Chemical weapons in WW2?

Were any chemical weapons used during World War II? I know the Americans had chemical mortars, but did they actually fire chemicals? And what about the other nations?

 

I remember reading somewhere that some German smokescreens were dangerous if you breathed then for more than a few minutes, but being technically a smokescreen they were not counted as chemical weaponry.

This may not be true...

 

Breathing just about any kind of smoke is unhealthy...

No deliberate chemical weapons were used during World War II, though.

Christian

 

None at all? Then what about the chemical mortars?

Come on, there must at least have been some German secret weapon...

 

The U.S. Chemical Mortar Battalions would only have been used for chemical attacks if the Germans or Japanese had used the weapons first. During the war they fired HE and smoke only.
The U.S. considered using chemical weapons against isolated Japanese outposts but decided against it. There was a major chemical debacle in Italy when a Luftwaffe attack set a cargo ship full of chemical weapons (mustard I think) on fire. Can't remember the location, starts with a "B".

 

The 4.2 inch chemical mortas, while never used in their intended role, did play a vital part in combat by providing fire support for US infantry. The 4.2 mortars fired a hefty round; this came in handy when American ground troops were either attacking or under attack.

 

I don't know if you've ever played Close Combat, but in this game sure as hell you're happy when you get the chance to use the 4.2" CMs!!

Thanks for clearing it up, canambridge.

 

Hitler was injured in a gas attack during WWI, so he had a fear of using it so he did not allow his soldiers to use it.

 

Except on the inmates of the concentration camps, of course. :angry:

 

Yes, but to him those people weren't exactly humans... It is clearly another sign that he wished all the worst to come upon the Jews.

 

Yep. And he did his very level best to bring the worst upon them. :angry:

One thing about being a Christian: I *know* where Herr Hitler is right now, and where he will spend the rest of eternity.

 

i agree. it's easy to see why a devil like him would want to kill every Jew on Earth.. after all, according to the Bible, they are God's "chosen people".

 

Amen Roel.

 

Not exactly WW2, but I know that Italy used gas bombs in its war against Ethiopia in 1935-36.

 

No they didn't, they used gas bombs against Abyssinia!!

(Everyone loves a smart-arse :roll: )

But seriously, it must have been a worry to Musso that the Italian armed forces, who were probably the best equipped / most modern in the world at the time found it so hard to conquer a country whose army carried spears...

 

well, italians are not good figthers or soldiers, :lol:

 

If well commanded and equipped, they are of course as good soldiers as everyone else.
Don't forget their ancestors build the Roman Empire.

 

nah, still do not belive about the italians, even with modern equipment , as an example the italian navy in WW II, they did not make any good results

 

There are actually several examples of Italian units doing very well.
However, a mixture of political appointments of senior officers, and a general unwillingness to have even gone to war in the first place, meant that few Italians really gave it their all. In Abyssinia or WW2.
Heck, in Abyssinia, they even shipped Italian women over to try & keep their soldiers happy!

 

The British intended to use mustard gas in the event of German invasion in 1940.