen, but "duty" demanded it. Like what the fuck

[TamagoHead]

Humor = good, but there’s some Fin GIs are generally bad.

[craigb]

Looks like a lot of Russian troops will be taken out of combat due to frostbite.

[NiSiochainGanSaoirse]

are western nations donating drugs to Ukraine?

I was thinking, drugs like ketamine would be invaluable to medics kits in Ukraine.