GERMANS SHELL BRITISH LINES WITH MUSTARD GAS
Western Front (JFK+50) On April 8, 1918, the Germans shelled the entire British Expeditionary Force front lines with mustard gas. 40,000 shells were unleashed in Armientieres*.
Germany had first used mustard gas in 1917. Allied soldiers referred to the chemical gas as "hot stuff" or "h.s."
Mustard gas was difficult to detect except for giving off a "funny smell." In the beginning, gas masks were not designed to protect against mustard gas. This chemical agent could penetrate filters as well as the mask housing. It also caused burns to exposed skin.
*Armientieres became French in 1668 & was known for industrial weaving, spinning & brewing in the 20th Century. The city suffered damage in World Wars I & II.
SOURCES
"Diary April 8, 1918," WW2 Weapons, www2-weapons.com/
"How Mustard Gas Works," by Josh Briggs, how stuff works, www.science.howstuffworks.com/
Western Front (JFK+50) On April 8, 1918, the Germans shelled the entire British Expeditionary Force front lines with mustard gas. 40,000 shells were unleashed in Armientieres*.
Germany had first used mustard gas in 1917. Allied soldiers referred to the chemical gas as "hot stuff" or "h.s."
Mustard gas was difficult to detect except for giving off a "funny smell." In the beginning, gas masks were not designed to protect against mustard gas. This chemical agent could penetrate filters as well as the mask housing. It also caused burns to exposed skin.
*Armientieres became French in 1668 & was known for industrial weaving, spinning & brewing in the 20th Century. The city suffered damage in World Wars I & II.
SOURCES
"Diary April 8, 1918," WW2 Weapons, www2-weapons.com/
"How Mustard Gas Works," by Josh Briggs, how stuff works, www.science.howstuffworks.com/
British soldiers blinded
by poison gas
Battle of Estaires
April 10, 1918
