Can the Shape Of A Trench Save A Soldier's Life In An Explosion? | MythBusters

World War I trench warfare was a brutal and often static form of combat, where soldiers lived and fought in elaborate networks of dugouts. Amidst the grim realities of the trenches, a persistent myth emerged, particularly concerning German engineering: that their trenches were meticulously constructed with precise 90-degree corners. The belief was that these sharp angles were not merely for structural integrity or tactical advantage, but served a crucial defensive purpose: to prevent the devastating blast waves from incoming mortar shells from traveling too far down the trench, thereby protecting more soldiers.

The Hypothesis: Geometry as a Shield

The core of this myth lies in the physics of shockwaves. The theory suggests that a blast wave, upon encountering a sharp, 90-degree corner, would be significantly disrupted or even stopped dead in its tracks. In contrast, a rounded or