The Great War: Second Battle of Ypres Prelude Index

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The Second Battle of Ypres 1915

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Prelude to the Battle

Viewed from the German and the Allied perspectives the Prelude describes the build-up to the Second Battle of Ypres. It covers the period from January 1915 to 17.00 hours on 22 April 1915.

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The Allied Armies		The German Army
	The Germans develop a new weapon:the gas cloud
	*Updated* The location is selected for the trial of the new weapon
	German plans to cut off the Allied Ypres Salient
	Updated German resistance to the new weapon
	Updated Trial attack for the gas cloud is continually postponed
	The German 4th Army prepares a second area for a gas attack
	Gas cylinders are discovered at Zillebeke
	New allied troop replacements on the front line
	*Updated* German 4th Army issues operational orders for the attack
	Diary Entry by General Sir Douglas Haig: How to arrange a favourable wind?
	British press warn about a new German weapon
	President Poincaré visits French troops in Flanders
	The German 4th Army is under pressure to try out the gas
	Installation of the gas cylinders is completed in the northern sector
	Aims of the German Supreme Command
	*Updated* A German deserter reveals the plan to attack with gas
	The French reaction to the German deserter's information
	The King of Württemberg visits troops in Flanders
	*Updated* German 4th Army issues revised objectives for the attack
	*New page* German troops move into the battle zone ready for the attack
	*Updated* The British reaction to warnings about the gas
	*Updated* French General Headquarters dismisses General Ferry's warning
	A German order for mouth protectors is intercepted
	British attack launched at Hill 60, Zillebeke
	*New page* A German desire for revenge
	*Updated* The German justification for using gas in the Flanders attack
	Updated 1st Canadian Division completes the British relief of French 11 Division
	*Updated* The condition of the line of defence in the former French sector
	The Germans shoot down a famous French airman and capture a French invention
	*New page* German troops move into the battle zone for a second attempt to launch the attack
	German 'Big Bertha' bombards Ypres
	Life in Ypres
	Damage and civlian casualties in Ypres
	Evacuation of Ypres
	*Updated* German 4th Army is urged again to carry out the attack
	New page German troops move into the battle zone: a third attempt to launch the attack
	Order of battle of the German 4th Army
	Order of battle of the French Army
	Order of battle of the British Second Army
	*Updated* German soldiers wait for the order to begin the attack
	Updated Allied activity during the morning and early afternoon
	A favourable wind begins to blow
	The British observe strange greenish-yellow clouds at Langemarck
	A German soldier describes the field artillery bombardment

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Prelude to the Battle