chemical weapons

Tag

(21)

1915

January

31
- German gas attack at BolimówOn 31 January 1915 the Germans attacked the Russians at Bolimów, firing 18,000 shells filled with tear gas. In the frost the gas had almost no effect.

April

14
- Germany accuses the French of using gasOn 14 April 1915 a German communiqué accused the French of using bombs with "asphyxiating" gas near Verdun. There were more such accusations in those days.
22
- Key eventSecond Battle of Ypres beginsOn 22 April 1915 the Germans released a cloud of chlorine at Ypres. Two French divisions broke, and a gap several kilometres wide opened north of the town.
- Key eventBattle of Gravenstafel Ridge beginsOn the night of 22–23 April 1915 Canadians counter-attacked at Ypres to close the gas-attack gap. Of 1,500 men who charged the wood, under 500 were left.
24
- Key eventBattle of St Julien beginsOn 24 April 1915 the Germans struck the Canadians at Ypres with chlorine. The 1st Canadian Division's front gave way, and in the afternoon St Julien fell.

May

August

22
- Russians abandon OsowiecOn 22 August 1915 the Osowiec garrison, which had held off the Germans for half a year, left on orders and sappers blew up the forts. It was never stormed.

September

25
- Key eventBattle of Loos beginsOn 25 September 1915 the British attacked at Loos behind chlorine gas, taking the village, Hill 70 and the Hohenzollern Redoubt, but reserves were too far back.

1916

April

30
- End of the Lake Naroch offensiveThe chronology ends the Lake Naroch battle on 30 April 1916. The Russians halted on 30 March, and on 28 April the Germans retook all the lost ground.

June

23
- Germans capture ThiaumontOn 23 June 1916, after a night bombardment with shells of a new gas, the Germans took the Thiaumont work and Fleury, a few kilometres from Verdun.

1917

April

19
- End of the Second Battle of GazaOn 19 April 1917 the British assault on Gaza, despite tanks and gas, broke on the Turkish redoubts. The British lost over 6,000 men and failed to take the town.

August

September

October

24
- Key eventBattle of Caporetto beginsOn 24 October 1917, after a gas bombardment, Germans and Austrians struck on the upper Isonzo. By evening they had broken the Italian front and taken Caporetto.

1918

April

September

18
- Battle of Doiran beginsOn 18 September 1918 the British and Greeks attacked the Bulgarian defences by Lake Doiran. The Greeks took the forward line, but the main attack broke down.