World War I: The Use Of Biological And Chemical Warfare

The first World War has been reported to be one of the most brutal wars in the history of time for many reasons. One of those reasons was strategic usage of chemical warfare. Chemical gas was used on both sides of the line, which turned out to be fatal for many. World War I was mostly fought in the trenches, where soldiers lived in deep, v-shaped holes or underground bunkers. Both sides would occupy these trenches in order to escape from the constant stream of bullets. These battles often ended in a standoff, or tie, which helped the introduction of a different, brand new style of fighting that included the use of chemicals. These chemicals had a range of

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.

The tactics used in World War I were radically different than that of previous wars. The majority of the war was fought in the trenches, and the war itself seemed to have no end. Due to this, the psychological impact of the war was unlike anything that had been seen before. During the early days of the war, the soldiers, on both sides, seemed to lack the dedication that would have been necessary to exterminate their enemy. However, as the war progressed, the desire to avenge their fallen comrades overcame their ethics and they began to kill their enemy indiscriminately. Surviving soldiers experienced a phenomenon that was, at that time, referred to as shell shock. Today we refer to this phenomenon as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. At this time, this psychological condition was misunderstood and the doctors lacked the training necessary to effectively treat this condition.

With World War I being the first modern war, armies could do nothing more than dig trenches in defense. What made World War I the first modern war is all the new technologies that came with it. Technologies like gas masks, powered flight, and U-boats affected the war in a major way. During the war, both sides used poison gas against their enemies. The gas could destroy organs, cause blisters, or even kill the soldiers. Gas masks filtered the air to help keep soldiers protected from the gas. At first, aircrafts were used for spotting enemy positions, however, as the war went on they became used for bombing and fighting. Lastly, German submarines called U-boats were used to sink supply ships and later used to sink Allied and neutral ships.

The carnage of world war one was the result of the clash between new technologies, but old strategies. Blitzkrieg warfare would be the first form of modern military tactics for it fully utilizes the technological advancements of that time. The term “Blitzkrieg” was not invented by the Germans, but by an English magazine that described the invasion of Poland (Showalter). While many accredit the invention of Blitzkrieg warfare to Heinz Guderian, Germany's Chief of Mobile Troops during WWII, it was actually invented far before that. In fact, it was developed right after WWI after seeing the devastating effects of trench warfare(Showalter). Ironically, the basis of Blitzkrieg warfare was also laid by German Field Marshall Alfred von Schlieffen of the famous Schlieffen plan of WWI(Showalter). The basic essence of Blitzkrieg warfare was built upon the belief that Germany was always going to be out resourced and out numbered in every war and thus in order to win it, the Germans must strike hard and fast and penetrate deep behind enemy lines(Showalter). Thus, Blitzkrieg warfare was the most effective military tactic of its time because it utilized all of the technology of its time, it not only utilized physical warfare, but also psychological warfare, and because Germany’s opponents were not prepared for this kind of warfare.

World War Two was a massive war that occurred from 1939-1945, this war is known as the most violent war in the history of mankind spanning across many countries who were affected immensely. This war has had a great impact on our knowledge and there were many political, social and military implications of the war. During this time period, American life evolved from temporary changes to long term changes in various fields. World War Two brought about major expansion in medicine and nursing. More treatments were needed to heal wounds and infections on the battlefield. Also, researchers and medical experts helped to create new drugs. World War Two lasted around six years and during this time the army nurse corps was a great support. Although war naturally produces casualties resulting in medical and nursing advancements, World War Two had profound impact in the fields of medicine and nursing.

WW1 was one of the most deadliest wars to happen in all of all of mankind. The battle between the allies and central powers.With an estimated deaths of 37 million who were involved in the war. Not only were there big advances in technology,but also in the medical field.

In World War One diseases were one of the biggest problem for the solders due to lack of hygiene, medical assistance and little medicine. The most common diseases that the soldiers faced in the war were influenza, typhoid, trench foot, trench fever, malaria, dysentery and diabetes. These disease were caused by soldiers being exposed to cold, wet, windy and damp conditions.

The first World war chemical weapons were used then outlawed for combat. “Unlike when the U.S. was the only nuclear power and first used the technology against Japan without fear of reciprocation” ( The Ch.1 The Dangers). As a country we didn’t know the effects of a bomb on a living city, but now we know the consequences. Now what

Albert Einstein was a prominent twentieth century physicist who remarked, “I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.” Mr. Einstein was a distinguished figure in World War II. He was part of the Manhattan Project: the project that created the atomic bomb. This quote is important in the contemporary world because we reside in a world of perpetual warfare. Today, there are always threats of a World War III. I do not recognize exactly what weapons will be used, but there is a weapon that is capable of obliterating the entire Earth. It is the atomic bomb and has the power to decimate all of mankind. If used, the unconquerable bomb will wreak havoc and exterminate the whole Earth.

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.

War, according to the Oxford Dictionary, is “A state of armed conflict between different nations or states or different groups within a nation or state” (citation). War truly does bring out the worst of in the people involved, because in war the objective is to kill or capture enough of the opposing sides’ soldiers to show that your side is superior. Both sides will take any measures necessary to win, a few examples of this being Mustard gas, Ricin, Agent Orange, and Sarin . When guns and other weapons will not cut it, that’s when in the mind of the governments that chemical warfare became necessary . Since these four chemicals and many more have been used throughout history, the Chemical Warfare Convention banned all forms of chemical weapons, due to the lasting effects of the chemicals on both nations and individuals of those nations. The way the CWC defines a chemical weapon is a toxic chemical or its precursor that can cause death, injury, temporary incapacitation or sensory irritation through its chemical action.

Environmental problems - climate disruption and global famine - is another bad consequence of utilization of nuclear weapons. Nuclear weapons are not just powerful enough to destroy human beings, they are also potent enough to terminate the Earth. To confirm this, the article “Nuclear Famine” states that a regional nuclear war with 100 Hiroshima-sized weapons involved would devastate the global climate and agricultural production, which may push two billion people’s lives in danger. (International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, 2013) Also, Michael J. Mills, Owen B. Toon, Julia Lee- Taylor, and Alan Robock acknowledge another evidence to confirm this. A war with 100 nuclear weapons may increase UV radiation by 80 percent because

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

While Germany experimented with biological weapons in World War I, the Japanese military practiced biowarfare on a mass scale in the years leading up to and throughout World War II. China became the first nation to experience the horrors of World War II. During the invasion of China, Japanese forces used methods of warfare that led to mass death and suffering on new unimaginable level.