Herbie Murray
Sleep deprivation, combined with the harsh Russian winter, took a toll on soldiers during World War II. Many soldiers had to sleep outside in the snow, and the cold temperatures resulted in fatalities. To endure these conditions, soldiers employed various methods, such as layering multiple layers of warm clothing, using wool, and improvising with what they had, including overcoats that served as featherbeds, mattresses, and blankets. Some soldiers even resorted to sleeping with corpses to insulate themselves from the cold. The lack of sleep and extreme weather conditions impacted soldiers' coordination, reaction times, and decision-making abilities, influencing the outcome of battles and campaigns.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Sleeping arrangements | Improvised sleeping bags, sleeping with corpses, sleeping in clothes, huddling in groups |
| Clothing | Multiple layers of extremely warm clothing, woollen garments |
| Shelters | Tents, foxholes, trenches |
| Fires | Used but risky due to visibility and vulnerability to mortar shells |
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What You'll Learn
Improvised sleeping bags
Sleeping in the snow during World War II was a challenge that soldiers faced in various theatres of the war, from the Soviet Union to Finland and Hungary. The cold was so extreme that it was a formidable adversary in itself, with German troops freezing to death and many others succumbing to the elements.
Soldiers used a variety of methods to keep warm while sleeping in the snow, including multiple layers of warm clothing, fires (although these were risky due to enemy mortar fire), and huddling together in groups for warmth. They also slept in their uniforms, which served as featherbeds, mattresses, and blankets. In addition to official and semi-official methods of staying warm, soldiers also used improvised techniques.
One such improvised technique was the use of improvised sleeping bags. Vladimir Karpov, a writer who served in the war, mentions the use of improvised sleeping bags in his book, "Russia At War, 1941-1945." While official sleeping bags and bedrolls were used by soldiers, improvised methods were also necessary due to the extreme cold and lack of supplies.
These improvised sleeping bags could be made from various materials, including coarse gray broadcloth, which was used for soldier's overcoats. These overcoats were often not very pretty and sometimes not the right size, but they provided much-needed warmth and protection from the elements. Soldiers would also use their uniforms, coats, and any other available garments to create additional layers of insulation, as the cold was so extreme that it could penetrate multiple layers of clothing.
The use of improvised sleeping bags and other creative solutions highlights the resilience and ingenuity of soldiers facing the harsh realities of warfare in extreme winter conditions. It also underscores the importance of warmth and rest in maintaining morale, physical health, and the ability to make sound tactical decisions.
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Sleeping with clothes on
Sleeping with your clothes on can be an effective way to retain body heat in cold environments. This was a common practice among soldiers during World War II, especially when operating on the front lines. They often wore their uniforms 24/7, as taking off clothes in freezing temperatures was uncomfortable and impractical.
The decision to sleep with clothes on or off depends on the specific circumstances and temperature. In extremely cold environments, wearing clothes can provide an additional layer of insulation, trapping warm air within the fibres and creating a cocoon of warmth. Wool, in particular, is valued for its ability to retain heat even when wet. Soldiers in World War II would also use their overcoats as featherbeds, mattresses, and blankets, providing extra protection from the cold ground or snow.
However, wearing too many layers can have adverse effects. It can lead to issues with moisture control, causing a person to sweat and resulting in a damp sleeping bag that is less effective at retaining heat. Additionally, tight-fitting clothing can reduce blood circulation to extremities, making them feel colder. Therefore, it is essential to find a balance, wearing enough clothes to retain heat without causing discomfort or restricting blood flow.
To optimise warmth, it is recommended to wear loose-fitting, dry clothes made from materials like wool or synthetic fibres. These clothes should be comfortable and allow for easy movement. It is also beneficial to have extra clothes within reach to quickly add layers if needed.
In summary, sleeping with clothes on can be an effective strategy for staying warm in cold environments, as demonstrated by soldiers during World War II. However, finding the right balance of layers and materials is crucial to optimising warmth and comfort.
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Sleeping with corpses
While there is no direct evidence of WWII soldiers sleeping with corpses to survive the cold, there are a few accounts of soldiers from other wars who did so. One source describes the conditions faced by French soldiers during the Russian winter:
> The snow is so thick it's all you can do to keep stumbling forward as men fall off the road to die. Eventually, it's nighttime and you just have to stop out of exhaustion, there's no supply left for camp so you bivouac (lay down in the ditch beside the road basically). Tens of thousands of French soldiers or vagrants were ahead of you, thousands died on the side of the road. But you have tens of thousands behind you. There's nowhere to go, so you just lay down with the corpses and try to get some sleep and hope you wake up in the morning.
