The Formula of Death. Chemical Weapons from the Trenches of World War I to the 21st Century

Chemical weapons became one of the symbols of 20th-century wars. The unexpected results of using poisonous substances in World War I made chemical weapons one of the most terrifying. Most publications on this type of armament only consider the chemical substances themselves and their effects on the human body, as well as the history of the use of poisonous substances. Questions of tactical application – how to use this weapon in warfare, and how to combine it with the actions of armies – remain unaddressed.

The new book by Vitaly Ilinich examines the most significant types of chemical weapons, their influence on the course of combat operations during military campaigns, methods of their application, tactical advantages and disadvantages, and the combination of actions of poisonous substances with conventional armaments in offensive and defensive operations. Special attention is paid to the issues of using chemical weapons in accordance with military doctrines of the first half of the 20th century, the use of various samples of military equipment during chemical attacks, and the interaction of chemical, nuclear, and biological weapons. The publication is equipped with diagrams of tactical interaction of army units when using chemical substances.