Cross of the 26th Reserve Corps "Langemark"

The original cross is in very good condition. Riot metal, silvering, tinting. Guarantee of authenticity.

On April 22, 1915, a chemical attack (with chlorine) was carried out by the Germans near Ypres from the positions of the 26th reserve corps "Langemark", as a result - 5,000 killed. Historians believe that the so-called Second Battle of Ypres, which began on April 22, 1915, on the German side was intended not so much to capture the city as to test new weapons at the front. The Main Command of the Kaiser's troops chose enemy positions in the southwestern part of the Ypres salient for the purpose of attacking. As a result of meteorological observations, the high command was convinced that the new weapon was best tested during the period of the approaching domination of the southern winds; therefore, the experiment was carried out on the front section turned to the north. It was the junction of the 2nd British Army and the 20th French Corps.

Gas cylinder batteries of 20 gas cylinders each were installed on the attack front 6 km away, which required 180 tons of chlorine to fill. A total of 6,000 cylinders were required, of which half of the commercial sample was requisitioned. In addition to them, 24,000 new half-volume cylinders were prepared. Of the total amount of chlorine stocks harvested, only 30% were used in the battle.

The German army led by Duke Albrecht of Württemberg failed to build on the initial success. Since March 1915, the German command has been preparing a major operation to break through the enemy front with the use of chemical weapons. The strike was carried out at the junction of the 2nd British army and the 20th French corps. Within a few days, the German chemical troops installed 150 gas-cylinder batteries at night. On April 22, 180 thousand kg of chlorine was released on the positions of the British troops. A yellowish-green cloud moved towards the enemy's positions, followed by the German infantry in gauze bandages. The British soldiers, not being equipped with means of protection against gas, suffocated and fell dead. The British, in a panic, abandoned their positions, which were occupied by German soldiers without a fight. Chlorine affected 15,000 people, 5,000 of whom died. There was a gap of 3.5 km between the British and French troops . The road to Ypres was clear. However, having no reserves, the German command could not benefit from the current situation. By car and on foot, the British and French pulled up reserves and occupied a gap in the defense, all subsequent attempts by German troops to break through the defense were unsuccessful. The British and French were already equipped with the simplest means of protection against chemical weapons. In further battles in May, the Germans managed to advance a short distance, but the main task of breaking through the front and capturing Ypres was not completed. The first-ever use of gas, brought the Germans limited success. But it was the beginning of the mass use of chemical warfare agents by warring states. The means of protection and a new element of combat support were developed — chemical protection of troops. Already in 1915, the simplest gauze bandages were replaced by gas masks.