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The Western Front is the line of trenches that stretched from Switzerland to Belgium.
The Hutchinson Encyclopedia describes it as :
Western Front
Battle zone in World War I between Germany and its enemies France and Britain, extending as lines of trenches from Nieuport on the Belgian coast through Ypres, Arras, Albert, Soissons, and Rheims to Verdun, constructed by both Germany and the Allies.
For over three years neither side advanced far from their defensive positions.
During the period of trench warfare there were a number of significant changes. Poison gas was used by Germany at Ypres, Belgium April 1915 and tanks were employed by Britain on the River Somme in September 1916.
A German offensive in the spring of 1918 enabled the troops to reach the Marne River. By summer the Allies were advancing all along the front and the Germans were driven back into Belgium.
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