Phil J wrote:
On Mar 3, 7:16*pm, " wrote:

"Poison gas" was used extensively during the Great War. One of the
post-war conclusions was that it was more trouble than it was worth
and had only limited tactical value. The environmental conditions had
to be just so, and often the burden placed on friendly troops reduced
their own combat effectiveness.

The reason the Axis was so reluctant to employ such weapons was more
practical than moral -- contrary prevailing winds, and a tactical
emphasis on the offensive made gas unattractive as a battlefield
weapon.

The only great unknown is why the Germans didn't use it in the last
throes of the Reich.


That is a mystery.

Hitler was temporarily blinded by mustard gas in WWI. So that may have had
some influence (excepting the use of gas in concentration camps - Hitler
suggested using poison gas on Jews in Mein Kampf, where he also recounted
his experience in WWI with mustard gas.) In fact Wikipedia claims a cite in
support of the following statement:

"One notable poison gas casualty of the Great War was Adolf Hitler, who was
temporarily blinded. As a result, Hitler adamantly refused to authorise the
use of poison gas on the battlefield during World War II, for fear of
retaliation.[32]"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Use_of_...in_World_War_I

Trivia: Hitler allegedly originally wore a "Kaiser" style mustache at the
start of WWI but was ordered to clip it to the now-infamous "Toothbrush"
style so it would fit under the respirator masks used during mustard gas
attacks. Reference:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toothbrush_moustache