Many toxic gases were used in World War II.
Phosgene
Phosgene was first used in World War I by the French in 1915.
Phosgene is commonly available and widely used in pesticides, plastics and in many industries.
The effects of Phosgene were less immediate.
It is a suffocating gas, but it does not cause coughing and the effects turn up after a period of time. Normally about a day later, the soldiers started to feel the effects. In order to make the gas more “effective”, it was mixed with chlorine to make what is called White Star.
The White Star would cause harsher effects by damaging the eyes, burning into the skin, cause the lungs to burn and fill with fluid. White Star was used throughout World War I and was used against the Chinese by the Japanese Government during the Second Sino Japanese War in 1938.
Although in World War II, many amounts of Phosgene were stored and kept ready to be used, they were never put let out. Hitler was a victim of a gas attack in World War I and decided that it will not be used in the war.
Comment: It seems like a positive that Hitler was a victim of the gas attack in World War I because that might have been the reason why Hitler did not use toxic gases in World War II. The positives of chemical gases in wars are probably that a lot of casualties can result in the enemy troops without the need of wasting expensive missiles and bombs, artillery. However, some of the negatives are that even their own troops can be affected if they miscalculate the wind speed and direction. My thoughts about using gases at all as warfare are very negative because it will destroy the environment of the area and other living organisms. Also, it is highly likely that the neighboring civilians will result with polluted water, air and land.
Phosgene is commonly available and widely used in pesticides, plastics and in many industries.
The effects of Phosgene were less immediate.
It is a suffocating gas, but it does not cause coughing and the effects turn up after a period of time. Normally about a day later, the soldiers started to feel the effects. In order to make the gas more “effective”, it was mixed with chlorine to make what is called White Star.
The White Star would cause harsher effects by damaging the eyes, burning into the skin, cause the lungs to burn and fill with fluid. White Star was used throughout World War I and was used against the Chinese by the Japanese Government during the Second Sino Japanese War in 1938.
Although in World War II, many amounts of Phosgene were stored and kept ready to be used, they were never put let out. Hitler was a victim of a gas attack in World War I and decided that it will not be used in the war.
Comment: It seems like a positive that Hitler was a victim of the gas attack in World War I because that might have been the reason why Hitler did not use toxic gases in World War II. The positives of chemical gases in wars are probably that a lot of casualties can result in the enemy troops without the need of wasting expensive missiles and bombs, artillery. However, some of the negatives are that even their own troops can be affected if they miscalculate the wind speed and direction. My thoughts about using gases at all as warfare are very negative because it will destroy the environment of the area and other living organisms. Also, it is highly likely that the neighboring civilians will result with polluted water, air and land.
Mustard Gas/Mustard Yellow
Mustard Gas was first used by the Germans at Ypres in France during WWI.
Mustard Gas produces blisters all over the body. The gas did not cause an immediate effect, but rather it took hours for the symptoms to show up. The blisters that form are large in size filled with yellowish plasma and they take a relatively long time to heal.
There were many experiments that were carried out with mustard gas. In the United States Chemical Warfare Service, around 4, 000 Americans troops participated in the mustard gas experiments; Most of them were volunteers who got an exemption of physically going to war and were given the opportunity to participate in poison gas tests. Although the United States never employed poison gases, the tests continued will the end of war. In at least 9 of the research projects, the government scientists experimented how different races would react to mustard gas exposures. Around 60,000 soldiers were subjected to the tests. The men got burns and blisters on the skin of the face, hands, underarms, buttock and genitals. The pain would last for months and the blisters and sores would also last for months. And the hypothesis that the government
scientists had was that they assumed that African Americans with thicker skin would be immune and more protected to the gas than whites which turned out to be false.
Comment: I think that the United States giving an alternative to the conscription in this kind of way is morally wrong. Scientists and researchers at the time probably had a very clear idea that these gases were poisonous and although a small exposure would not kill, you, it will harm you for sure and put you in pain for months and months. Not only was the experiments violating the rights of the soldiers, it was highly racists and rude toward the black population. If the scientists’ hypothesis was true, what would they have done? They would have probably got more black Americans to suffer the poisonous gases. I do not know about others, but it sounds highly racist.
In World War II Germany carried out various experiments using mustard gas. Lewisite and other poisonous gases were experimented with at Natzweler and Sachsenhausen concentration camps.
Mustard gas was used once again by Poles against the Germans during the Invasion of 1939.
