The Second Battle of Ypres was the first successful use of chemical weapons. The allies used mustard gas and The Germans used chlorine gas. The battle was also the first time Canada was recognized as a nation.
The Second Battle of Ypres was the first successful use of chemical weapons. The allies used mustard gas and The Germans used chlorine gas. The battle was also the first time Canada was recognized as a nation.
Copyright:
Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
The Second Battle of Ypres was the first successful use of chemical weapons. The allies used mustard gas and The Germans used chlorine gas. The battle was also the first time Canada was recognized as a nation.
Copyright:
Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
The Second Battle of Ypres is a historically significant
event for a number of reasons. The foremost reason is the usage
of gas as a chemical weapon. It also was the time where, for the first time, Canada was recognized as a nation and where many lives of soldiers, from both the allies and the germans, were lost. At around five o’clock in the afternoon of April 22nd, 1915, a cloud of uncanny greenish-yellow gas appeared over the trenches to the left of the Canadians where the French troops were positioned. This would be the first successful use of chemical warfare ever recorded. The Germans had released over 5700 cylinders of extremely dangerous chlorine gas. This event opened the eyes of the rest of the world and made them aware of the power and devastation chemical weapons have the potential to cause. “It is a cowardly form of warfare which does not commend itself to me or other English soldiers.... We cannot win this war unless we kill or incapacitate more of our enemies than they do of us, and if this can only be done by our copying the enemy in his choice of weapons, we must not refuse to do so.” (Kiester, Edwin; et al., 14). This was said by a Canadian commander and it shows just how fast the development as well as the advancement of chemical weapons was. Soon after, the allies had created a gas of their own, mustard gas, which was far more lethal and would be used later on in the war. Initially, the canadian troops had to urinate on their handkerchiefs and press them against their faces but advancements were later made and breathing masks were created. After the gas attack, the allies were vulnerable for a 4 mile spread along the frontline. The Germans began advancing towards the gap and it was up to the Canadian battalion to fend them off. They fought hard despite being plagued with weapon malfunctions and having to cover their faces the best they could to prevent being killed by the gas. The Ross rifles they were carrying jammed and they were forced to fight with only their bayonets. The Canadians successfully defended the gap and gained a considerable amount of respect from both the allies, and the Germans (who did not counter-attack). They were finally recognized as a nation apart from “Mother England.” In successfully stalemating the battle, the Germans could not advance towards the river which would have cut off 50 000 british troops as well as supplies. Ypres was a main transportation hub which no side could utilize. This historic battle which saw much bloodshed and loss of life was one which saw the first usage of chemical weapons and one that gave Canada and Canadians a tremendous amount of respect as well as the occasion to be recognized as a nation. The second battle of Ypres was the worst battle fought by First Canadian Division throughout the war, yet was the starting point of a strong reputation of Canadian troops during the war. The British War Office once said that, "The Canadians...undoubtedly saved the situation" (G.W. Larkin and J.P. Matresky, pg18).