Gas Attacks in WWI

Gas Attacks in WWI

The Use of Chemical Weapons

• Chemical weapons were ruled illegal by the Hague Convention.

• Despite this, they were used in World War I.

• Tear Gas was first used by the French.

• The Germans were the first to use deadly chlorine gas.

Tear Gas

Considered a chemical weapon by many countries (not including the US), but it is not deadly.

Chlorine Gas

-Easily visible on the battlefield

-Slow moving

-Deadly in large amounts

Phosgene Gas

-Deadly, invisible

-Killed more soldiers than any other gas used during the war

-Death was not immediate, and the effects of the gas were often delayed.

Mustard Gas

-Harmful on contact.

-Led to painful blisters and wounds.

-Could cause blindness.

-Can cause a lingering death.

-Difficult to counteract and defend against.