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by James Cooper on August 30th, 2005

James Cooper

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In WWII, why were chemical weapons not used to the extent they were in WWI, especially by the Axis Powers?

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  • by Archaeologist on January 18th, 2006

    Archaeologist

    As far as we know, the only country to use chemical weapons in a combat setting during wartime in the European Theatre was, ironically, the United States.

    The U.S. had developed an experimental mustard and or tear gas impregnated machine gun round. The idea was that the round would penetrate, for instance, the side of a lightly armored halftrack or an Axis bunker and force the defenders out.

    In the 1944, the new "mustard gas bullet" was tested in the European Theatre. Fortunately, perhaps, for the Allies and the Axis both, it was not a success. The amount of gas was miniscule, and it was found that only huge quantities would actually work. If it did have an effect on the Germans, they didn't consider it a major problem (there were standing orders to retaliate in full if any chemical attacks were launched, and no such retaliatory attacks were planned). As far as we know the US Army didn't use the rounds after 1945.

    The Japanese, on the other hand, made extensive use of poison gas during the war with China, though intermittently, and generally less commonly after the "official" start of the Second World War in 1939. A number of weapons continued to be developed for use in the deployment and transit of chemical warheads. The Type 94 Tankette, for example, had a special 'chemical trailer' designed for it, with the idea that the tankette would pull the trailer into position, the crew would flip a switch, and enemy troops would be exposed to the gas. We don't think the Japanese ever actually used this in combat. Most Japanese chemical attacks during the Second Sino-Japanese War and (after 1939), the Second World War, were made with artillery shells and WW1 style chemical rounds.

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