During World War One, who/what did the German military target with infectious agents?
During World War One, the German military targeted both soldiers and civilians with infectious agents. One notable example was their use of chemical weapons, including toxic gases such as chlorine and mustard gas, which were primarily used against enemy troops on the Western Front. These gases caused respiratory and skin injuries and, in some cases, resulted in death.
Additionally, the German military conducted covert biological warfare operations, although on a smaller scale compared to their chemical weapons usage. One such operation was the deliberate infection of livestock and animals with diseases that could be transmitted to enemy forces. For example, they infected horses and mules with glanders, a highly contagious bacterial disease, to weaken the military capabilities of the Allied forces, which heavily relied on these animals for transportation.
It is important to note that the use of biological and chemical weapons during World War One was not limited to Germany alone, as multiple countries engaged in similar practices during the war.