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On this Day in History; World War I Changes
Topic Started: Apr 22 2006, 05:26 AM (90 Views)
George K
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Finally
GERMANS INTRODUCE POISON GAS:
April 22, 1915

On April 22, 1915, German forces shock Allied soldiers along the western front
by firing more than 150 tons of lethal chlorine gas against two French colonial
divisions at Ypres, Belgium. This was the first major gas attack by the Germans,
and it devastated the Allied line.Toxic smoke has been used occasionally in
warfare since ancient times, and in 1912 the French used small amounts of tear
gas in police operations. At the outbreak of World War I, the Germans began
actively to develop chemical weapons.

In October 1914, the Germans placed some
small tear-gas canisters in shells that were fired at Neuve Chapelle, France,
but Allied troops were not exposed. In January 1915, the Germans fired shells
loaded with xylyl bromide, a more lethal gas, at Russian troops at Bolimov on
the eastern front. Because of the wintry cold, most of the gas froze, but the
Russians nonetheless reported more than 1,000 killed as a result of the new
weapon.

On April 22, 1915, the Germans launched their first and only offensive of
the year. Known as the Second Battle of Ypres, the offensive began with the
usual artillery bombardment of the enemy's line. When the shelling died down,
the Allied defenders waited for the first wave of German attack troops but
instead were thrown into panic when chlorine gas wafted across no-man's land and
down into their trenches.
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justme
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HOLY CARP!!!
George K
Apr 22 2006, 09:26 AM
GERMANS INTRODUCE POISON GAS:
April 22, 1915

On April 22, 1915, German forces shock Allied soldiers along the western front
by firing more than 150 tons of lethal chlorine gas against two French colonial
divisions at Ypres, Belgium. This was the first major gas attack by the Germans,
and it devastated the Allied line.Toxic smoke has been used occasionally in
warfare since ancient times, and in 1912 the French used small amounts of tear
gas in police operations. At the outbreak of World War I, the Germans began
actively to develop chemical weapons.

In October 1914, the Germans placed some
small tear-gas canisters in shells that were fired at Neuve Chapelle, France,
but Allied troops were not exposed. In January 1915, the Germans fired shells
loaded with xylyl bromide, a more lethal gas, at Russian troops at Bolimov on
the eastern front. Because of the wintry cold, most of the gas froze, but the
Russians nonetheless reported more than 1,000 killed as a result of the new
weapon.

On April 22, 1915, the Germans launched their first and only offensive of
the year. Known as the Second Battle of Ypres, the offensive began with the
usual artillery bombardment of the enemy's line. When the shelling died down,
the Allied defenders waited for the first wave of German attack troops but
instead were thrown into panic when chlorine gas wafted across no-man's land and
down into their trenches.

What a God-awful war.

But, then I guess all wars are God-awful.
"Men sway more towards hussies." G-D3
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John D'Oh
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MAMIL
justme
Apr 22 2006, 03:02 PM

What a God-awful war.

But, then I guess all wars are God-awful.

The British historian John Keegan says that what distinguished this war in terms of tactics employed was that the technology for attack very much outstripped that for defence, leading to an almost total disregard for the lives of one's own troops, since there wasn't much they could do to defend against machine guns, gas and tanks. The uniforms employed were much the same as those used in the 19th century, but the bombs and bullets were much improved, hence a loss of life on a scale unknown previously.
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JBryan
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I am the grey one
The tactics had not kept up with the technology. Full frontal assaults on positions defended by just a few machine guns were just plain suicidal. Indeed, it was the same in the American Civil War resulting in dreadful carnage. Pickett's Charge is just one example of many on both sides. It took World War I to finally break military leaders of 18th century tactics.
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