Was gas ever used in WW2?

adamcotton · 29-09-2006, 11:29 PM

Just been reading "Forgotten Voices of WW2" by Max Arthur, and I was particularly interested in the section that dealt with the issue of gas masks at the outbreak of war.

As everyone knows, gas was used to horrifying effect, and quite extensively, by both sides in WW1, but fears of gas attacks in WW2 never materialised. Or did they? As far as I'm aware, gas was never used in WW2 against military or civilian personnel, but if I'm right, I am wondering why? Can anyone either quote me an example of when gas WAS used, or - if I am right in that it never was - explain why? Was it some sort of international ruling? And if so, why the fear that resulted in the issuing of gas masks to all in 1939?

Comments most welcome...

morse1001 · 30-09-2006, 12:02 AM

There was never an attempt to use gas, but stockpiles of the stuff was moved around. Think of the major incident in the the itaian port of baria.

As for the issuing of gas, after its widespread use in WW1 people expected it to be used in the next war. I have a a book called Personal Protection Against Gas, an official document and was issued in 1938

adamcotton · 30-09-2006, 12:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by morse1001

There was never an attempt to use gas, but stockpiles of the stuff was moved around. Think of the major incident in the the itaian port of baria.

As for the issuing of gas, after its widespread use in WW1 people expected it to be used in the next war. I have a a book called Personal Protection Against Gas, an official document and was issued in 1938

What happened at Baria, Morse?

Gnomey · 30-09-2006, 01:43 AM

The Japanese (army unit forget the name at the moment think it is something like 731) performed 'experiments' on the Chinese using gas, amoung other toxins to see their effect.

morse1001 · 30-09-2006, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adamcotton

What happened at Baria, Morse?

There was a massive release of mustard gas from allied stockpiles due to a accidnet.

raf · 30-09-2006, 09:48 AM

wasnt there some gentlemans agreement between Hitler and Churchill !!!!!

if you use it we will.

Britain would have defended itself if they came with Gas.

so

morse1001 · 30-09-2006, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gnomey

The Japanese (army unit forget the name at the moment think it is something like 731) performed 'experiments' on the Chinese using gas, amoung other toxins to see their effect.

It was Unit 731 which carried out the experiments. they included attacks against allied POWs.

Italy also used mustard gas during its African conquests

Kiwiwriter · 01-10-2006, 04:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by morse1001

There was a massive release of mustard gas from allied stockpiles due to a accidnet.

In December 1943, the American freighter John Harvey tied up at the pier in Bari, loaded with mustard gas shells for artillery, a top secret. The shells had been sent over to be the theater reserve in case the Germans made good on occasional threats to use poison gas on the battlefields.

A night or so later, the Luftwaffe hit the port at dusk, bombing the city and harbor heavily, sinking or damaging about 13 ships. Among the ships hit and set on fire was the John Harvey, which cooked off her mustard gas bombs, adding to the destruction caused by fire, oil, and high explosive. The British, Indian, and New Zealand Army hospitals were inundated with casualties, and doctors were baffled by the symptoms, writing "Not Yet Diagnosed (Dermatitis)" on the forms. Scores of Allied troops and Italian civilians died from the gas. It took a full-scale investigation to find out that the cause was the secret cargo of mustard gas bombs.

People who dive in the harbor (usually salvage or repair work) still occasionally get sores from the contamination.

The best book on the subject, "The Bari Disaster," by Glenn Infield.

von Poop · 01-10-2006, 01:09 PM

This cropped up very briefly on here before, not a bad account of the Bari incident here:
http://www.mapleleafup.org/histories...ski/bari3.html
Cheers,
Adam.

superpumper · 13-10-2006, 12:50 PM

I think I read somewhere that Churchill was going to use gas if the Germans invaded the UK? Am I remembering correctly? Also Hilter did not really want to use it because he was gased in WW1?

29-09-2006, 11:29 PM	#1 (permalink)
adamcotton Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Brighton, England Posts: 352	Was gas ever used in WW2? Just been reading "Forgotten Voices of WW2" by Max Arthur, and I was particularly interested in the section that dealt with the issue of gas masks at the outbreak of war. As everyone knows, gas was used to horrifying effect, and quite extensively, by both sides in WW1, but fears of gas attacks in WW2 never materialised. Or did they? As far as I'm aware, gas was never used in WW2 against military or civilian personnel, but if I'm right, I am wondering why? Can anyone either quote me an example of when gas WAS used, or - if I am right in that it never was - explain why? Was it some sort of international ruling? And if so, why the fear that resulted in the issuing of gas masks to all in 1939? Comments most welcome... __________________ *Adam* *Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth* *And danced the skies on laughter silvered wings* *Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth Of sun split clouds -* *and done a hundred things* *You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there, I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung My eager craft through footless halls of air.* *Up, up the long, delerious, burning blue* *I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace Where never lark or even eagle flew-* *And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod* *The high untrespassed sanctity of space,* *Put out my hand and touched the face of God.* - John Gillespie Magee, Jr. 1922-1941

30-09-2006, 01:43 AM	#4 (permalink)
Gnomey Per Ardua Ad Astra Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Royal Deeside/St Andrews, Scotland, UK Posts: 2,972	The Japanese (army unit forget the name at the moment think it is something like 731) performed 'experiments' on the Chinese using gas, amoung other toxins to see their effect. __________________ "Never in the field of human conflict has so much been owed by so many to so few" Sir Winston Chuchill, Summer 1940 "To him the people of Britain and the free world owe largely the way of life they enjoy today" Ensciption on Hugh Dowding's (AOC Fighter Command 1936-1940) Statue in London Aircraft of World War 2 Forum - A Warbird Forum

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30-09-2006, 12:02 AM	#2 (permalink)
morse1001 Very Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Wishaw, Lanarkshire, Scotland Posts: 4,686	There was never an attempt to use gas, but stockpiles of the stuff was moved around. Think of the major incident in the the itaian port of baria. As for the issuing of gas, after its widespread use in WW1 people expected it to be used in the next war. I have a a book called Personal Protection Against Gas, an official document and was issued in 1938

30-09-2006, 09:48 AM	#6 (permalink)
raf Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: wigan Posts: 388	wasnt there some gentlemans agreement between Hitler and Churchill !!!!! if you use it we will. Britain would have defended itself if they came with Gas. so

01-10-2006, 01:09 PM	#9 (permalink)
von Poop I Like Tanks Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Perfidious Albion. Posts: 8,474	This cropped up very briefly on here before, not a bad account of the Bari incident here: http://www.mapleleafup.org/histories...ski/bari3.html Cheers, Adam.

13-10-2006, 12:50 PM	#10 (permalink)
superpumper Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 27	I think I read somewhere that Churchill was going to use gas if the Germans invaded the UK? Am I remembering correctly? Also Hilter did not really want to use it because he was gased in WW1?

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