Mustard Gas In The Great War Essay

In The Great War (WW1) mustard gas was one of many technologies that changed the nature of the war. The Germans introduced the chemical mustard gas in 1917. Fritz Haber, a German chemist, was thought to be the ‘father of chemical warfare’ for his years of developing the poisonous gas weapons during the era of World War 1. Haber did not only develop the deadly gasses but he also helped develop gas masks to help protect people against these poisons. Haber was not the only person responsible for developing mustard gas, there were other inventors credible for the establishment as well. Different people tweaked the creation with their own methods throughout the whole process, such as Depretz, Levinstein, Clarke and Meyer. Normally, in its gaseous

state the chemical mustard gas is colourless, despite the fact that it may have a dull green or yellow tint. It's most recognizable by its trademark "mustardy" odor but it’s smell is also compared to garlic, horseradish or sulfur.

In the war this chemical was transported through artillery shells into the battle field where it lingered for an amount of time ranging from days to weeks or even sometimes months, it all was reflected on the weather conditions. Mustard gas wasn’t necessarily used as a forceful killing weapon but was morely used to pollute the battlefield and weaken the enemy. Victims of mustard gas began to experience a painful aching in their eyes, blisters and also proceeded to vomit. Many soldiers were secured to their beds because the whole process was exceedingly painful. This chemical caused a number of different symptoms, internal and external bleeding and attacking the bronchial tubes, stripping off the mucous membrane. Usually it took a person a course of four to five weeks before they died of the mustard gas poisoning. Mustard gas contributed to the event of chemical warfare becoming one of the major components in the war, which is one example of how this weapon changed the nature of the war. During the later on stages of war, gas usage increased majorly and the overall effectiveness decreased. The United Nations adopted the Chemical Weapons Convention in 1993 to exterminate the use of mustard gas and other chemical based weapons. I think that chemical weapons were banned because as long as they were continually being used as a large percentage, there would be a risk, especially if they fell into the wrong

hands.