Gas Warfare of the First World War (1915)
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- Synopsis:
The Battle of Ypres in April 1915 saw the first use of a terrifying new weapon in the squalid trench warfare of the First World War - POISON GAS! Unleashed by the Germans, most of the Allied troops were totally unprepared for the choking green chlorine clouds; clouds that wafted into their trenches wreaking havoc and carnage to all those who breathed in the deadly toxic fumes. The first Gas Masks were simply a scarf covering the nose and mouth soaked in urine to counteract the deadly fumes! The Allies were quick to respond with many variants of poisonous gas and innovative new ways of delivering it from the simple gas cannister and gas shell to the Livens Projectors that could deliver multiple salvoes of this ghastly weapon. Gas Masks were quickly improved on both sides. Unique footage from The Imperial War Museum takes us through the evolution of the gas mask and all the detoxification procedures that the troops had to go through as explained in graphic detail by celebrated military expert Major Tonie Holt. Allied troops were alerted of pending gas attacks by the Strombos horn, the Rattle, Gong or Triangle. Dug-outs and trenches had to be cleared of gas. Horses, dogs and local children had to be protected and there is an as yet unseen visit to the Boots Factory in Nottingham to witness the manufacture of thousands upon thousands of gas masks destined for the battlefront. We see both British and French Tank warfare where the crews inside these hot, dark, noisy beasts were forced to wear gas masks as well. Finally, the Germans introduced an even more wicked concoction Mustard Gas that could cause blisters on the skin the size of a tennis ball. BONUS FEATURE GAS WARFARE INTO THE SECOND WORLD WAR - the story continues into the Second World War and explores the preparedness to meet the fear that Germany and Japan would use poison gasses on civilian populations to achieve their goal. - Studio:
- Essential Music
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- Documentary