Poison Gas
Poison gas was one of the most used weapons of World War 1. The intentions of poison gases are similar, but are different from gas to gas. The gases were often used as cover when a country would attempt to attack the enemy trench. The three main gases include chlorine, phosgene, and mustard gas. other than the main three gases, bromine, chloropicrin, and occasionally nerve gas by the french were used. Chlorine and phosgene were mainly respiratory poisons, while mustard gas caused blisters on the outside and in. Overall, the Germans were the leaders in the use of poison gases, with the Allies only picking them up to stay even with the Germans. It is suggested that German use reached 68,000 tons; the French utilized 36,000 tons and the British 25,000 of different gases.
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Modern day ypres |
Early use of poison gas
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The very first country to use gas would be Germany with a gas causing sneezing, and France, with it being tear gas also in 1914. After Germany introduced gases, they quickly tried to implement the already developed nerve gas. This attempt quickly failed as it was too cold on the battlefields for the gas to vaporize and disperse among the enemy line. That was when chlorine was implemented. It was first used a the second battle of Ypres and was severely under prepared for use. The Germans deployed it for use and it was very successful, creating a considerable hole in the enemy line, but the German soldiers were nervous that they would be effected by the gas even with protection, and they had lost their chance. Once the Germans tried to use it then, the British government quickly decided to start using chlorine as well to combat the Germans
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Impact Poison Gas had on the war
In the beginning, poison gas was responsible for countless casualties. Later on, however, the numbers continued to drop. This was due to an increase in knowledge about the different gases and how to protect oneself from the gases. As mentioned before, the soldiers on both sides were afraid of the gas, but as time went by and it was used by both sides more and more, it became a regular and the casualties dropped to 9% on the British side, only 3% of which being fatal. On the other hand, those who were effected by the gas and did not die, often struggled later in life due to the physical abnormalities caused by the gas. Overall, the use of poison gas was much less successful than once estimated. The effects occasionally drifted past the battle lines, however. On occasion, the citizens particularly close to the battle lines got very scaled down versions of what the soldiers were experiencing, which would be in no way lethal. The leaders also faced difficult decisions in the beginning with the fact that it was an attack that the enemy could in no way evade. Overall, poison gas was a very short time effecting weapon. Over time, any effects that the gas had on surroundings would go away. On the other hand, if it was a person it effected, then those effects never went away.
Connections to today
Poison gas has mostly been abandon. There have been agreements between most countries not to use poison gas on their citizens, but there are a few countries who have not agreed yet. There have, however, been much more effective alternatives. Such alternatives include nuclear bombs, chemical warfare, etc. Since WWI, countries have made the effects of the gas or weapon much more effective and longer lasting. Because poison gas itself is not as effective as other alternatives, actual gases or not used often. Due to the ban of chemical warfare in combat, gasses are not used. One recent instance of poison gas supposedly being used on anybody would be in Syria during the civil war.
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The area in which poison gas was used in Syria.
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Nate Centa