--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We started at once to dig our trenches…" description: "\"We started at once to dig our trenches, half of my platoon stepping forward abreast, the men being placed an arm's length apart. After laying their rif..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bca/fritz-kreisler-31765_abreast_we-started-at-once-to-dig-our-trenches-h_2024146.jpg" --- # We started at once to dig our trenches, half of my platoon… ![“We started at once to dig our trenches, half of my platoon stepping forward abreast, the men being placed an arm's length apart. After laying their rifles down, barrels pointing to the enemy, a line was drawn behind the row of rifles and parallel to it.” quote by Fritz Kreisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bca/fritz-kreisler-31765_abreast_we-started-at-once-to-dig-our-trenches-h_2024146.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bca/fritz-kreisler-31765_abreast_we-started-at-once-to-dig-our-trenches-h_2024146.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bca/fritz-kreisler-31765_abreast_we-started-at-once-to-dig-our-trenches-h_2024146.jpg) > “We started at once to dig our trenches, half of my platoon stepping forward abreast, the men being placed an arm's length apart. After laying their rifles down, barrels pointing to the enemy, a line was drawn behind the row of rifles and parallel to it.” [Fritz Kreisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fritz-kreisler/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Coordinated trench digging required disciplined spacing and teamwork to maintain defensive strength. **In simple terms:** Teamwork and spacing are vital in defense. Key Takeaway Practice disciplined coordination. Themes military teamwork strategy Mood focused serious Type instruction historical When to use this quote - combat training - historical reenactments - leadership drills Key Concepts tactical formation unit cohesion Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance order and adaptability? - What training improves unit cohesion? A Different Perspective Rigid formations can limit flexibility under fire. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Trenches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trenches/) ## Related quotes > [Dig trenches? With our men being killed off like flies? There isn't time to dig trenches. We'll have to buy them ready made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/dig-trenches-with-our-men-being-killed-off-like-flies-there-isn-t/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [People call to keep me abreast of what's going on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-jarman/people-call-to-keep-me-abreast-of-what-s-going-on/) [Joseph Jarman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-jarman/) > [The whole purpose of annual reviews is to keep you abreast of whether or not you are fulfilling the requirements of tenure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-finkelstein/the-whole-purpose-of-annual-reviews-is-to-keep-you-abreast-of-whether/) [Norman Finkelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-finkelstein/) > [I'm barely reading the 'New York Times!' But I do try to keep abreast of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-diamantopoulos/i-m-barely-reading-the-new-york-times-but-i-do-try-to-keep-abreast-of/) [Chris Diamantopoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-diamantopoulos/) > [One of the things Mr. Kennedy taught me was that in laying out a new project, you shouldn't try to cope with every little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sargent-shriver/one-of-the-things-mr-kennedy-taught-me-was-that-in-laying-out-a-new/) [Sargent Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sargent-shriver/) > [Laying my will down for Jesus was laying my life down for others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lecrae/laying-my-will-down-for-jesus-was-laying-my-life-down-for-others/) [Lecrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lecrae/) > [So laying people off is not something I do lightly, it's not something I relish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-villaraigosa/so-laying-people-off-is-not-something-i-do-lightly-it-s-not-something/) [Antonio Villaraigosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-villaraigosa/) > [Songwriting is the most terrifying thing to me, because you are really laying your heart out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-friedman/songwriting-is-the-most-terrifying-thing-to-me-because-you-are-really/) [David Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-friedman/) > [“I am shaking it, popping it, laying it down and working it out”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-joy-fowler/i-am-shaking-it-popping-it-laying-it-down-and-working-it-out/) [Karen Joy Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-joy-fowler/) > [I'm keepin' you in love with me, baby. Laying all my troubles down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ub40/i-m-keepin-you-in-love-with-me-baby-laying-all-my-troubles-down/) [Ub40](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ub40/) > [As homeowners see the value of their homes decline, they become more likely to delay purchases of the big items - like automobiles, electronics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/as-homeowners-see-the-value-of-their-homes-decline-they-become-more/) [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) > [Dead? No excuse for laying off work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-richardson/dead-no-excuse-for-laying-off-work/) [Ralph Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-richardson/) > [There's so much you can do with laying words on a bed of music. You can completely change their meaning with the type of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-so-much-you-can-do-with-laying-words-on-a-bed-of-music-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'll just start laying out the melody exactly where I want it to fall. And then I'll go back and fill it out. Whereas,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-elfman/i-ll-just-start-laying-out-the-melody-exactly-where-i-want-it-to-fall/) [Danny Elfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-elfman/) > [I've always been a high-percentage shooter, obviously because I'm dunking and laying the ball up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javale-mcgee/i-ve-always-been-a-high-percentage-shooter-obviously-because-i-m/) [JaVale McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javale-mcgee/) ## More by Fritz Kreisler > [Life that only a few hours before had glowed with enthusiasm and exultation, suddenly paled and sickened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fritz-kreisler/life-that-only-a-few-hours-before-had-glowed-with-enthusiasm-and/) [Fritz Kreisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fritz-kreisler/) > [Although I had resigned my commission as an officer two years before, I immediately left Switzerland, accompanied by my wife, in order to report…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fritz-kreisler/although-i-had-resigned-my-commission-as-an-officer-two-years-before/) [Fritz Kreisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fritz-kreisler/) > [Human nerves quickly get accustomed to the most unusual conditions and circumstances and I noticed that quite a number of men actually fell asleep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fritz-kreisler/human-nerves-quickly-get-accustomed-to-the-most-unusual-conditions/) [Fritz Kreisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fritz-kreisler/) > [The earlier days of the republic went into the acquisition of money and the provision for material things is now finding an outlet in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fritz-kreisler/the-earlier-days-of-the-republic-went-into-the-acquisition-of-money/) [Fritz Kreisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fritz-kreisler/) > [My wife volunteered her services as Red Cross nurse, insisting upon being sent to the front, in order to be as near me as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fritz-kreisler/my-wife-volunteered-her-services-as-red-cross-nurse-insisting-upon/) [Fritz Kreisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fritz-kreisler/) > [I saw a great many men die afterwards, some suffering horribly, but I do not recall any death that affected me quite so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fritz-kreisler/i-saw-a-great-many-men-die-afterwards-some-suffering-horribly-but-i/) [Fritz Kreisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fritz-kreisler/) > [Genius is an overused word. The world has known only about a half dozen geniuses. I got only fairly near.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fritz-kreisler/genius-is-an-overused-word-the-world-has-known-only-about-a-half/) [Fritz Kreisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fritz-kreisler/) > [IN trying to recall my impressions during my short war duty as an officer in the Austrian Army, I find that my recollections of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fritz-kreisler/in-trying-to-recall-my-impressions-during-my-short-war-duty-as-an/) [Fritz Kreisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fritz-kreisler/) > [What impressed me particularly in Vienna was the strict order everywhere. No mob disturbances of any kind, in spite of the greatly increased liberty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fritz-kreisler/what-impressed-me-particularly-in-vienna-was-the-strict-order/) [Fritz Kreisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fritz-kreisler/) > [Courage, energy and patience are the virtues which appeal to my heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fritz-kreisler/courage-energy-and-patience-are-the-virtues-which-appeal-to-my-heart/) [Fritz Kreisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fritz-kreisler/) > [Signs of fatigue soon manifested themselves more and more strongly, and slowly the men dropped out one by one, from sheer exhaustion. No murmur…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fritz-kreisler/signs-of-fatigue-soon-manifested-themselves-more-and-more-strongly/) [Fritz Kreisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fritz-kreisler/) > [The outbreak of the war found my wife and me in Switzerland, where we were taking a cure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fritz-kreisler/the-outbreak-of-the-war-found-my-wife-and-me-in-switzerland-where-we/) [Fritz Kreisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fritz-kreisler/) > [One gets into a strange psychological, almost hypnotic, state of mind while on the firing line which probably prevents the mind's eye from observing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fritz-kreisler/one-gets-into-a-strange-psychological-almost-hypnotic-state-of-mind/) [Fritz Kreisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fritz-kreisler/) > [The moral effect of the thundering of one's own artillery is most extraordinary, and many of us thought that we had never heard any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fritz-kreisler/the-moral-effect-of-the-thundering-of-one-s-own-artillery-is-most/) [Fritz Kreisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fritz-kreisler/) > [Suddenly, at about ten o'clock, a dull thud sounded somewhere far away from us, and simultaneously we saw a small white round cloud about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fritz-kreisler/suddenly-at-about-ten-o-clock-a-dull-thud-sounded-somewhere-far-away/) [Fritz Kreisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fritz-kreisler/) [Explore all 16 Fritz Kreisler quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fritz-kreisler/) ## More Abreast quotes > [The whole purpose of annual reviews is to keep you abreast of whether or not you are fulfilling the requirements of tenure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-finkelstein/the-whole-purpose-of-annual-reviews-is-to-keep-you-abreast-of-whether/) [Norman Finkelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-finkelstein/) > [I'm barely reading the 'New York Times!' But I do try to keep abreast of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-diamantopoulos/i-m-barely-reading-the-new-york-times-but-i-do-try-to-keep-abreast-of/) [Chris Diamantopoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-diamantopoulos/) > [People call to keep me abreast of what's going on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-jarman/people-call-to-keep-me-abreast-of-what-s-going-on/) [Joseph Jarman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-jarman/) Browse all 4 Abreast quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We started at once to dig our trenches, half of my platoon stepping forward abreast, the men being placed an arm's length apart. 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