POISON GASES
by aafreen shajahan
A soldiers worst nightmare during World War 1 would be to encounter poison gas. Coming in contact with poison would be an automatic death ticket. Unlike artillery which resulted in a quick and merciful death, poison gas would wear down the opponent with a slow, long, and painful passing. Toxic mustard gasses were concealed into canisters and soldiers had to accurately use the wind to their advantage while trying to throw the gases at their opponents. Many times this has backfired and hit the thrower of the gas, but there was only a 50% chance of that happening. This weapon was initially used by the French during the beginning of World war 1 against the Germans in the Battle of ypres. But it was the German army who gave significant study towards these vapors. Fritz Haber was the father of poison gas. After World War I, the Allies named Fritz Haber a war criminal and requested his withdrawal, attempting to hide the chemist in Switzerland in 1919. The Allies took that action because Haber proposed the use of chlorine gas on Allied troops to the German Command in 1914. The weapons advocate proposed the use of chemicals in war to take down the enemy without tiring the soldiers, and to make defeating the opposing army easier. It was a true impact from Industrialization and showed the increases used of advanced technology in war.
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The Impact and consequnces
Overall Impact
What first started as a cowardly form of warfare, turned into a physiological rotting of the brain. It had a profound impact on soldiers, and even alerted commanders on both sides with its lasting effects. Although the killing capacity was limited and the machine gun killed more soldiers overall during the war, poison gas could be used in the trenches even when no attack was going on. It was a major military innovation, but it didn't do the job of killed mass amounts of people, only burning off their flesh, inducing coma, or inflicting long term pain. It was more of a torture weapon of sorts. It was a major influence with the introduction new warfare, but it did not have much of an impact on the battle field because of its ability to avoid it using gas masks.
What first started as a cowardly form of warfare, turned into a physiological rotting of the brain. It had a profound impact on soldiers, and even alerted commanders on both sides with its lasting effects. Although the killing capacity was limited and the machine gun killed more soldiers overall during the war, poison gas could be used in the trenches even when no attack was going on. It was a major military innovation, but it didn't do the job of killed mass amounts of people, only burning off their flesh, inducing coma, or inflicting long term pain. It was more of a torture weapon of sorts. It was a major influence with the introduction new warfare, but it did not have much of an impact on the battle field because of its ability to avoid it using gas masks.
Impacts on the Front line and Surrounding Civilians
The front line of soldiers were the ones in charge of launching the gases at enemy trenches. These soldiers had a very important job; once the winds are flowing to the disadvantage of the receiving combatant, canisters were projected behind enemy lines. The enemies on the front line usually obtained the full blown impact of this weapon. Most people that are placed in the front line are killed due to its suffocating odor, denseness, and its way of attacking the respiratory system. Civilians in neighboring areas also had to endure the affects of the poison gas. Gases can travel though air leading to people not involved in the war to suffer from irritation in the eye and throat, vomiting, as well as difficulty breathing.
The front line of soldiers were the ones in charge of launching the gases at enemy trenches. These soldiers had a very important job; once the winds are flowing to the disadvantage of the receiving combatant, canisters were projected behind enemy lines. The enemies on the front line usually obtained the full blown impact of this weapon. Most people that are placed in the front line are killed due to its suffocating odor, denseness, and its way of attacking the respiratory system. Civilians in neighboring areas also had to endure the affects of the poison gas. Gases can travel though air leading to people not involved in the war to suffer from irritation in the eye and throat, vomiting, as well as difficulty breathing.
Warring Nations and Their Difficulties
The leaders of the warring nations had a difficult time with the usage of poison gas. Due to the mass amount deaths and casualties caused by poison gas. Their decisions had to be made to precisely to benefit their troops, but to also take out their opponent.
The leaders of the warring nations had a difficult time with the usage of poison gas. Due to the mass amount deaths and casualties caused by poison gas. Their decisions had to be made to precisely to benefit their troops, but to also take out their opponent.
Pros and Cons
As much as poison gas was a giant step towards the usage of technology in war, it had many disadvantages that were looked over. For example, poison gas relied mostly on weather. It is was too windy or rainy then it was an inadequate weapon. If they did use poison gases in windy weather, there was a likely chance of the gas to backfire and blow back at the army who initiated the attack. It would kill their own troops. The US had almost 20,000 of their own soldiers killed through misusage of poison gas. Not only did it kill soldiers, it also killed surrounding civilians. There were also ways around the consequences of poison gas such as gas masks. But when used correctly, it could do some serious damage. It took almost 100,00 lives and 1 million casualties. It caused for enemy troops to retreat, temporary blindness, and disabled soldiers. It was also fairly cheap to supply and arm solders with.
As much as poison gas was a giant step towards the usage of technology in war, it had many disadvantages that were looked over. For example, poison gas relied mostly on weather. It is was too windy or rainy then it was an inadequate weapon. If they did use poison gases in windy weather, there was a likely chance of the gas to backfire and blow back at the army who initiated the attack. It would kill their own troops. The US had almost 20,000 of their own soldiers killed through misusage of poison gas. Not only did it kill soldiers, it also killed surrounding civilians. There were also ways around the consequences of poison gas such as gas masks. But when used correctly, it could do some serious damage. It took almost 100,00 lives and 1 million casualties. It caused for enemy troops to retreat, temporary blindness, and disabled soldiers. It was also fairly cheap to supply and arm solders with.
Connections to Today
Modern Uses
Many improvements have been made since World War 1 where chemical weapons have reached new heights. Now chemical weapons have been engineered to carry deadly diseases to inflict upon enemies.
Many improvements have been made since World War 1 where chemical weapons have reached new heights. Now chemical weapons have been engineered to carry deadly diseases to inflict upon enemies.
Has it Improved?
Gas weapons have not improved very much due to its banment from warfare after the mass destruction it has created since World War one. But it has been speculated that Countried have made their own advanced forms of chemicla induced weapons, but have had no reports of using them. There are only a couple instinces which have been displayed for public view.
Gas weapons have not improved very much due to its banment from warfare after the mass destruction it has created since World War one. But it has been speculated that Countried have made their own advanced forms of chemicla induced weapons, but have had no reports of using them. There are only a couple instinces which have been displayed for public view.
How is it used today
There has been recent evidence which reported finding use of chemical warfare during the Iran-Iraq war between 1983 and 1988 and subsequently against the Kurds. Japan reportedly used plague and other bacteria in the war against China in the 1930s and 1940s.
There has been recent evidence which reported finding use of chemical warfare during the Iran-Iraq war between 1983 and 1988 and subsequently against the Kurds. Japan reportedly used plague and other bacteria in the war against China in the 1930s and 1940s.
RESOURCES CITED