Neuve Chapelle

Strictly speaking, the first German gas used in the World War was chlonulfate of ortho ianisidin, a powder which was filled between the lead bolls of the shrapnel. However, only one trial lot of theee shell was used on Oct. 27, 1914, at Neuve-Chapelle and, aa the success obtiuned was not sufificient to warrant further use of this material, it was abandonedL... 

Germany s use of chemical weapons on the battlefield began on October 27, 1914 when they fired shells loaded with dianisidine chlorosulfonate, a tear gas, at the British near Neuve Chapelle. This tear gas normally produces violent sneezing. In this case, however, the chemical dispersed so rapidly in the air that the British never knew they were attacked by gas (Charles, 2005). Following this experiment, the Germans continued to test other potential chemical weapons. 

On 27 October 1914, the Germans fired 3,000 of these projectiles at the British near Neuve-Chapelle, but with no visible effects. The explosive aspect of the shells destroyed the chemical aspect. In fact, the British were apparently unaware that they were the victims of the first large-scale chemical projectile attack. 

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