Why was chemical and biological weopons not used on a large scale during WW2?

Question

Apart from the extermination camps, obviously. I mean as tactical or strategic weapons. I'm aware that the Italians used some in Ethiopia, and the Japanese experimented with it a lot, and that both Germany and Russia had substantial stocks of such material. So why wasn't it used?

I seriously doubt that the military dictatorships felt bound by conventions. Certainly, in the early stages of the war it was deemed politically expedient to cater to them, but why didn't Hitler authorize their usage, for instance, as the Russian armies plowed through Poland? Or why didn't the Japanese use them when the writing was on the wall, say on Iwo Jima or Okinawa? I find it difficult to believe that at these extreme phases of the war (for the Axis powers, at least) that restraint would have been a guiding priority...

Answer 1

Their use was banned in 1928 by the Geneva Protocol.

followup:
Nazi Germany didn't use chemical weapons against enemy soldiers because Hilter was a victim of mustard gas poisoning in WW1 and hated chemical weapons.

Answer 2

Why WEREN'T chemical and biological weapons used in the same way that they were in WWI? (They are 2 separate things.) The Japanese used them extensively, but not against Occidentals, because of fear of retaliation. Possibly the Germans didn't use the ones they certainly did have large stocks of, for the same reason. The Italians used them in Ethiopia.

They were outlawed by the 3rd Geneva Convention, and it seems that generally they were only ever used after that by nations who were fighting technologically inferior foes.

Answer 3

Actually Japan did more than simply experiment with them. Biological weapons were used in ernest against China. Both England and the United States declared that they would use chemical weapons only if it was used against them first. England actually prepared heavily for the eventuality, issuing gas masks to its citizens. They even issued Disney gas masks so childern would be less afraid to wear them. For its part, Germany did not have capacity to provide gas protection to both its citizens and its soldiers. It was clear to the German leadership that they would fair far worse in a chemical exchange.

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Answer 4

The Geneva Convention. After the horrors of mustard gas in WW1 Such weapons were "banned"

Answer 5

Most of the major powers involved in the war manufactured chemical and biological weapons. They were not used primarily because all feared that they would be used against them if they were to employ them.

Answer 6

They were used, You just don't know how. The Japanese dropped fleas infected with bubonic plague upon Nanking, I believe it was, murdered a few million with that. Crops were favorite targets in Russia, and trench foot, and typhus, and other rotten diseases where passed around. The Germans did experiment with gases, and killed millions with them. But if you add nuclear to the arsnal, there was plenty of unethical war practices. Get ready for more.

Answer 7

well y pakistan and indians did not use nuclear weapons when they were at war in 1999

the answer is that all of them had these weapons and they all feared eachother

Answer 8

the geneva convention, but america's president learned from president chang kai chek's brother-in-law dr, soong of the hatred of anyone deploying fire on any japanese troop, so we used the flame thrower extensively to cook, broil and barbecue

Answer 9

Chemical and biological weapons were not yet fully developed in World War II and it is the reason why it was not used extensively in the war.

Answer 10

WHAT ARE YOU,SOMEONE WHO GETS OFF ON SEEING PEOPLE SUFFER,WITH ALL THE **** THAT OTHER COUNTRIES DO TO THERE PEOPLE,WHY WOULD YOU POSSIBLY CARE WHY THEY DID'NT,JUST BE DAMN GLAD THEY DID'NT!!