16. Gas Masks Showed Up During World War I
While many wars came before the First World War, the gas mask made its first appearance during this time. Military personnel needed to find a way to protect soldiers from dangerous fumes during the war, especially from the effects of chloride gas.
When German troops first released chemical warfare that included chloride gas, around 1,100 American soldiers died because of the gas. Many more soldiers and civilians became injured due to the gas, which made them feel as if their head burned and needles pierced their lungs. Without the masks, soldiers couldn’t continue their fight.