Poison Gas

What was the role of poison gas in the First World War?

The role of gas was to try and help soldiers break into enemy trenches. Gas would cause terror or incapacitate the enemy. It was released from canisters into no-mans-land.

What was poison gas like in 1914?

Poison gas was not used in 1914 but introduced during the battles of 1915:

• ❖ Chlorine gas was first used by the Germans at the Second Battle of Ypres in 1915.
• ❖ It was released into no-man's land from special canisters hidden in the front line.
• ❖ Thousands of French and Canadian soldiers suffocated or fled in terror from the choking green cloud.
• ❖ In revenge the British used chlorine gas at the Battle of Loos in September 1915. But winds blew the gas back into the British trenches, gassing more of the attacking troops than the Germans.
• ❖ During 1915, all sides began using phosgene and chlorine gas which suffocated and blinded soldiers.

How did poison gas improve during the war?

There were 3 key developments for poison gas during the war:

• ❖ By 1917, more lethal gases were developed e.g. mustard gas which burned the skin and lungs.
• ❖ Gas shells were introduced and fired at enemy lines to overcome earlier problems of wind direction.
• ❖ Specialised gas masks and protective clothing were developed for soldiers, dogs, horses and pigeons, all of whom served in the front lines and were at risk of gas attack.

What impact did poison gas have?

Gas was more of a psychological weapon and did not have a large impact on breaking the stalemate. Gas casualties made up only a small percentage of total casualties as scientists developed effective gas masks. Only 3,000 British troops were killed by gas.