Mustard Gas
Mustard gas, which wasn't developed and used until World War I. There are a couple misconceptions the first being that it was the German's who first deployed gas agents against armies. It was in fact the French although arguably far more benign than what would be later developed.
The French used an early form of Tear Gas (xylyl bromide), but it would be the German's that continue experimenting different concoctions. On April 22, 1915 the German's would use a new more deadly form of gas. Using Chlorine filled howitzer shells; the Germans began shelling the front lines during the second battle of the Ypres.
The French used an early form of Tear Gas (xylyl bromide), but it would be the German's that continue experimenting different concoctions. On April 22, 1915 the German's would use a new more deadly form of gas. Using Chlorine filled howitzer shells; the Germans began shelling the front lines during the second battle of the Ypres.
The liquid gas would be fired behind enemy lines in the hope that the wind current would pull the heavy gas back on the enemy trench line. Being that the gas cloud was heavy, it clung close to the ground and was not something that rose up and dissipated very well. A common issue however was that once the gas was released there was no way of controlling where the deadly vapors went. Often times when gas was employed it would creep its way back to the side that fired it leaving thousands scarred by friendly fire.