It was a measure of the indusrialisation of the war that both sides had issue standard heavy tunnel linings available from stores. I have seen the British steel ones so it was interesting to see the wooden German ones of equal strength.
It was even more fascinating to see how the archeologist diggers were faced with the same mud and water problems as the soldiers were.
Having seen comparable British trenches I can see how the differing welfare approaches of the two armies were reflected in the trench architecture. The British relied on rotating troops in and out of the line at frequent intervals while the Germans tried to make the trenches more comfortable and kept them in there longer; hence the deeper trenches, concrete bunkers and extensive drainage systems. Helped by being that vital bit higher so they could drain the water away. Quite possibly towards the British.
I heartily recommend Gordon Corrigan's book 'Mud, Blood and Poppycock' for a rational examination of the British army in Flanders in which my grandfather served from November 1914 through to the end of the war. He saw it all from French Cuirassiers in shining steel breast plates and horse hair plumes with French infantry in bright red trousers and dark blue jackets all the way to tanks and close air support.