Ypres Commemorates 110th Anniversary of 1915 Chlorine Gas Attack Victims

Ypres (Eurotoday) – Commemoration ceremonies were held in Ypres and Langemark-Poelkapelle to mark 110 years since the first large-scale gas attacks of the First World War, which took place in the hamlet of Steenstraete between Bikschote and Zuidschote.

Residents and visitors gathered in both towns to honor the victims of the historic chlorine gas assault that occurred on April 22, 1915. This marked the first significant use of chemical warfare during World War I, where German forces deployed deadly chlorine gas along a six-kilometre front.

Thousands were injured due to gas-induced suffocation, and the commemorations saw participation from descendants of victims, including Dominique, whose grandfather died in the attack at the age of 78.

“They are letters from two lovers, Angèle and Georges,”

explains Annick Vandenbilcke from the local museum.

“They were clearly a loving couple with three children. Georges enlisted in the army and headed to the war, and mostly Angèle’s letters to him were preserved.”

“Very few of Georges’ letters remain. Eventually, all communication stopped, prompting Angèle to desperately reach out to various organizations in the hope of learning his fate. Her letters are heartbreaking — a testament to her hope that, against all odds, he might return.”

What was the impact of the first gas attack in WWI?

On April 22, 1915, German forces released an estimated 168 tons of chlorine gas near Ypres, Belgium. This marked the dawn of modern chemical warfare and drastically altered the tactics of World War I. The attack targeted French colonial and territorial troops, resulting in immediate respiratory trauma for thousands — with 6,000 soldiers collapsing in mere minutes and 1,200 losing their lives on the spot.

The use of such weapons was forbidden under the 1899 Hague Convention, yet the attack created a grim precedent. Chemical weapons went on to claim over 90,000 lives and caused 1.3 million casualties globally throughout WWI.

The Ypres Salient became synonymous with brutal trench warfare and immense human loss, with over one million deaths occurring in the region. Today, more than 150 military cemeteries and memorials dot the landscape, preserving the memory of those lost. The Flanders Fields Museum in Ypres holds over 50,000 artifacts, including letters, diaries, and photos that tell the personal stories of both soldiers and civilians.

The enduring ritual of the Last Post ceremony at Menin Gate — instituted in 1928 and taking place each evening — continues to honour the fallen, including victims of chemical weapons. The catastrophic events of 1915 laid the groundwork for international prohibitions on chemical warfare, culminating in global agreements like the 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention.