Jim Logajan wrote in
:

Phil J wrote:
On Mar 3, 7:16*pm, " wrote:

"Poison gas" was used extensively during the Great War. One of the
post-war conclusions was that it was more trouble than it was worth
and had only limited tactical value. The environmental conditions
had to be just so, and often the burden placed on friendly troops
reduced their own combat effectiveness.

The reason the Axis was so reluctant to employ such weapons was more
practical than moral -- contrary prevailing winds, and a tactical
emphasis on the offensive made gas unattractive as a battlefield
weapon.

The only great unknown is why the Germans didn't use it in the last
throes of the Reich.


That is a mystery.

Hitler was temporarily blinded by mustard gas in WWI. So that may have
had some influence (excepting the use of gas in concentration camps -
Hitler suggested using poison gas on Jews in Mein Kampf, where he also
recounted his experience in WWI with mustard gas.) In fact Wikipedia
claims a cite in support of the following statement:

"One notable poison gas casualty of the Great War was Adolf Hitler,
who was temporarily blinded. As a result, Hitler adamantly refused to
authorise the use of poison gas on the battlefield during World War
II, for fear of retaliation.[32]"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Use_of_...in_World_War_I

Trivia: Hitler allegedly originally wore a "Kaiser" style mustache at
the start of WWI but was ordered to clip it to the now-infamous
"Toothbrush" style so it would fit under the respirator masks used
during mustard gas attacks. Reference:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toothbrush_moustache


Wow. You would wonder how he came upon that style, allright. I suppose I
always just assumed it was fashionable in it's day.


Bertie