1. Weapons of World War I – Part Two
Were some weapons considered unethical during WW I?

2. #6 The Flame Thrower Developed by Germans
Eventually used by British and French
Spreads by launching burning fuel
Cylinder filled with fuel carried on the back
Advantages: Could easily destroy large amounts of territory
Disadvantages: Unethical to burn people alive; dangerous for user

3. #7 Grenade Launchers Handheld launching device developed by the French
Initially like a sling shot
Later, could be fired out of a plane
Advantage: launched grenades further than a human could throw
Disadvantage: dangerous for user if it fell or got stuck

4. #8 Trench Mortars or Artillery Shells
A mortar is a short, wide tube that fires a missile/bomb from a steep angle that falls straight down on target
Used by both sides in addition to regular artillery shells

5. #8 Trench Mortars or Artillery Shells
Advantage: could be fired from inside the trench, lots of damage
Disadvantage: hard to aim, could explode inside trench

6. The French first to use tear gas in war
#9 Poison Gas
The French first to use tear gas in war
Then, Germans develop mustard gas & ammonia based poison gas
Germany widely used poison gas against allied troops. Later both sides use poison gas as a weapon – everyone needs gas masks

7. Gas caused choking, blindness, severe blisters and death
#9 Poison Gas
Gas caused choking, blindness, severe blisters and death
Advantage: fairly undetectable, enemy doesn’t see it coming
Disadvantage: seen as a very unethical weapon. Treaties were signed after WWI that bans poison gas warfare

8. Nearly 90,000 of the 9.7 million casualties were due to poison gas
Country
Total Casualties
Gas Casualties
Austria-Hungary
1.2 million
3,000
British Empire
908,371
8,109
France
1.4 million
8,000
Germany
1.8 million
9,000
Italy
650,000
4,627
Russia
1.7 million
56,000
USA
116,708
1,462
Ottoman Empire
800,000
1,000