10. Poison Gas Was Used to Devastating Effect
During World War I, poison gas attacks swept through No Man’s Land, lingering in craters and low spots, inflicting horrific injuries and terror on both sides. The first large-scale use of chemical weapons occurred on April 22, 1915, when German forces released chlorine gas at Ypres, Belgium. This marked the beginning of chemical warfare, leading to the development and deployment of more lethal agents like phosgene and mustard gas. These gases caused severe respiratory damage, skin blisters, and often led to agonizing deaths, leaving a lasting psychological impact on soldiers. (sciencehistory.org)
