zákop

Zákop is the Czech term for a trench, a long, narrow ditch excavated into the ground to protect troops, provide cover from enemy fire, and serve as a firing position. Trenches became characteristic of late 19th- and early 20th-century warfare and are central to the concept of trench warfare.

Typically a trench system comprises front-line trenches, support trenches, and communication trenches. Parapets of earth protect soldiers from direct fire, while a firing step allows shooting from a protected position. The rear of the trench may include dugouts for shelter, stores, and officers. The bottom often contains duckboards to keep feet dry, and drainage systems reduce water accumulation.

Life in the trenches was harsh: constant damp and mud, cold weather, vermin and lice, and a constant threat from artillery, snipers, and trench raids. Rations and medical care could be limited, while rotations limited exposure to fire.

Historically, zákop is strongly associated with World War I, especially on the Western Front, where extensive trench networks defined the war's experience. Similar trench systems appeared in other conflicts and theaters. While modern warfare has moved away from static trench lines, dug-in positions and fortified trenches still appear in some military fortifications and defensive works.

In Czech usage, zákop remains the standard word for a combat trench.