C ombined Arms Research Library Fort Leavenworth, Kansas CGSC Home CARL Home Library Information Resources ... Digital Library
Leavenworth
Papers No.10
Chemical Warfare in World War I:
The American Experience, 1917 - 1918
MAJ(P) Charles E. Heller, USAR
Combat Studies Institute
U.S. Army Command and General Staff College
Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
September 1984 Leaveanworth Papers are published by the Combat Studies Institute, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, KS 66027-6900. The views expressed in this publication are those of the author and are not neccessarily those of the Department of Defnse or any element thereof. Leavenworth Papers are available from the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. Leavenworth Papers US ISSN 0195 3451
FOREWORD This Leavenworth Paper chronicles the introduction of chemical agents in World War I, the U.S. Army's tentative preparations for gas warfare prior to and after American entry into the war, and the AEF experience with gas on the Western Front. Chemical warfare affected tactics and almost changed the outcome of World War I. The overwhelming success of the first use of gas caught both sides by suprise. Fortunately, the pace of hostilities permitted the Allies to develop a suitable defense to German gas attacks and eventually to field a considerable offensive chemical capability. Nonetheless, from the introduction of chemical warfare in early 1915 until Armistice Day in November, 1918, the Allies were usually one step behind their German counterparts in the development of gas doctrine and the employment of gas tactics and procedures. | |
|
