The Horrors of World War I: How Chemical Weapons Changed History According to Historians

Around 100,000 people died as a result of the use of chemical weapons during the First World War

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On the eve of the 20th century, the world powers were very worried that the use of chemical weapons would become an integral part of any future-armed conflicts. For this reason, in 1899 they signed an agreement prohibiting the use of projectiles containing poisonous substances. However, it was violated only a few years later, after the outbreak of the First World War. The first to do this were the French, which used tear gas, causing a strong burning sensation in the eyes, mouth and nose. A few months later, the Germans decided to develop their own chemical weapons. The task was undertaken by Fritz Haber, who in 1918 received the Nobel Prize for Chemistry.