Another source mentions that Napoleon's soldiers, as well as Napoleon himself, slept with frozen corpses at least once. The source speculates that the reason for this might have been to insulate themselves with the clothing on the corpses.
During World War II, soldiers used various methods to stay warm while sleeping in the snow, such as multiple layers of warm clothing, patrols, holes in the ground, and improvised sleeping bags made from their overcoats. They also slept in their uniforms to stay prepared for battle and to avoid the cold of undressing.
In addition to physical survival techniques, psychiatric methods were also employed to help soldiers deal with trauma and mental illness. Military psychiatrists used drug-induced sleep to treat traumatized soldiers, taking advantage of the regenerative properties of rest to rehabilitate them for returning to combat. This also provided clinicians with the opportunity to investigate the emotional and psychological effects of war.
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Platoon-sized cuddling
While it is unclear what specific methods WWII soldiers used to sleep in the snow, there are some general strategies that they may have employed. One possibility is that they used some form of insulation, such as an improvised sleeping bag or bedroll, as suggested by a memoir referenced in a Reddit comment. The memoir, "Russia At War, 1941-1945," mentions the use of coarse gray broadcloth overcoats that served multiple purposes, including insulation from the cold ground and snow. Soldiers may have also worn multiple layers of warm clothing, such as wool, which retains warmth even when wet.
In addition to insulation, soldiers may have also sought warmth through proximity to others. A concept known as "platoon-sized cuddling" has been mentioned, though it is unclear if this was a common practice. Soldiers may have also slept in groups to some extent, as suggested by a Civil War memoir describing soldiers "bunch [ing] up in little groups at night" to sing songs before sleeping in their uniforms nearby. This practice could have provided some additional warmth through body heat.
The extreme cold in Russia during WWII is well-documented, and it is known that many soldiers froze to death. In addition to insulation and proximity, soldiers may have also sought warmth by stripping clothes from dead soldiers, as described by Stephan Talty in his book, "The Illustrious Dead: The Terrifying Story of How Typhus Killed Napoleon's Greatest Army." While this may have provided some short-term warmth, it also carried the risk of disease-bearing lice.
Overall, sleeping in the snow during WWII would have been extremely challenging, and soldiers likely employed a combination of strategies to stay warm, including insulation, multiple layers of clothing, proximity to others, and in some cases, the use of items from fallen soldiers. These measures may have helped increase their chances of survival in extremely harsh conditions.
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Sleeping in foxholes
Soldiers in World War II faced the daunting challenge of enduring the harsh winter conditions while trying to get some sleep. Sleeping in foxholes, or trenches, in the snow was a gruelling experience, and many soldiers perished due to the extreme cold.
To survive the freezing temperatures, soldiers had to be innovative and adapt their clothing and gear for warmth. They often slept in their uniforms, which served as an extra layer of protection from the cold. These uniforms were typically made of wool, which retained warmth even when wet. Soldiers also had overcoats made of coarse grey broadcloth, which could be used as featherbeds, mattresses, and blankets when sleeping on the bare ground or in the snow.
In addition to their uniforms, soldiers used sleeping bags and bedrolls to keep warm. Some soldiers even resorted to improvising sleeping bags or using the clothes of dead soldiers to insulate themselves, despite the risk of disease-bearing lice. Fires were rarely an option as they would make the soldiers visible targets, leaving them vulnerable to enemy attacks.
The conditions were so extreme that even German troops froze to death on the Eastern Front, and Russian armoured columns attempting to advance in Finland during the Winter War succumbed to the freezing temperatures. Sleep deprivation was also a significant issue, impacting soldiers' coordination, reaction times, and decision-making abilities.
Overall, sleeping in foxholes during World War II required ingenuity, resilience, and a strong will to survive. Soldiers had to endure unbearable cold, make do with limited supplies, and push through exhaustion, all while remaining prepared for battle.
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Frequently asked questions
Soldiers used a variety of methods to sleep in the snow during WW2. They would often sleep in their uniforms, sometimes with multiple layers underneath for added warmth. They would also use improvised sleeping bags, or overcoats, which served as featherbeds, mattresses and blankets.
In some cases, soldiers would dig holes in the ground or use foxholes and trenches for protection from the elements. They would also build fires, although this was risky as it could make them a target.
Many soldiers died from the cold, and most suffered some damage from it. They would wear multiple layers of extremely warm clothing, often made from wool, which keeps you warm even when wet.
Yes, in some cases, soldiers would sleep with corpses to try and insulate themselves from the cold. This was a risky strategy, as the dead bodies could be carrying disease-bearing lice.
