Discussion Forums for the Dialogue Paper

Security

Thank you for participating in the Dialogue on Foreign Policy. The interactive web site is now closed. The Minister's report will appear on this web site once it is released.

This Forum is bilingual, and participants post messages in their language of choice.

Previous Topic | All Topics |

Start Topic | Next Topic

Allies found them, Chemical weapons...

Contributor: Barretm82

Date: 2003-04-08 19:19:31

I think your talking about not using chemical weapons on civilians; Germany did use chemical weapons on the battle fields. I think they didn't use chemical weapons on civilians, but I could be wrong.

Reply to this message

Show in topic

Allies found them, Chemical weapons...

Contributor: Fleabag

Date: 2003-04-08 21:43:53

Actually, Barret, you have it backwards. The German Military never used chemical weapons on the battlefield, only in the extermination camps. Zyklon B was, in effect, a WMD. Their actual production of battlefield WMD's such as Tabun, outstripped British production, but they did not ever use it on the battlefield. Partly it was the fear of retaliation, for the Brits were using a new kind of terrorism, the mass killing of civilians through bombing, and also Hitler was the victim of gas warfare in WWI, so he himself did not want to see that kind of history repeated.

Reply to this message

Allies found them, Chemical weapons...

Contributor: Barretm82

Date: 2003-04-09 10:37:47

Yes you’re right, I have been pressed for time in the last two weeks, I didn't realize my error untill after I quickly posted. (no darn edit in this forum!!) /joking/

Thanks for clearing that up Fleabag. :)

Reply to this message

Allies found them, Chemical weapons...

Contributor: Barretm82

Date: 2003-04-09 10:53:17

---Just to add, as I gave it further thought. This is the error I made. In WWI Germany used chemical weapons on the battle field but not on civilians.

---In WWII, Germany used chemical weapons against civilians but not on the battle field.

That's where I should have been clearer. Would you say that is correct fleabag? (Thanks)

Reply to this message

Allies found them, Chemical weapons...

Contributor: Fleabag

Date: 2003-04-10 23:07:02

Yes, that would be more correct. Barret. I myself, have been guilty of writing too quickly, and I never proofread myself, so often I only see my mistakes after they have been posted. That's life, I guess. We can't ever say 'time out' in life, for time marches on with or without us.
WWI was the last real war where WMD were used as a matter of course, without fear of 'war crimes' charges. In WWII, WMD were also used, but the user's side won, so no charges could ever be brought to bear. Mustard Gas was also used in Ethiopia by the Italians just before WWII, but this was never brought before the Nuremberg trials. A sad oversight, I think.

Reply to this message

Allies found them, Chemical weapons...

Contributor: codc01

Date: 2003-04-09 02:51:33

From what i know, the Germans used chemicals on the battlefield during WWI only...

Reply to this message

Allies found them, Chemical weapons...

Contributor: Barretm82

Date: 2003-04-09 10:41:20

Hi codc01, fleabag has it right. :)

Reply to this message

Previous Topic | All Topics |

Start Topic | Next Topic