War of Nerves: Chemical Warfare from World War I to al-Qaeda

by Jonathan Tucker

Statesmen, generals, and diplomats have long debated the military utility and morality of chemical warfare. In 1925, the use of chemical weapons in war was prohibited by international treaty; in 1997 the ban on the use of chemical weapons was extended to cover their development, production, and stockpiling. Nevertheless, Iraq employed chemical weapons on a large scale as recently as the 1980s, first during its eight-year war with Iran and then against its rebellious Kurdish minority.

In War of Nerves , Jonathan Tucker, a leading expert on chemical and biological weapons, writes about chemical warfare from World War I to the present.

The author makes clear how, at the turn of the twentieth century, the large-scale use of toxic chemicals on the battlefield became feasible and cheap; how Germany first developed and employed toxic weapons during World War I, burying some 6,000 cylinders (containing 168 tons of chlorine) opposite the Allied trenches defending the town of Ypres, in Belgium. German troops simultaneously opened the chlorine cylinders, panicking two French divisions and tearing a gap four miles wide in the Ypres front.

Chemical warfare had five months later, the Allies retaliated with their own use of chlorine gas. By the end of the war, chemical warfare had inflicted roughly one million casualties, 90,000 of them fatal.

Tucker writes about the synthesis of the first nerve agent—Tabun—in 1936 by a German industrial chemist developing new pesticides how its high toxicity made it unusable as a pesticide but viable as a weapon for the Nazi regime. A few years later, two even more toxic nerve agents—Sarin and Soman—were developed for military use. Hitler never employed this secret weapon; German intelligence concluded—incorrectly—that the Allies had developed a similar capability.

Following World War II, we see the rise of a Cold War chemical competition between the United States and the Soviet Union that paralleled the nuclear arms race, as each pursued the secrets of the German nerve agents; how the United States and Britain planned to mass-produce Sarin (only the United States did); how the superpowers developed and mass-produced V-agents, a new generation of nerve agents of extraordinary potency; and how nerve agents spread to the Third World, including their suspected use by Egypt during the Yemen Civil War (1963—1967), as well as Iraq’s use of nerve agents in its war against Iran and on its own people. Iraq’s use of nerve agents hastened the negotiation of an international treaty banning the use of chemical weapons, which went into effect in 1997. Although the treaty now has more than 175 member-states, al-Qaeda and related terrorist groups are seeking to acquire nerve agents.

In this important and revelatory book, Jonathan Tucker makes clear that we are at a crossroads that could lead either to the further spread of these weapons or to their ultimate abolition.

Genres: History, Science, Military Fiction, Nonfiction, War

496 pages, Hardcover

First published February 7, 2006

Reviews

[Lizzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A comprehensive military history of chemical weapons from their root in WWI through 2006, War of Nerves does a fantastic job of illustrating how organizational imperatives and domestic politics play just as strong of role in weapon development programs as does defined military need or strategic imperatives. Tucker is by no means polemical, but he does convey that the meta-argument over deterrence often had little connection at best to military requirements, preparedness, and technical constraints.

However, he also illustrates how close several states were to CW deployment as part of a broad conventional campaign, most strikingly Nazi Germany in 1945, combatant Arab states during the 1973 war with Israel, and Iraq in 1991. Tucker argues that in each case awareness of asymmetrical capabilities (especially inability to protect their own populations from retaliation) prevented otherwise logical CW use for military purposes. If you accept that argument (which Tucker does not flesh out with much sourcing or research of his own) then he does an insufficient job of pivoting in the last chapter in support of the CWC and the existence of norms as the best tool to prevent future CW use. I’m not taking a position on either side, but rather noting Tucker’s meticulous evidence itself undermines what appear in the last chapter to be his policy preferences.

This is a highly relevant book to frame the pervasive use of chemical weapons in Syria today as the international community stands by, unable or unwilling to enforce the norm. It is reminiscent of the Italian use of CW against Abyssinia as the League of Nations wrung its hands, a historical analogy that should deeply worry anyone concerned over the stability of today’s international system.

[Nick Davies · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting and thorough examination of chemical weapons from the World War 1 era to current (well, published 2007) day. Certainly very educational with regards the context provided, and insights into such subject's as Hitler's resistance to using chemical weapons, the use of these substances by Egypt, Iraq and Aum Shinrikyo, the numerous technical and practical considerations, and the political and moral aspects.

This latter point, to some extent, tested my patience in places - and is why I probably can only give this four stars. Though I understand the mid 20th Century years needed to be covered, where not a lot of actual 'stuff' happened, and you've chapters and chapters about both sides in The Cold War doing R&D, lying to other countries about what they are and are not up to, and the diplomacy and game theory of the whole shebang, it got a bit bogged down.

