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'''Poison gas''' was the most controversial weapon of [[World War I]]-- indeed, next to nuclear weapons, the most controversial weapon of the 20th century. Its strange history reveals much about how generals, privates, politicians and civilians understood total war.  

'''Poison gas''' was the most controversial weapon of [[World War I]]-- indeed, next to nuclear weapons, the most controversial weapon of the 20th century. Its strange history reveals much about how generals, privates, politicians and civilians understood total war.  

Poison gas was easily neutralized by gas masks, and was highly unpredictable (because of wind and weather). It never helped win a major battle.  The soldiers hated it intensely, and the generals soon decided it was more trouble than it was worth.  The most famous gas artillery officer of the war was U.S. Army Captain [[Harry S. Truman]], who later became president; the most famous victim was [[Adolph Hitler]], who was gassed twice.

Poison gas was easily neutralized by gas masks, and was highly unpredictable (because of wind and weather). It never helped win a major battle.  The soldiers hated it intensely, and the generals soon decided it was more trouble than it was worth.  The most famous gas artillery officer of the war was U.S. Army Captain [[Harry S. Truman]], who later became president; the most famous victim was [[Adolf Hitler]], who was gassed twice.

Relatively few soldiers were killed and not many were permanently injured. By far the major killer was conventional artillery, along with machine guns.  Gas however had a hypnotic effect--many soldiers saw their comrades falling and thought they smelled some odor--it must be gas, and they too collapsed, even though there was no gas present.

Relatively few soldiers were killed and not many were permanently injured. By far the major killer was conventional artillery, along with machine guns.  Gas however had a hypnotic effect--many soldiers saw their comrades falling and thought they smelled some odor--it must be gas, and they too collapsed, even though there was no gas present.

==Casualties==

==Casualties==

Three percent of all casualties on the Western Front were attributed to gas; 1,200 Americans died from it. Far larger numbers were reported as casualties, but many of the cases were dubious. Both sides mixed gas shells with high explosives, and Doughboys who kept their heads down were never quite sure if they had been gassed. Only 20% of soldiers treated for mustard gas were kept in bed more than 48 hours. British statistics indicate that one in thirty-eight of the casualties from `mustard gas' died and about one in four hundred was incapacitated for six months or longer.<ref>''Oxford English Dictionary,'' Discovery 1934 Feb. 32/1</ref> Seriously affected patients required elaborate nursing care and extended bed rest to avoid the danger of pneumonia; over 90% eventually recovered. Gas was, however, a debilitating psychological weapon. Soldiers hated the masks because of the claustrophobia, the difficulty in getting enough oxygen for strenuous movement, and the garbling of voices and commands. By 1918 the constant fear, and the continuous use of those awful masks, was a major contributor to combat fatigue--a psychological condition in which the soldier loses control of his emotions and was a liability in combat. Poison gas never won a battle. By forcing soldiers to wear their masks, it, did however, slow down the tempo of operations, made coordination difficult, ruin morale, and increase the vulnerability of soldiers to artillery and machine 25 gun fire. Germany favored gas because it was on the defensive on the Western Front from late 1914 to early 1918, and its large, sophisticated chemical industry delivered a high quality product. Germany and Austria fired 58% of the 66 million gas shells used in the war, but with smaller steel industries, only 47% of the 1.4 billion high explosive shells. The most famous victim of gas was German corporal [[Adolph Hitler]], hit by mustard gas in October, 1918.

Three percent of all casualties on the Western Front were attributed to gas; 1,200 Americans died from it. Far larger numbers were reported as casualties, but many of the cases were dubious. Both sides mixed gas shells with high explosives, and Doughboys who kept their heads down were never quite sure if they had been gassed. Only 20% of soldiers treated for mustard gas were kept in bed more than 48 hours. British statistics indicate that one in thirty-eight of the casualties from `mustard gas' died and about one in four hundred was incapacitated for six months or longer.<ref>''Oxford English Dictionary,'' Discovery 1934 Feb. 32/1</ref> Seriously affected patients required elaborate nursing care and extended bed rest to avoid the danger of pneumonia; over 90% eventually recovered. Gas was, however, a debilitating psychological weapon. Soldiers hated the masks because of the claustrophobia, the difficulty in getting enough oxygen for strenuous movement, and the garbling of voices and commands. By 1918 the constant fear, and the continuous use of those awful masks, was a major contributor to combat fatigue--a psychological condition in which the soldier loses control of his emotions and was a liability in combat. Poison gas never won a battle. By forcing soldiers to wear their masks, it, did however, slow down the tempo of operations, made coordination difficult, ruin morale, and increase the vulnerability of soldiers to artillery and machine 25 gun fire. Germany favored gas because it was on the defensive on the Western Front from late 1914 to early 1918, and its large, sophisticated chemical industry delivered a high quality product. Germany and Austria fired 58% of the 66 million gas shells used in the war, but with smaller steel industries, only 47% of the 1.4 billion high explosive shells. The most famous victim of gas was German corporal [[Adolf Hitler]], hit by mustard gas in October, 1918.

[[Image:Gassed-Sargent.JPG|thumb|550px|"Gassed" (1919) by American artist John Singer Sargent, after visiting the front<ref> For commentary on the paining, see Geoff Dyer on "Gassed" at [http://home.clara.net/stevebrown/html/expeience_of_war/gassed.htmcommentary]</ref>]]

[[Image:Gassed-Sargent.JPG|thumb|550px|"Gassed" (1919) by American artist John Singer Sargent, after visiting the front<ref> For commentary on the paining, see Geoff Dyer on "Gassed" at [http://home.clara.net/stevebrown/html/expeience_of_war/gassed.htmcommentary]</ref>]]