The first occurrence of chemical weapons being used in war was in 1915. German military troops killed thousands of people with chlorine gas. Chemical weapons ordinarily fall under the “blister, nerve, choking, blood and riot-control agents” (Tristeam) categories. Some examples of chemical weapons include, but are not limited to, sarin, tear gas, chlorine, mustard gas, and hydrogen cyanide. Of course, like anything, these highly deadly weapons have both advantages and disadvantages when it comes to war.
One advantage to using them over the more conventional war weapons is that chemical weapons “can give an army a tactical, battlefield advantage” (MG Zimeta). Using these less conventional weapons have the possibility of giving the side utilizing them a significant advantage. Additionally, depending on the desired result, chemical weapons are advantageous simply because they are one of the deadliest weapons to exist. They are considered to be weapons of mass destruction since certain ones have the capability to kill thousands, but also because they can be used to incapacitate and terrorize people. Moreover, “chemical weapons are of great concern because they are cheaper and easier to manufacture and deliver than nuclear or biological weapons” (Helmenstine). Though these all make chemical weapons sound the best weapon option for war, there are some definite drawbacks.
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Furthermore, they are “indiscriminate and an inherent threat to civilian populations” (Wagstaff). Chemical weapons are also somewhat inhumane. It is true that some of them kill faster than other standard weapons, but they strike unexpectedly and cause innumerable, horrendous deaths to both soldiers and innocent
Looking back at how the chemical weaponry expanded starting in the beginning of World War 1, it all began with Tear gas which was used by the French in August of 1914. Those techniques have been used in ancient times. Moving forward eight months in to the war the Germans have been giving great study in to the development of chemical weapons due to the first usage from the French and witnessed its great effectiveness and were the first to use it in a large scale.
The two chemical weapons that were used were: nerve agent and mustard gas. Nerve agent has two main classes that are Class G and Class V. Class V is more new, however less fatal. The specific nerve agent used by the Iraqis is Cyclosarin. Cyclosarin is an extremely toxic substance used as a chemical weapon, which is a member of Class G. Cyclosarin is the most dangerous gas out of both classes. It is known to have a sweet smell and is also flammable unlike other nerve gases. Mustard gas on the other hand is yellow and smells like garlic. Both gases cause death in minutes and have long lasting effects. These can include diseases and other horrible problems. Many of these diseases cannot be cured, for the cells have been damaged and cannot be repaired.
Napalm and Agent Orange, two of the most morally terrifying weapons used in the mid to late 1900’s. These destructive weapons were most famous in the Vietnam War for inflicting fatal wounds and even deformities. In World War Two, napalm was mostly used in tanks and incendiary bombs to destroy enemy ground troops. These were extremely effective and later used in planes like bombers. The word napalm comes from the combination of naphthene and palmitate, which are powdered aluminum soap.
Though chemical warfare was proven effective and easily produced, the world council decided that it was inhumane to use. In 1972, chemical warfare was ban at the Biological Weapons Convention. At this convention, many country’s leaders voted that it was not right to use these weapons as a way to kill people. The leaders felt that a biological weapon was too dangerous to release. (opbw.org)
23 April 1915 British troops were attacked with chlorine gas, and Sir John French, the British Commander-in-Chief wanted retaliation with the same effects that was dealt to his troops, and he also wanted the means to defend his troop against these attacks, which lead to the establishment of Porton Down. 10 July 1915 the British used chlorine gas against the Germans, after the attacks the British realized that the chlorine delivery method was inconsistent, the gas had a small radius of cover, the chlorine had a smell so it could be detected early without inhaling a large amount, and the gas also didn’t stay on the ground very long, so further research went into the development of chemical weapons. The first experiment was done with hydrogen sulphide; the British tested the gas by placing rats in cages in trenches, and had mine workers with self contained breathing apparatus collect clouds of the gas in jars as the gas passed over them. The testing of hydrogen sulphide were successful, it showed that the gas had lethal concentration at 300 yards from the point of release. Hydrogen sulphide was short lived, it was discovered that it’s was too dangerously flammable, and it corrodes the cylinders that it’s stored in, it was also to light to stay near the ground after release, and possessed a distinctive smell at very low concentration which is an early warning to the enemy. At 05:50 AM 2...
