A higher form of killing : six weeks in World War I that forever changed the nature of warfare forever

A Higher Form of Killing: Six Weeks in World War I That Forever Changed the Nature of Warfare In six weeks during April and May 1915, as World War I escalated, Germany forever altered the way war would be fought. On April 22, at Ypres, German canisters spewed poison gas at French and Canadian soldiers in their trenches; on May 7, the German submarine U-20, without warning, torpedoed the passenger liner Lusitania, killing 1,198 civilians; and on May 31, a German Zeppelin began the first aerial bombardment of London and its inhabitants. Each of these actions violated rules of war carefully agreed at the Hague Conventions of 1898 and 1907. Though Germany's attempts to quickly win the war failed, the psychological damage caused by these attacks far outweighed the casualties. The era of weapons of mass destruction had dawned. While each of these momentous events has been chronicled in histories of the war, celebrated historian Diana Preston links them for the first time, revealing the dramatic stories behind each through the eyes of those who were there, whether making the decisions or experiencing their effect. She places the attacks in the context of the centuries-old debate over what constitutes "just war," and shows how, in their aftermath, the other combatants felt the necessity to develop extreme weapons of their own. In our current time of terror, when weapons of mass destruction--imagined or real--are once again vilified, the story of their birth is of great relevance. Between April 22 and May 30, 1915, Western civilization was shocked. World War I was already appalling in its brutality, but it had until then been fought on the battlefield and by rules long agreed by convention. Suddenly those rules were abandoned when Germany forever altered the way war would be fought. On April 22, at Ypres, German canisters spewed poison gas at French and Canadian soldiers in their trenches; on May 7, the German submarine, U-20, without warning, torpedoed the passenger liner Lusitania , killing 1,198 civilians; and on May 31, a German zeppelin began the first aerial bombardment of London and its inhabitants. Each of these actions violated rules of war carefully agreed to at the Hague Conventions of 1898 and 1907 and were deliberately breached by Germany in an attempt to spread terror and force the Allies to surrender. While that failed, the psychological damage caused by these attacks far outweighed the casualties. The era of weapons of mass destruction had dawned. While each of these momentous events has been chronicled in histories of the war, celebrated historian Diana Preston links them for the first time, revealing the dramatic stories and the personalities behind them through the eyes of those who were there--whether making the decisions to use the weapons or experiencing their horrifying effect in the trenches, on board the Lusitania or on the streets of London. Placing the attacks in the context of the centuries-old debate over what constitutes "just war," Preston shows how, in their aftermath, the other combatants felt the necessity to develop extreme weapons of their own. In our current time of terror, when weapons of mass destruction are once again implemented and threatened and wartime atrocities abound in a very different kind of conflict, the vivid story of their birth is of great relevance. Between April 22 And May 31, 1915, Western Civilization Was Shocked. World War I Was Already Appalling In Its Brutality, But Until Then It Had Been Fought On The Battlefield And By Rules Long Agreed By International Convention. Suddenly Those Rules Were Abandoned. On April 22, At Ypres, German Canisters Spewed Poison Gas Over French And Canadian Soldiers In Their Trenches; On May 7, The German Submarine U-20, Without Warning, Torpedoed The Passenger Liner Lusitania; And On May 31, A German Zeppelin Began The First Aerial Bombardment Of London. Each Of These Actions Violated Rules Of War Carefully Agreed To At The Hague Conventions Of 1898 And 1907 Which Were Deliberately Breached By The German Authorities In An Attempt To Spread Terror And Force The Allies To Surrender. While That Failed, The Psychological Damage These Attacks Caused Far Outweighed The Physical Casualties. Celebrated Historian Diana Preston Links These Events For The First Time, Revealing The Dramatic Stories Behind Them Through The Eyes Of Those Who Were There. Placing The Attacks In The Context Of The Centuries-old Debate Over What Constitutes Just War And Civilized Warfare, Preston Shows How Subsequently The Other Combatants Felt The Necessity To Develop And Use Similar Weapons. Now, When Such Weapons Of Mass Destruction Are Once Again Deployed And Threatened, And Terrorist Atrocities Abound In Very Different Kinds Of Conflicts, The Vivid Story Of Their Birth Is Of Great Relevance. "In six weeks during April and May 1915, as World War I escalated, Germany forever altered the way war would be fought. On April 22, at Ypres, German canisters spewed poison gas at French and Canadian soldiers in their trenches; on May 7, the German submarine U-20, without warning, torpedoed the passenger liner Lusitania, killing 1,198 civilians; and on May 31, a German Zeppelin began the first aerial bombardment of London and its inhabitants. Each of these actions violated rules of war carefully agreed at the Hague Conventions of 1898 and 1907. Though Germany's attempts to quickly win the war failed, the psychological damage caused by these attacks far outweighed the casualties. The era of weapons of mass destruction had dawned. While each of these momentous events has been chronicled in histories of the war, celebrated historian Diana Preston links them for the first time, revealing the dramatic stories behind each through the eyes of those who were there, whether making the decisions or experiencing their effect. She places the attacks in the context of the centuries-old debate over what constitutes 'just war, ' and shows how, in their aftermath, the other combatants felt the necessity to develop extreme weapons of their own. In our current time of terror, when weapons of mass destruction--imagined or real--are once again vilified, the story of their birth is of great relevance"-- Provided by publisher "In six weeks during April and May 1915, as World War I escalated, Germany forever altered the way war would be fought with poison gas, torpedoes killing civilians, and aerial bombardment. Each of these actions violated rules of war carefully agreed at the Hague Conventions of 1898 and 1907. The era of weapons of mass destruction had dawned. While each of these momentous events has been chronicled in histories of the war, historian Diana Preston links them for the first time, revealing the dramatic stories behind each through the eyes of those who were there, whether making the decisions or experiencing their effect." -- Provided by publisher "A Flash Of Lightening From The North" "Humanising War" "The Law Of Facts" "A Scrap of Paper" "The Worst Of Contrabands" "England Will Burn" "A Most Effective Weapon" "Something That Makes People Permanently Incapable of Fighting" "Operation Disinfection" "This Filty Loathsome Pestilence" "Solomon's Temple" "They Got Us This Time, All Right" "Wilful and Wholesale Murder" "Too Proud To Fight" "The Very Earth Shook" "Order, Counter-Order, Disorder!" "A Gift of Love" "Do You Know Anything About Gas?" "Zepp And A Portion Of Clouds" "Remember The Lusitania" "Each One Must Fight On To The End" "Weapons Of Mass Destruction". 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