StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

Chemical Welfare in War - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
The author of this essay "Chemical Welfare in War" touches upon the idea of the use of chemical arms during military operations. It is stated that the chemical welfare in the war came to be known during the First World War when the Germans surprisingly deployed chemical weapons against their enemies…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER94.2% of users find it useful
Chemical Welfare in War
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Chemical Welfare in War"

Pick a Military CampaignThe chemical welfare in war came to be known during the First World War when the Germans surprisingly deployed chemical weapons against their enemies. In the year 1915, the German soldiers-special unit was ordered by the German military meteorologists to open valves of more than 6,000 cylinders that were arrayed in trenches surrounding the defensive perimeter in Belgium (Fitzgerald, 2008, p. 611-625). It is believed that within just ten minutes approximately 160 tons of by then an unknown pathogen was released into the surrounding environment and thousands of French soldiers were exposed.

A study on the wind patterns in the surrounding area had earlier on been undertaken by the German meteorologists to ascertain the most effective location to place the gas cylinders. The opponents in war-the French soldiers were never prepared to face this particular lethal weapon deployed by the German soldiers what immensely resulted into fatal deaths and casualties (Fitzgerald, 2008, p. 611-625).The main objective of use of the chemical weapons by the German soldiers was to certainly weaken their opponents.

There are particularly a number of gases deployed by the different opponents in World Wars depending on the harm these allies wished to inflict on their opponents. Teargas was the first chemical weapon to be used in the World War 1 (Fitzgerald, 2008, p. 611-625). Teargas a 26mm grenade full of the ethyl bromoacetate gas was first used by the French soldiers in 1911. The chemical weapon was later on adopted by the German soldiers who used it against the British soldiers. Mustard gas was popularly used by the German soldiers and perceived to be one of the most effective chemical weapons to have been used in the First World War (Fitzgerald, 2008, p. 611-625). Phosgene gas and the chlorine gas were also deployed by the different allies in World wars.

The Phosgene gas and the chlorine gas are perceived to be more deadly for they resulted in more fatal consequences than the Mustard gas even when administered in small amounts. However, through the warring years the mustard gas was declared the ‘king of Battle Gasses” following its ability to cause eye injuries, lung injuries and result into blisters that were very hard to treat(Fitzgerald, 2008, p. 624). This made the soldiers exposed to the gas keep off the battle field for quite a long time.

Different scholars and historians of the world have in the past published quite differing estimates of the number of deaths and casualties that arose from use of the chemical weapons in the World War 1(Fitzgerald, 2008, p. 624). These estimates lie in a range of three hundred thousand to nine hundred thousand in which these estimates were perceived to vary from one country to another. Political activist across the world have unanimously agreed that chemical welfare in World Wars was quite an effective strategy.

First, the chemical weapons made the combat very difficult on the side of the enemies since it was hard for the soldiers to fire the weapons while at the same time wearing masks. Secondly, with the masks on, it was hard for the soldiers to effectively communicate amongst themselves hence resulting into mistakes that were easily exploited by their opponents in war. Thirdly, the chemical welfare did clog the allied logistical systems (Fitzgerald, 2008, p. 611-625). In a battle field, the soldiers highly depend on the logistical systems for their upkeep and supplies.

Without the supplies and upkeep, the soldiers are weakened and easily succumb to defeat. Clogging of the logistical systems by use of the chemical weapons was a major strategy employed by the major opponents in the World Wars and what has been observed to have been quite successful. According to Fitzgerald (2008, p. 611-625), use of chemical welfare in the World Wars managed to serve a number of purposes amongst them to ‘shock, worry and surprise the opponent’. BibliographyFitzgerald, Gerard, J. (2008). Chemical Warfare and Medical Response During World War I.

Am J Public Health, 98(4), 611–625.

Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Chemical Welfare in War Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words”, n.d.)
Chemical Welfare in War Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words. Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/military/1879008-pick-a-military-campaign-method-of-warfare-to-examine-from-world-war-1analyse-the-choice-and-objectives-of-this-campaignwhat-weapons-were-usedand-how-successful-or-not-the-outcome-was
(Chemical Welfare in War Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 Words)
Chemical Welfare in War Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 Words. https://studentshare.org/military/1879008-pick-a-military-campaign-method-of-warfare-to-examine-from-world-war-1analyse-the-choice-and-objectives-of-this-campaignwhat-weapons-were-usedand-how-successful-or-not-the-outcome-was.
“Chemical Welfare in War Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 Words”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/military/1879008-pick-a-military-campaign-method-of-warfare-to-examine-from-world-war-1analyse-the-choice-and-objectives-of-this-campaignwhat-weapons-were-usedand-how-successful-or-not-the-outcome-was.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Chemical Welfare in War

The Production and Sale of Cigarettes Should Be Made Illegal

The point is that we see that the government is always concerned of ensuring protection and welfare of the public, allowing it to guarantee that everybody is protected by emancipating laws and policies.... The production and sale of cigarettes should be made illegal There are many studies trying to convince us of the peril of cigarette smoking (Shirazi & Guinet, 2006, p....
4 Pages (1000 words) Essay

Application of the Letter from Birmingham in the War in Syria

Application of the Letter from Birmingham in the war in Syria Martin Luther Junior wrote the “letter from Birmingham Jail,” while he was detained because of breaking the laws of Alabama that stated how demonstrations would be conducted.... … Name Tutor Course Date Application of the Letter from Birmingham in the war in Syria Martin Luther Junior wrote the “letter from Birmingham Jail,” while he was detained because of breaking the laws of Alabama that stated how demonstrations would be conducted....
5 Pages (1250 words) Essay

Science and Politics

When history recalls the Persian Gulf war and the syndrome the soldiers experienced following it, from a political view, the government attempted to deny its existence, claiming there never were chemicals involved at first.... nother example as to how science works within the political structure is in regards to chemical warfare.... It is well known that despite the various differences between the political view on this and the scientific one, politics have been mediating the science of chemical warfare throughout history (Tuite 2005)....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

Speaking annhiliation

While most historians have led us to believe that the control of nature and war against each other are altogether different phenomenon, Edmund Russell differs in his view.... He has very beautifully traced the history… Russell states that the scale of war of mankind has been expanded by the control of nature and war in turn expanded the scale on which people tried to control 8th December Speaking of Annihilation: Mobilizing for war against Human and Insect Enemies Man has always been at war against the nature and fellow humans....
1 Pages (250 words) Assignment

World War I and the End of the Progressive Movement

The events surrounding any world war are normally written by the victors and is tailor made to suit their need to have the historical account of the events portray the victors in the best light.... As the faction of war who defended people and did their best to protect the welfare… One of the most notable wars that historians are fascinated by are the events that surround the first world war and how those battles were fought and won by the allies the first time around....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

Is the thesis proved

Chemical warfare according to Ulrich Trumpener officially gained recognition in the First World war, an argument that is well supported with a backing of relevant facts.... These are events that occurred prior to the world war one, especially with the application of Chemical Warfare Chemical warfare according to Ulrich Trumpener officially gained recognition in the First World war, an argument that is well supported with a backing of relevant facts....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

War And Civilization

The paper "war And Civilization" describes that for the most part of history, only men could participate in wars and serve in armies.... war And CivilizationQ.... In World war I, for example, various restrictions and taboos directed at women were broken.... More changes were seen than ever before during the World war II when one hundred women were recruited for Army Corps for non-combat missions.... war as a catalyst of Human CivilizationWars have been the violent catalyst for changes throughout history....
2 Pages (500 words) Assignment

Feminism, Prehospital Context and Paramedics issues

Feminism is a theory that talks about the rights of women, inadequacy of equivalent opportunities, social welfare and other features.... Women as a part of gender are not considered worth enough so that various researches can be conducted for their welfare.... … Teacher:June 17th, 2008UniversityChoose one of the major sociological theories, other than functionalism....
6 Pages (1500 words) Essay
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us