Attack of the dead men

The first world conflict gave rise to many horrifying battle tactics, including the use of poison gas. One of the most unsettling WWI fights was the battle at the Osowiec Fortress, where Germans fought what looked like real-life zombies. On August 6, 1915, the Germans released gas on Russian and Polish soldiers, effectively destroying their enemies' lungs and throats. Many soldiers expired from the devastating effects of the gas.

Yet somehow, a group of fighters managed to live through the initial strike and hold down the fortress. When the Germans reached the tower, they saw dozens of disfigured and bleeding combatants coming at them. "The Attack of the Dead Men," as it was known, spawned legends about Russian soldiers rising from the grave to fight.

In WWI, the Germans released bromine and chlorine gases. Bromine by itself acts as a respiratory irritant, but when combined with chlorine gas, it becomes a lethal cocktail. Chlorine gas turns into a form of hydrochloric acid when it binds to the moisture in a person's lungs. The acid then eats through the soft flesh and mucous membranes of the body. Eyes can be damaged and even rendered permanently blind, the nasal cavity bleeds, and even moist skin can show signs of chemical burns and deterioration.

The most devastating harm happens to the lungs, as they burn from the inside out, the tissue dissolving as the victim inhales. With prolonged exposure in high quantities, a victim perishes from the inability to breathe. Once someone breathes in enough of this gas, it can cause a very painful demise in as little as minutes

attack of the dead men