Poison Overview
Poison gasses were one of the few weapons during WW1 that could be used within trench warfare. The picture to the left depicts how they could be used in trench warfare. When poison gas first came along it was a very popular choice and most believed it would be a weapon to change the tides of war.
The first gas to be majorly used was Chlorine gas, it caused fatal choking fits. Soon after chlorine gas, phosgene gas and mustard gas came along. Phosgene gas was a more potent version of chlorine gas and Mustard gas was an odorless gas so it was popularly used that was know for causing internal and external blistering.
Problems
Common problems were when the gasses first came along they would occasionally blow back into the attackers territory. This problem was fixed with gas masks and enclosed shells like in the picture above.
Life With Poison Gas
Soldiers often described life dealing with poison gas protection as tiring, especially with gas masks. It was obviously a dangerous without poison gas factored in but with that aspect too thing get a lot more dangerous and soldiers had to be well prepared to stay alive.
When and Where Was it Invented?
Poison Gas was debuted in WW1 at the battle on the western front of Ypres, Belgium but it was invented in Germany. Many believed Germany was the first to use it but the French actually were the first attack in Ypres yet Germany made the gasses popular.
Who Invented it?
Fritz Haber was the inventor of the first poison gas of WW1 which was Chlorine Gas. Fritz was also generally credited for keeping Germany's munitions and fertilizers in stock.
Why Was it Invented?
WW1 was considered a war of attrition because of trenches. Poison gas was a generally feared weapon and it was one of the few weapons with the ability to cause mass death within trenches.
Poison gasses were one of the few weapons during WW1 that could be used within trench warfare. The picture to the left depicts how they could be used in trench warfare. When poison gas first came along it was a very popular choice and most believed it would be a weapon to change the tides of war.
The first gas to be majorly used was Chlorine gas, it caused fatal choking fits. Soon after chlorine gas, phosgene gas and mustard gas came along. Phosgene gas was a more potent version of chlorine gas and Mustard gas was an odorless gas so it was popularly used that was know for causing internal and external blistering.
Problems
Common problems were when the gasses first came along they would occasionally blow back into the attackers territory. This problem was fixed with gas masks and enclosed shells like in the picture above.
Life With Poison Gas
Soldiers often described life dealing with poison gas protection as tiring, especially with gas masks. It was obviously a dangerous without poison gas factored in but with that aspect too thing get a lot more dangerous and soldiers had to be well prepared to stay alive.
When and Where Was it Invented?
Poison Gas was debuted in WW1 at the battle on the western front of Ypres, Belgium but it was invented in Germany. Many believed Germany was the first to use it but the French actually were the first attack in Ypres yet Germany made the gasses popular.
Who Invented it?
Fritz Haber was the inventor of the first poison gas of WW1 which was Chlorine Gas. Fritz was also generally credited for keeping Germany's munitions and fertilizers in stock.
Why Was it Invented?
WW1 was considered a war of attrition because of trenches. Poison gas was a generally feared weapon and it was one of the few weapons with the ability to cause mass death within trenches.
Impacts and Consequences of Weapon
The overall impact
Poison Gas changed the thoughts of many during the war, a lot of leaders believed poison gas would
" change the tides of war" and it did cause many deaths but after the war it was no longer used because it was believed to be a cruel weapon.
The overall impact
Poison Gas changed the thoughts of many during the war, a lot of leaders believed poison gas would
" change the tides of war" and it did cause many deaths but after the war it was no longer used because it was believed to be a cruel weapon.
Weapon's Effect
Poison Gas was very dangerous for soldiers near the front line, just breathing in these chemicals wold cause slow and painful death within 48 hours. Leaders of nations such as Germany and France were effected by the gas because they became very dependent on them and most National leaders said if the war would've gone into 1919 they planned on using poison gas in 30%-50% of manufactured shells.The gasses could also cause negative effects on citizens living near the battle field because the chemicals from the poison would often stay in the ground for a long time after the poison was let off. The gasses could also blow into the civilian's living area.
Poison Gas was very dangerous for soldiers near the front line, just breathing in these chemicals wold cause slow and painful death within 48 hours. Leaders of nations such as Germany and France were effected by the gas because they became very dependent on them and most National leaders said if the war would've gone into 1919 they planned on using poison gas in 30%-50% of manufactured shells.The gasses could also cause negative effects on citizens living near the battle field because the chemicals from the poison would often stay in the ground for a long time after the poison was let off. The gasses could also blow into the civilian's living area.
Pros and Cons of Poison Gas
Some obvious Pros for the oppressors would be that it killed in a risk free type of attack and it had the ability to kill within trenches which wasn't common with a lot of weapons during WW1.
Most cons would come from the side being attacked. It would be hard to know when a gas attack was coming; giving a limited amount of time to cover up and protect yourself against the attack. The gasses were also just bad for the environment in general, the chemicals would stay in the ground after and it obviously caused a certain degree of pollution.
Some obvious Pros for the oppressors would be that it killed in a risk free type of attack and it had the ability to kill within trenches which wasn't common with a lot of weapons during WW1.
Most cons would come from the side being attacked. It would be hard to know when a gas attack was coming; giving a limited amount of time to cover up and protect yourself against the attack. The gasses were also just bad for the environment in general, the chemicals would stay in the ground after and it obviously caused a certain degree of pollution.
Connections to Today
Although Chemical Warfare was official made illegal by the League of Nations in 1925, there have been a couple of modern day examples of poison gas attacks. One example would be in the 1980's when chemical weapons such as mustard gas and a chemical called Sarin, which can kill a person in minutes, was deployed by Iran during the Iran-Iraq War. The map to the left shows where these airborne chemical were dropped. Another example of Chemical warfare was in 2001; shortly after the September 11th terrorist attacks, letters containing chemicals such as Anthrax were mailed to major US officials/public figures and 5 were killed.
How it has made advancements
Although chemical warfare has been outlawed, it has clearly still been used throughout the years. Poison gasses have become more advanced in the way that hey have a lot of new kinds of poisons and new ways to deliver them have been thought of, such as mailing them.
The pictures below preview Navy Seals putting on gas masks and an image of 21st century poison gasses.
Although chemical warfare has been outlawed, it has clearly still been used throughout the years. Poison gasses have become more advanced in the way that hey have a lot of new kinds of poisons and new ways to deliver them have been thought of, such as mailing them.
The pictures below preview Navy Seals putting on gas masks and an image of 21st century poison gasses.
Sidney Flannery