[Thomass G.R. Bürger · Rating 3 out of 5]

✨️2.5✨️

This was a decent read. I felt like it started out very strong, and then died down. I got a second wind when it started talking about Saddam Hussein's use of chemical warfare, and then Aum Shinrikyo's involvement, but it's been ups and downs. Ultimately the down was longer and rougher.

All in all, it felt like a chore to read this and I am glad it is over. I'd say there was probably 75 pages that really had me hooked and then that's it. The parts about WWI, WWII, Iraq and the Tokyo Subway attacks were it and were very short.

Although I love the Cold War and still find it fascinating, i've concluded I don't think the CBRN side of it is the part that interests me.

[Erik · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent top-down telling of chemical weapon warfare from 1914 to 2007. Easy to read, extremely compelling, and smart enough to let the reader decide, this was a non fiction book i could power through without getting too mentally exhausted. There is some chemistry, but you arent required to have prior knowledge. Chemical weaponry has an interesting history in that its been partially decommissioned - far further in arms reduction than nuclear.

Some parts of the title are covered in much more detail to than others, and while i can understand certain events have less to write about, I would have preferred a wider scope.

He focuses only on the main weapons specifically developed to militarize for the purposes of killing . Agent Orange and environmental chemicals are only briefly mentioned - I felt the author minimized the destructiveness of agent orange in the way he presented. Police agents such as tear gas or incapacitating gasses are not mentioned. Frustatingly, Tucker retells an incident of how Russian military pumped narcotic gasses to end a hostage situation - without going into more detail about that wider class of substances.

I particularly enjoyed the part about the Japanese Cult gas attacks, as well as world war II.

I think theres a lot more here than the small view we got - which is largely from a cold war perspective. Beggars cant be choosers - this is the best book out there on chemical weapons.

[Nuno · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book provides an overview on the history of chemical weapons development and use.
The book is initially more focused on the development of chemical weapons and their chemistry - though not to a great detail -, and the more contemporary uses of chemical weapons are analysed mostly from a political perspective. In the end, there is an interesting epilogue dealing with the elimination of chemical weapons.

I would recommend reading this book immediately after or before reading "Toxic" by Dan Kaszeta. Many of the topics are repeated, but I actually found that advnatageous because it increases retention of information.

[Beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you've branched Chem Corps in the military -- its an Ok read. I think it focuses a little bit too much on the R&D and then the demilitarization side, and not so much on the "what were chemical soldiers doing at the time" side, but its still a good history lesson. Probably really boring to anybody else.

[Enrique · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book provides a good comprehensive overview of the development and use of chemical weapons staring with World War One. For anyone that studies weapons of mass destruction this book is a must have.

[Mateo Bans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic literature discussing the origins of chemical warfare to the early 2000's. Very indepth and gives you the foundation for his subject!

[august Shank · Rating 4 out of 5]

So informative and mostly interesting

[Charles Cameron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting book, a little technical but I have an advanced degree in chemistry. Concentrates on modern nerve agents and WW1 chemical weapons.

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an excellent history of the use of chemical weapons throughout the world in the twentieth and early twenty-first century. As a work of history, this book is extremely detailed and shows an in-depth picture of how chemical weapons have been used by both governments and on-state actors from World War I to the present day. However, one flaw in the book is the author's argument that existing international norms against chemical weapons be enforced further, and that more agreements be established to prevent their use. This is no guarantee of non-use even by governments that are signatories to such agreements. However, in spite of the flawed argument, this was an excellent, informative work of history that is recommended to anyone who wishes to learn more about the topic.

[Viktor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent narrative which spans the entire history of chemical warfare, from its beginnings in WWI (we just passed the 100th anniversary in April) to the modern day terrorist threat. The book is extremely detailed - even from a chemistry standpoint - which may discourage some readers, but I highly recommend it to anyone who is curious to learn more about modern warfare and politics.

I believe the author does well at remaining objective throughout the book, although at times he does seem to approach the issue of chemical warfare from a moral and ethical, black and white stance, which it clearly is not - there are many shades of gray to the argument.

[Pooja Kashyap · Rating 2 out of 5]

One of the best book on chemical warfare, giving glimpse on 2003 Iraq War and the current threat of chemical terrorism. These super toxic poisons have no peaceful uses, they must not have been created in the first place. Tucker is trying his best by presenting the never ending ill effects of these nerve racking agents but unfortunately the governments do not seem to be getting much wiser.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book- I would highly recommend this book this to anyone seeking a knowledge base in chemical warfare or really anyone interested in military history. Very well-written