The Second Battle of Ypres reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

Second Battle of Ypres

History — Military history — List of battles

— World War I

Battle before: First Battle of Ypres
Battle after:

Second Battle of Ypres
Conflict	World War I
Date	April 22 - May 25, 1915
Place	Ypres, Belgium
Result	Stalemate
Combatants France, Britain/Canada Germany Commanders Gen. Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien Duke Albrecht of Württemberg Strength Britain/Canada/India 6 infantry div. France 2 infantry div. Germany 7 infantry div. Casualties Britain/Canada/India 58,000 France 10,000 Germany 35,000

The Second Battle of Ypres was the first time Germany used chemical weapons on a large scale on the Western Front in World War I.

The Second Battle of Ypres consisted of four separate battles:

• The Battle of Gravenstafel - 22nd to 23rd April 1915
• The Battle of St Julien - 24th April to 4th May 1915
• The Battle of Frezenburg - 8th to 13th May 1915
• The Battle of Bellewaarde - 24th to 25th May 1915

168 tons of chlorine gas were released on 22 April over a four mile front. Around 5,000 troops died within ten minutes by asphyxiation. The gas affected the lungs and the eyes causing respiration problems and blindness. Being more dense than air it flowed downwards forcing the troops to climb out of trenches.

Initially French Colonial and Algerian troops were attacked with gas. They died there or abandonned their positions leaving a 4 miles gap in the front line. The 1st Canadian Division reinforced the gap and held that part of the line against further gas attacks until 3rd May.

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