Chemical Warfare in WWI World War I was beginning to invent new ways to produce more casualties to the enemy’s force and reduce the probability of losing Soldiers from their own line of defense or offense. They did this by conducting extensive research in chemical warfare. At the same time, it will motivate the troops and win the hearts and minds of the people of their country if they had new ways of ending the war quickly. Chemical warfare affected tactics and techniques of warfare and almost changed the outcome of World War I. (LTG Carl E. Vuono) The French were the first to start experimenting on chemical agents in 1912.
Poison gas was perhaps the most feared weapon out of all. Created to overcome the long stalemate style of trench warfare, its purpose was to draw out soldiers hiding in the trenches. One side would throw the poison gas into the enemy trenches and they would either wait for their enemy to come out into open fire or perish in the trenches. The first poison gas used in battle was chlorine at the start of the Second Battle of Ypres on April 22, 1915 by the Germans. Shortly after, followed the phosgene. The effects of these gases were ghastly. Chlorine was the most deadly as "within seconds of inhaling its vapor, it destroys the victim's respiratory organs, bringing on choking attacks" (Duffy). Phosgene had similar effects, except the fact that the effects started kicking in after 48 hours of inhalation. In September 1917, the Germans introduced the mustard gas or Yperite which was contained in artillery shells against the Russians at Riga. Those exposed t...
In the Vietnam war napalm was introduced first by the French however the US got a hold of it soon after the French on their communist enemies ("Tirman"). The US soldiers used it very extensively and caused unbelievably large amounts of damage because it was almost impossible to contain. As time passed it's ingredients became easier to get a hold of and napalm itself was increasingly accessible. Napalm was known for all the damage it caused in the Vietnam
...elicopters, land mines, booby traps, and poison gases. Each weapon had a different use they could be used to kill people or to cause devastation to the land and the plant life in the area. The weapons of the Vietnam War had some off the most devastating weapons ever used in warfare and because of the devastation those weapon were never used again.
Why do countries use chemical weapons on innocent people? I understand there might be a conflict between two sides, but why are the civilians he ones who get affected the most? There is an ongoing debate in Syria regarding who used chemical weapons and who is responsible for the attack. Although Syria’s president and the rebels blame each other for the chemical attack, there is evidence in the ongoing debate that both sides used chemical weapons and the question of who is responsible for the death and destruction it caused.
Richard M. Nixon once stated, “No event in American history is more misunderstood than the Vietnam War. It was misreported then, and it is misremembered now” ("Vietnam War Quotes At Brainyquote"). The Vietnam War is one of the most misunderstood wars in the United State’s history. The Vietnam War is the longest war ever fought by the United States lasting from 1954-1975. This war was highly controversial among the public and has left a lasting impact on the countries involved. One of these impacts is the effect of Agent Orange (Britannica.org). The horrific effects of Agent Orange can still be seen today 50 years later; clearly its use was a mistake.
Chaos, fear, and death. Those three words are what most people’s first thoughts are when they see the destructive offspring of either Biological or Chemical Weapons. These Weapons of Mass Destruction (also known as WMD’s) are actually considered the deadliest weapons of all time to not only humans but also to other animals, and plants. Biological and Chemical Warfare has become a major threat not only to the safety to the people of America, but also on the frontlines across the world but, that in order to fix these that the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention and Chemical Weapons Convention could do is to make mandatory background checks for anyone who buys any additives that are in any Bio/ Chemical weapons, mandatory safety exercises, and make bans heavier on the use of these weapons in war.
In comparison to nuclear weapons, chemical weapons are less damaging, but are easier to acquire. Both threats could be delivered in a containe...
A war crime is an unjust act of violence in which a military personnel violates the laws and acceptable behaviors of a war. Despite all the violence in a war, a soldier shooting another is not considered a war crime because it is not a violation to the laws and practices of a war, and it is considered just. A war crime is defined as a “violations [violation] of the laws and customs of war” (“War Crimes”), and are attacks “against civilian populations, prisoners of war, or in some cases enemy soldiers in the field” (Friedman). War crimes are typically committed with weapons or by uncommon, cruel, devastating military methods and are “…Committed primarily by military personnel” (Friedman). There are many different types of war crimes one can commit, including “murder, ill treatment…murder or ill treatment of prisoners of war or persons on the seas, killing of hostages, plunder of public or private property, wanton destruction of cities, towns, or villages or devastation not justified by military necessity” (Friedman). Originally constructed as international law by the London Charter on August 8th, 1945 and further developed by the Hague Conventions of 1899, 1907 and the Nuremberg trials, war crimes are aggressive, unacceptable and unjust actions performed by military workforce that occur during a war.