Why were trenches typically dug in a 'zigzag' or 'crenelated' pattern rather than in straight lines?
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Correct answer: To block enemy fire from sweeping the whole trench
Straight trenches were vulnerable to enfilade fire; if an enemy entered a straight trench, they could shoot down its entire length. A zigzag pattern limited the impact of shell blasts and prevented an attacker from clearing a long stretch of the trench at once.
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