10 Questions
What was the primary effect of chlorine gas on soldiers?
Coughing and struggling to breathe
What was the smell of mustard gas similar to?
Garlic and horseradish
How did soldiers protect themselves from chlorine gas?
By wearing masks made of cotton soaked in urine
What was the main cause of trench foot?
Poor hygiene and unsanitary conditions
How many British soldiers died from mustard gas attacks?
4,086
What happened to the bodies of soldiers in the trenches due to the presence of rats?
They were disfigured by rats eating their eyes and liver.
Why did soldiers cheer when the Germans used mustard gas on the British?
Because the rats would die almost instantly.
How did soldiers use rats to their advantage in the trenches?
They used them as a warning system for incoming attacks.
Why were lice difficult to get rid of in the trenches?
Because they laid eggs in the seams of uniforms.
What was a side effect of having lice in the trenches?
Soldiers would become more prone to infection.
Study Notes
Gas Attacks
- Chlorine gas was a common gas used during WWI, causing victims to experience chest pains and a burning sensation in their throat.
- It was used as a choking agent, making soldiers cough and struggle to breathe.
- To protect themselves, the Allies made masks out of cotton soaked in urine to prevent the deadly chlorine from entering their bodies.
- Mustard gas was a yellow-brown color, smelled like garlic and horseradish, and caused skin blisters, eye soreness, and vomiting.
- Mustard gas led to internal and external bleeding and was extremely painful, often taking 4-5 weeks to kill victims.
- Most victims had to be strapped to their beds during this process and were unable to return to the front, requiring extensive care.
- British Gas Casualties: 1914-18 - Chlorine: 1,976 deaths, 164,457 non-fatal. Mustard Gas: 4,086 deaths, 16,526 non-fatal.
Trench Foot
- Trench foot is a fungal infection of the feet caused by cold, wet, and unsanitary trench conditions.
- Soldiers were forced to stand in ankle-deep water for hours without being able to dry their shoes or socks, making it impossible to avoid getting trench foot.
- If the infection became too serious, soldiers would have to have their foot amputated.
- Poor hygiene in the trenches led to the spread of disease, with overflowing latrines, rotting corpses, and dirty conditions.
Rats
- There were no beds in the trenches, and soldiers had to sleep on the floor with millions of rats infesting the trenches.
- Rats would spread infection, contaminate food, and even eat human remains, including eyes and liver.
- Brown rats were especially feared, growing to the size of a cat and becoming unafraid of humans.
- Rats would bite chunks out of soldiers at night, but they did have some use in the trenches, providing warning of attacks and serving as a food source when rations were short.
Lice
- Lice were a constant problem in the trenches, infesting soldiers' clothes and bodies, making them itchy and uncomfortable.
- They were difficult to get rid of due to the lack of washing facilities in the trenches.
- Lice laid eggs in the seams of soldiers' uniforms, which could not be removed by delousing power.
- Shaving their heads was a way for soldiers to try and avoid getting nits.
- Lice passed on infections, especially when soldiers had cuts and wounds, with the most severe infection being known as...
Learn about the effects and protection methods of Chlorine and Mustard gas used during World War I. Discover how these gases were used as choking agents and how soldiers defended themselves.
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