The Story of Algerian Troops
History: KS3, topic 16.4.3
The Story of Algerian Troops
The Algerian troops, fighting for the French, also experienced poor conditions and bad equipment. They particularly experienced this at Ypres in 1915 AD when the Germans used chlorine gas.
Stalemate
- In Spring 1915 AD, a Stalemate had begun on the Western Front; neither side could break it.
- Both sides had dug trenches to defend themselves but they were difficult to attack.
- Neither the Allies nor the Central Powers could advance or have decisive victories.
The French army
- The French army was supported by troops from Algeria and Morocco.
- Part of the French empire was in Northern Africa.
German tactics at Ypres
- At Ypres, the Germans tried a new tactic to break the stalemate.
- On 22 April 1915 AD, they began shelling the trenches.
- Then, they release a new weapon - chlorine gas.
- Chlorine gas attacks the tissue and membrane of the throat and membrane of the throat and mouth.
- It can cause deadly coughing fits and temporary blindness.
No gas masks
- At this stage in the war there were no gas masks in the equipment for the allied troops near Ypres, who were mainly Algerian and Moroccan.
The Algerian troops were overwhelmed
- Algerian troops were based in the area of the Western Front where the Algerian troops were based.
- Those who didn't escape the gas in the trenches were then killed by German shells and rifles as they emerged from the trenches.
Gas affected wildlife
- Chlorine gas didn't just kill and injure the humans in the area but also affected the wildlife on the Western Front.
- Birds and rats all died in the areas gas was released.
Mortalities and injuries
- At Ypres on 22 April 1915 AD, 6,000 men were killed by chlorine gas.
The impact of gas upon the war
- The use of chlorine gas at Ypres in 1915 AD enabled the Germans to advance through a four-mile wide gap and advance 2 miles into allied territory.
Forgotten army
- Similarly to Ganga Singh, the experience of the Algerians in the second battle of Ypres shows how poorly equipped some of the forgotten armies were whilst fighting in the trenches.
- Despite the poor conditions and inferior equipment, the Algerians continued to bravely fight for the allied troops.
Test yourself on The Story of Algerian Troops
What did the Germans use for the first time at Ypres in 1915?
How many died by chlorine gas at Ypres on the 22nd of April 1915?