Blue Cross (chemical warfare)

Blue Cross gas (Blaukreuz): A "Sneezing" gas and chemical warfare agent so called from the standard Blue Cross marking for German artillery shells with a chemical payload. It was introduced by the Germans in 1917. It consisted of diphenylchloroarsine (DA, Clark I), diphenylcyanoarsine (CDA, Clark II), ethyldichloroarsine (Dick), and/or methyldichloroarsine (Methyldick). Clark I and Clark II were the main agents used and affects the upper respiratory tract.

Clark I was used with Green Cross munition earlier; however for the first time it was used as a standalone agent in the night from 10 July to 11 July 1917 at Nieuport, Belgium, during "Operation Strandfest". The artillery munition used as a delivery vehicle contained a large amount of glass spheres closed with a cork and sealed with trinitrotoluene. Later N-ethylcarbazole was added. Depending on the caliber, the munition contained between 7 and 120 kilograms of the agent.

References / notes

The above term is listed in our Compendium of the Great War on this day.

Included are trench slang, service terms, expressions in everyday use, nicknames, the titles and origins of British and Commonwealth Regiments, and warfare in general. These words and phrases are contemporary with the war, which is reflected in the language used. Sources include: Soldier and Sailor Words and Phrases, The War Book-of-Facts and Odhams' A.B.C. of the Great War. Feel free to expand upon and improve this content.

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