Evolution Of Chemical Warfare

Chemical warfare, while horrible, proved to be unwieldy and unpredictable, and relatively easy to counter. After some limited successes against unprepared opponents, the use of chemical gas had very little tactical benefit; the recognition of this limited utility is that after widespread use in 1915 - except for the short-lived effects of the introduction of mustard gas in 1917 - gas was abandoned by both sides as an effective tactic.

Frist of all, in the Second Battle of Ypres, the Germans introduced the first use of poisonous gas. When poison gas first introduced it was a popular weapon choice and would be the weapon to change the outcome of the war. The Germans surprisingly attack the Allies, where the used lethal chloride gas against them. The gas was deadly and killed over one thousand soldiers. (1) It also allowed a significant advanced for the Germans in the war. The gas usage continued to grow throughout the war. In the end, many Allied countries started chemical weapons research. Gas warfare became common but effective actions were used to protect the troops. After World War 1, poison was use for a while but in today’s war it is no longer allowed. Instead of poisonous gas, chemical warfare is used. Chemical weapons come in a variety of forms and are used for several different techniques.

In means of protecting the Germans against phosgene poisoning, some scientists examined the effect it had on subjects’ lungs. Prisoners were also subjected to mustard gas to test possible antidotes for the poisoning. They found that besides local irritation to the skin, eyes, and upper respiratory tract, the lungs were the target organ of the phosgene gas. Even at low concentrations phosgene would destroy the enzymes in the lungs, causing fluid to build up and lead to death by drowning. The knowledge of this dangerous gas has led to the saving of lives of those who lived near the manufacturing plant.

One of the many advancements made during the duration of World War I was that of poisonous gasses. These gasses were considered “uncivilized” before the beginning of the first World War. However, they were deemed necessary to overcome the standoff between the Allied forces and the Central Powers. The French army was the first to use such a weapon in 1914, but the Germans were the first to use poisonous gasses on a large scale. The German’s first recorded use of

At the beginning of World War I, the use of chemical weapons was still very much taboo. Not only did mankind have a universal aversion to the use of poison but there was also the 1899 Hague Convention Respecting the Laws and Customs of War on Land that prohibited "poison or poisoned weapons" as permissible in war (#Tucker, 2006).

Chemical Warfare is defined as “Tactical warfare using incendiary mixtures, smokes, or irritant, burning or asphyxiating gases”. This is the usage of a chemical to harm the opposing side in order to get an advantage in the war at hand. Three of the main chemical weapons used during World War 1 were Lachrymator (tear), Chlorine and Phosgene, and Mustard gas. Chemical warfare was overall effective in World War 1 because it added to the weaponry needed to win the war.

World War I was made even worse by the work of industrial chemists. Soldiers from Ypres, Belgium would claim that a shimmering cloud appeared around their feet and a strange peppery smell in the air in 1917. This gave it its well-known name. Within a day, they have shown signs of severe itching that were caused by dreadful blisters and other wounds. Some stated to be coughing up body fluid. Near the end of the war, it instilled terror across the battlefield. Leaving up to 10,000 people dead and more injured. Mustard gas was created in 1822, but it wasn’t well-known as harmful till 1860.

At the Battle of Ypres, the Germans released a cloud of chlorine gas that moved slowly toward the Allies trench (Simkin). The French were completely unprepared so many climbed out of the trench and ran away. German chemist Fritz Haber developed the gas for use in war. The Chlorine gas causes wheezing, coughing, and fluid build up in the lungs leading to a painful death of asphyxiation (White). Arthur Guy Empey said, “There's a sort of greenish, yellow cloud rolling along the ground out in front, it's coming ---” “German gas is heavier than air and soon fills the trenches and dugouts.” “Out of our crew of six, we lost two killed and two wounded.” (Empey) Other gasses like mustard gas and phosgene were used. Mustard gas was not used to kill people however it severely maimed them. Mustard gas caused large blisters on contact and blindness. Phosgene worked very similarly to chlorine gas, however, it was invisible allowing it to remain undetected (CDC). Chemical warfare has since been banned around the world. Barbed wire also changed the course of

The countries were not justified for their use of chemical weapons in World War I because of its mass destruction of humans and to the environment. Although it did help weaken the enemy, there were many other weapons that could have been used. The addition of chemical weapons only made it easier for more soldiers to be unreasonably killed in large numbers. Even if the soldiers did survive, they would develop cancers and many health problems. Because the wind can carry the remnants of the gases, it could travel back to the the area where it came from or possibly into civilian life. Either way, everyone was at risk of inhaling the gases, not just the enemy. Furthermore, the use of chemical weapons caused damage to the environment, contaminating

Chemical warfare was a major component of World War I. The use of poison gas was first used during this war. This new invention was easy to use with trench warfare because it could kill multiple numbers of soldiers at one time. The types of poison gas used were tear gas, chlorine gas, and mustard gas. Tear gas caused temporary blindness and serious irritation to the nose and throat of the victims (independent.co.uk). Chlorine gas causes a burning pain in the throat and eyes with a difficulty to breath (vlib.us). The symptoms of mustard gas are mustard colored blisters on your skin and inside of you if you inhale the gas (firstworldwar.com). These gases can be deadly. Poison gas changed warfare because it caused so many casualties. It stays

The purpose of this essay is to deal with the fact that chemical warfare should be brought back to modern warfare strategies. As Warren Rudman said, “And they will tell you unequivocally that if we have a chemical or biological attack or a nuclear attack anywhere in this country, they are unprepared to deal with it today, and that is of high urgency.” Rudman’s words are true in what they say and that we should do everything to counter-act his statement. Biological weapons are a key to outstanding success in war and therefore, I strongly suggest that chemical warfare is an effective and producible weapon tactic that can be used on today’s battlefield.

These are just a few examples of many accounts of the use of chemical and biological agents in war.

The first military nerve agent GA (ethyl-N-dimethyl-phosphoroamidocynate) was discovered in Germany. After this discovery it was weaponized along with GB (sarine) and GD (soman) together creating the “G-series”. England then found approximately 4 years later the V-series including VX.

Chemical weapons are toxic gases, which use in the wars such as World War 1. Chemical weapons used in First World War and they killed a lot of people even children. In addition, chemical weapons are unless color, so people can’t see them. Also, most of people who died through the First World War were civilians. Therefore, who were responsible about them? In addition, people who survived had dangerous and permanent diseases such as cancer, asthma … etc. Even people’s genes effected by these toxic gases and they cause a lot of genetic problems that appeared in a second generation. Even soldiers who were pushed to this war. Then, they died or effected who were responsible about their families. In addition chemical weapons burned a lot of trees and they changed plant characteristics. Also, these gases can react with others to change air and weather characteristics. Therefore, chemical weapons effect on our

There has been war since man has been on Earth. Over time, war tactics, weapon, armor, and even the soldier has changed. The main weapon that has changed the battlefield has been the use of chemicals to stun, immobilize, or cause death. Chemical warfare isn’t a new form of fighting; it has been around since 400 B.C., but even a powerful and versatile weapon has its disadvantages. Nature always finds a way to fight in a battle too. The threat of a chemical attack haunts every country today. The extreme tension in the Middle East leaves the United States crippled because of their supply of chemical weapons and nervous about what the future will hold. The advancements in chemistry has altered the war front since its introduction during