Irony of the SS John Harvey: The city of Bari in southwestern Italy was newly set as American Fifteenth Air Force headquarters. On the afternoon of December 2, 1943, a squadron of Junkers Ju-88 bombers bombed Bari. John Harvey, commanded by Captain Elwin F. Knowles was no different from the others in the harbor. However, in a secret cargo, around 100 tons of mustard gas was stored on board. It was prepared as precaution, only to use when the Germans resort to the chemical warfare. The poison gas shipment was a complete secrecy. Even the captain, Knowles was not officially aware about the gas. The attack caused John Harvey to blow up, disappearing into a huge mushroom-shaped fireball. Everyone on board was killed instantly. The mustard gas had mixed with the oil and also released in the air. The morning after the bombing, the survivors woke up in the scene of devastation. Most parts of the city were in shatters and the wounded started to have symptoms of contacting poison gas. The worst was that they did not realize that they were dealing with poison gas and allowed the victims to remain in their oil and gas soaked clothes for long periods. Many men died and those that recovered faced a long and painful convalescence. The irony in this was that the Germans were not the suspects, but it was the Allies who were to blame. In despite of trying to recover and look after those who had to suffer from the Allies’ faults, the government authorities including the British Prime Minister Winston S. Churchill tried to keep it a secret because it was embarrassing that the raid happened under British jurisdiction and publicizing the huge lose may put up the German pride.
Comment: Even though the Allies brought Mustard Gas secretly, I do not think that there should be any fault with it because in times of war, sometimes, there are times that publicity is not the best thing because in can enter the ears of the enemy. However, these kinds of deeds are only allowed in times of war which proves that wars are violent and cruel. My only problem with this event is that the government officials tried to remain it to be a secret while many victims were either dead or suffering horrendously. Those victims in the end did not have their rights because of the government’s pride and fear of boosting up the enemy’s pride.
Mustard Gas produces blisters all over the body. The gas did not cause an immediate effect, but rather it took hours for the symptoms to show up. The blisters that form are large in size filled with yellowish plasma and they take a relatively long time to heal.
There were many experiments that were carried out with mustard gas. In the United States Chemical Warfare Service, around 4, 000 Americans troops participated in the mustard gas experiments; Most of them were volunteers who got an exemption of physically going to war and were given the opportunity to participate in poison gas tests. Although the United States never employed poison gases, the tests continued will the end of war. In at least 9 of the research projects, the government scientists experimented how different races would react to mustard gas exposures. Around 60,000 soldiers were subjected to the tests. The men got burns and blisters on the skin of the face, hands, underarms, buttock and genitals. The pain would last for months and the blisters and sores would also last for months. And the hypothesis that the government
scientists had was that they assumed that African Americans with thicker skin would be immune and more protected to the gas than whites which turned out to be false.
Comment: I think that the United States giving an alternative to the conscription in this kind of way is morally wrong. Scientists and researchers at the time probably had a very clear idea that these gases were poisonous and although a small exposure would not kill, you, it will harm you for sure and put you in pain for months and months. Not only was the experiments violating the rights of the soldiers, it was highly racists and rude toward the black population. If the scientists’ hypothesis was true, what would they have done? They would have probably got more black Americans to suffer the poisonous gases. I do not know about others, but it sounds highly racist.
In World War II Germany carried out various experiments using mustard gas. Lewisite and other poisonous gases were experimented with at Natzweler and Sachsenhausen concentration camps.
Mustard gas was used once again by Poles against the Germans during the Invasion of 1939.
Irony of the SS John Harvey: The city of Bari in southwestern Italy was newly set as American Fifteenth Air Force headquarters. On the afternoon of December 2, 1943, a squadron of Junkers Ju-88 bombers bombed Bari. John Harvey, commanded by Captain Elwin F. Knowles was no different from the others in the harbor. However, in a secret cargo, around 100 tons of mustard gas was stored on board. It was prepared as precaution, only to use when the Germans resort to the chemical warfare. The poison gas shipment was a complete secrecy. Even the captain, Knowles was not officially aware about the gas. The attack caused John Harvey to blow up, disappearing into a huge mushroom-shaped fireball. Everyone on board was killed instantly. The mustard gas had mixed with the oil and also released in the air. The morning after the bombing, the survivors woke up in the scene of devastation. Most parts of the city were in shatters and the wounded started to have symptoms of contacting poison gas. The worst was that they did not realize that they were dealing with poison gas and allowed the victims to remain in their oil and gas soaked clothes for long periods. Many men died and those that recovered faced a long and painful convalescence. The irony in this was that the Germans were not the suspects, but it was the Allies who were to blame. In despite of trying to recover and look after those who had to suffer from the Allies’ faults, the government authorities including the British Prime Minister Winston S. Churchill tried to keep it a secret because it was embarrassing that the raid happened under British jurisdiction and publicizing the huge lose may put up the German pride.
Comment: Even though the Allies brought Mustard Gas secretly, I do not think that there should be any fault with it because in times of war, sometimes, there are times that publicity is not the best thing because in can enter the ears of the enemy. However, these kinds of deeds are only allowed in times of war which proves that wars are violent and cruel. My only problem with this event is that the government officials tried to remain it to be a secret while many victims were either dead or suffering horrendously. Those victims in the end did not have their rights because of the government’s pride and fear of boosting up the enemy’s pride.
