In the never ending struggle to gain the advantage on its enemy, both sides were constantly developing new ways to defeat the other. Amongst these differing types of war-craft was one of the most controversial, the use of gas as a weapon on the battle ground.
As a weapon, it was dependent on weather condition, including wind, rain and humidity. The effect on the human body varied on the type being used, but all quite debilitating and sometimes fatal. As well as causing breathing difficulties to surviving victims, it could also burn the skin, soft tissue and cause blindness. Long after the war, reports were made regarding illnesses later on in life, directly as a result of its use.
The use of any poison gas in this environment contravened two declarations set well before the First World war and as such was regarded as a war crime, of which most governments were guilty. The French being the first to deploy its use and although causing many deaths, its initial use was fairly ineffective. Britain also used this method, but due to a technical error, many failed to go off and falling in no-mans land only to be exploded by German artillery and blow in the allied direction.
Innovative as ever, the Germans developed the most deadly and effective of all the poison gases to be used, Known as mustard gas, it caused four times as many deaths and being heavier than air, it was able to settle on hit areas and stay active for weeks.
Generally, a very small percentage of the war dead were due to poison gas, however the fear of its use and the panic caused must have been yet another daily threat to the trench soldier
World War One 