![]() In the same year, French military chemists began to utilise an even more potent substance called phosgene. An unexpected wind change blew the gas away from the German trenches some of it reached the British line and killed soldiers there. The first Allied chlorine gas attack at the Battle of Loos (September 1915) was disastrous. British chemists were quick to develop and manufacture their own weaponised form of chlorine gas. Incensed by Germany’s use of poison gas, the Allies began expanding their own stocks. Even holding a rag soaked with water or urine over one’s mouth and nose offered some protection. Gas masks containing chemically-impregnated cotton filters were effective at protecting soldiers from chlorine gas. It did not take long for them to develop strategies and counter-measures to deal with chlorine attacks. Once inhaled, chlorine gas infiltrated and corroded the lungs, causing painful suffocation and excruciating death. The initial deployment of chlorine against French, British and Canadian troops was both devastating and caused considerable panic in Allied ranks. This was followed soon after by a noxious smell reminiscent of swimming pools and bleach. It drifted at ground level, appearing as a pale green cloud. Chlorine gasĪround this time, German scientists were also busy refining and producing chlorine, a gas designed to kill rather than injure or hinder.Ī by-product of clothing manufacture, chlorine gas was released upwind of enemy positions. This heavier, more sustained deployment had greater impact. In January 1915, the Germans employed chemical warfare on a larger scale by launching a barrage of tear gas shells against Russian soldiers. As a consequence, they had little military impact. ![]() These early attempts used small amounts of gas which either froze or were quickly dispersed by the weather. The French used tear gas in grenades in the opening months of the war and the Germans reciprocated soon after. The first deployments of poison gas were with irritants like tear gas, which was intended to inconvenience and temporarily disable the enemy rather than cause death.
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