I'm doing a project on Langemark cemetery for work and while researching I came across a picture of a sign pointing at different places around the world.
https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/10/72/4d/72/chemical-weapons-signpost.jpg
According to one of my coworker's (who's been) memory:
Lybia 1930s Ethiopia China 1930s Yemen 1950s Qurna, Irak 1985 Shalamcheh, Iran 1986 Halabja, Irak 1980s Japan 1995 Ghouta, Syria 2013
Langemark was made to bury the dead of the german army during the 2nd battle of Ypres during the first world war. This is also the first time chemical weapons would have been used during that war.
Basically, what does the sign mean and why is it in a german cemetery in Belgium?
Yes, WWI saw the first use of poison gas ( chlorine), by the German Army at Langemark/Poelkapelle in the Second Battle of Ypres. Three of the signs- Shalamsheh Iran 1986, Halabja , Iraq 1980's and Japan 1995- also seem to be examples of the use of poison gas: in warfare ad/or ( in the case of Japan and the Aum Shinrykiyo subway attack) for terror purposes. Saddam Hussein used mustard gas both against dissidents and Kurds in his own country, and also against Iran in the Iran-Iraq War. I presume the other signs are for the same reason.
It is rather obvious that there is room for yet more signs on the post. Lest we forget.
