The Second Battle of Ypres, fought from April 22 to May 25, 1915, marked a significant turning point in World War I as it was the first time Germany used poison gas on the Western Front. The Second Battle of Ypres was fought for control of the strategically important area east and south of the Flemish town of Ypres in western Belgium. It was the second battle fought in this region, following the previous autumn's First Battle of Ypres.The battle comprised four distinct engagements: the Battle of Gravenstafel Ridge, the Battle of St. Julien, the Battle of Frezenberg, and the Battle of Bellewaarde.

The Battle of Gravenstafel Ridge (22 - 23 April 1915) began with a German attack on the Allied lines, where they released chlorine gas through cylinders placed on their side of the trenches. German forces launched an attack eastward from Langemark-Poelkapelle, along with defending against Allied forces advancing from Zonnebeke to St. Julien. The Germans had a plan to overwhelm the Allied lines with chlorine gas released through cylinders placed on their side of the trenches and then outflank them with a cavalry attack. To survive, most of the British and French troops had to hastily retreat into nearby woods or find whatever shelter they could, though some bravely stood their ground and attempted to respond to the chemical attack by using handkerchiefs soaked in urine as makeshift masks.The toxic green cloud caused panic and chaos among the Allied forces, who had to hastily retreat or find shelter. Some brave soldiers attempted to counter the chemical attack by using handkerchiefs soaked in urine as makeshift masks. Despite the horrific effects of the gas, the Allies managed to hold their ground at key positions.

The Battle of St. Julien (24 April - 5 May) saw the Germans capture Gravenstafel Ridge after a lengthy bombardment that included a mix of high explosives and chemical agents such as phosgene and hydrocyanic acid. Despite heavy losses due to these toxic weapons, Allied forces managed to hold off further advances at crucial positions near Mount Sorrel and Sanctuary Wood until May 9th when support from Canadian troops arrived just in time for a counterattack which prevented any further gains by German forces. Allied forces suffered heavy losses but managed to prevent further German advances with the timely arrival of these reinforcements. The Canadians' counter-attack that halted the German offensive came at a great cost. The bravery and sacrifice of the Canadian troops during this battle became another defining moment in their nation's Great War history.

Top photo: Nighttime photo of German barrage of Allied trenches at Ypres. (Probably 2nd Battle of Ypres.) On the Fringe of the Great Fight by Colonel George G. Nasmith, C.M.G. Mcclelland, Goodchild & Stewart Toronto 1917. Downloaded from Gutenberg free libraries.pg 105. In the Public Domain.

Bottom photo: An artist's interpretation of the Second Battle of Ypres from the Allied perspective. Painted by Canadian Richard Jack in 1917; from the Canadian War Museum Collection. In the Public Domain.

The Battle of Frezenberg (8 - 13 May) was characterized by intense fighting as the Germans attempted to break through the Allied lines once more. The Allies, bolstered by reinforcements from across Europe, including the British 5th Division, held their ground in the face of relentless attacks. The determination and resilience of the Allied soldiers proved crucial in preventing a German breakthrough. The battle continued through May 15th when German troops made another attempt at pushing forward but eventually had to give up due to intense fighting from Allied reinforcements who arrived from all around Europe including Britain’s 5th Division which landed only two days before. The offensive finally ended on May 25th after several more days of skirmishes between both sides resulting in heavy casualties for both armies, though ultimately proving unsuccessful for Germany whose plans for advancement were met with staunch resistance every step of the way.

The final engagement, the Battle of Bellewaarde (24-25 May), saw the Germans make one last push to advance their position. However, the Allied forces, now better prepared and reinforced, put up a staunch resistance. The battle resulted in heavy casualties on both sides, but ultimately, the Germans were unable to make any significant gains. The Second Battle of Ypres concluded with the Allies holding their line and the Germans realizing that their new chemical weapon, while devastating, was not the decisive factor they had hoped for.

According to official German records compiled after the war by the Reichsarchiv (German Military Archive), German casualties from 21 April to 30 May totaled 34,933. British losses, as recorded in the British Official History amounted to 59,275 casualties between 22 April and 31 May. The French also suffered significant casualties. On just 22 April, the first day of the German gas attack, the French incurred around 18,000 casualties. They suffered an additional 3,973 casualties from 26 to 29 April. However, some historians have suggested these French figures may be exaggerated due to wartime propaganda. Olivier Lepick estimates that 800-1,400 French soldiers were killed specifically by gas in April, out of a total of 2,000-3,000 French casualties that month. Canada, which had soldiers engaged in their first major battle, suffered 5,975 casualties from 22 April to 3 May, with the worst day being 24 April when they lost 3,058 men during infantry attacks, artillery bombardments and gas discharges. Exact numbers vary somewhat by source, the Second Battle of Ypres saw very heavy losses, with casualties likely exceeding 100,000 men in total from all sides engaged.

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