Dew of Death
Dew of Death is now called Lewisite and it is a similar blistering gas like the mustard gas. It was first developed in a research chemistry thesis at The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. By the end of World War II, it became obsolete because a British discovery, dimercaprol, was an effective agent to counteract its effects.
Nerve -Gas Agents
Some of the most dangerous and secret chemical weapons were developed in Germany.
TABUN - Discovered in 1937
SARIN - First synthesized in 1939.
These chemicals were both descovered by Dr Gerhard Schrader who was a research chemist at the IG Farben Company in Frankfurt am Main in Germany.
Next was:
SOMAN - developed early in 1944 by Dr. Richard Kuhn in Germany. it is also called GD.
Nerve gas attack the nervous system of the body and cause nausea, vomiting, muscular twitching, convultion cessation of breathing and death. Many countries had stockpiles of the Nerve -Gas agents. For example, Germany had 7,000 tons of Sarin alone, Americans and the British also had stockpiles of Nerve- Gas agents.
Interestingly enough, despite the ability of destruction to use nerve - gas agents in the battle, they were not used.
Comment: it is very questioning why both sides did not use Nerve-Gas agents in World War II. Was it only just because Hitler was a victim of poisonous gasses in World War I? Or was it because the use allies and the axis powers were very kind and realized that the use of poisonous gases will damage the civilians more than the soldiers? I think that the poisonous gases were not used in general because they were not as controllable as other forms of weapons such as bombs where they can specifically target.
TABUN - Discovered in 1937
SARIN - First synthesized in 1939.
These chemicals were both descovered by Dr Gerhard Schrader who was a research chemist at the IG Farben Company in Frankfurt am Main in Germany.
Next was:
SOMAN - developed early in 1944 by Dr. Richard Kuhn in Germany. it is also called GD.
Nerve gas attack the nervous system of the body and cause nausea, vomiting, muscular twitching, convultion cessation of breathing and death. Many countries had stockpiles of the Nerve -Gas agents. For example, Germany had 7,000 tons of Sarin alone, Americans and the British also had stockpiles of Nerve- Gas agents.
Interestingly enough, despite the ability of destruction to use nerve - gas agents in the battle, they were not used.
Comment: it is very questioning why both sides did not use Nerve-Gas agents in World War II. Was it only just because Hitler was a victim of poisonous gasses in World War I? Or was it because the use allies and the axis powers were very kind and realized that the use of poisonous gases will damage the civilians more than the soldiers? I think that the poisonous gases were not used in general because they were not as controllable as other forms of weapons such as bombs where they can specifically target.
The following clip is from the 1963 film Nerve Agents available in Youtube. It shortly discusses about the nerve agents developed in Germany and how it was a warfare that was not used.
References
Ford, Brian J. "Doctors at War." Secret Weapons: Technology, Science& the Race to Win World
War II. Oxford: Osprey, 2011. N. pag. Print.
"Featured Articles Archive." Defense Treaty Inspection Readiness Program.
N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2013.
"World War II: German Raid on Bari." HIstorynet.com. N.p., 12 June 2006. Web. 21 Apr. 2013.
< http://www.historynet.com/world-war-ii-german-raid-on-bari.htm>.
War II. Oxford: Osprey, 2011. N. pag. Print.
"Featured Articles Archive." Defense Treaty Inspection Readiness Program.
N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2013.
"World War II: German Raid on Bari." HIstorynet.com. N.p., 12 June 2006. Web. 21 Apr. 2013.
< http://www.historynet.com/world-war-ii-german-raid-on-bari.htm>.
Image References
"This Is War." Phosgene. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2013.
< http://thisiswarblog.wordpress.com/2012/12/12/fighting-dirty-chemical-warfares-worst-
offenders/phosgene/>.
"Neatorama."Neatorama. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2013.
< http://www.neatorama.com/2010/01/25/wwii-poison-gas-warning-posters/>.
McLean, Archie. "U.S. Did 'race-based' Testing of Poison Gas on Soldiers in WWII: Study." LiveLeak.com.
N.p., 9 Jan. 2009. Web. 19 Apr. 2013
< http://thisiswarblog.wordpress.com/2012/12/12/fighting-dirty-chemical-warfares-worst-
offenders/phosgene/>.
"Neatorama."Neatorama. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2013.
< http://www.neatorama.com/2010/01/25/wwii-poison-gas-warning-posters/>.
McLean, Archie. "U.S. Did 'race-based' Testing of Poison Gas on Soldiers in WWII: Study." LiveLeak.com.
N.p., 9 Jan. 2009. Web. 19 Apr. 2013