Why didn't the Germans fully exploit the first gas attack near Ypres
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My favorite source for all WW1 information is the YouTube channel The Great War, which follows the events of the war week by week exactly 100 years later.
They have an episode for the week gas was first used in a large scale, the week from the second battle of Ypres, and a special on just poison gas. These will be my sources for my answer.
The first large scale gas attack took place in January of 1915 by the Germans against the Russians, but because it was deployed in the frozen eastern front, it wasn't very successful due to the gas failing to vaporize. This was tear gas, not chlorine, mind you. Chlorine was first used in the second battle of Ypres, as you've been reading. The French saw the advancing yellow cloud, and figuring it was a smoke screen meant to obscure advancing troops, sent their troops to the area to defend. Because it was poison, this is what opened the giant hole in the lines that you mention in your question. The second episode linked goes into this at about 2:30. It was combination of reasons:
- The gas attacks on the Eastern front weren't successful, so they weren't expecting it to have a huge impact.
- It is the first time that
Clgas had been used, so they weren't sure what to expect. - They didn't expect the French to clump together in front of the cloud, maximizing its effectiveness.
- Since it was just an experiment, they didn't expect such a large hole to be opened in the lines, and didn't know what to do.
- The Germans were lacking in reserves, which had just been transferred to the Eastern front to assist in fighting Russia.
- The Canadian troops nearby fought bravely to defend the exploit, then quickly developed counter measures. They covered their faces with cloths soaked with urine, and had goggles. Although there was still a high casualty rate in the battles that followed, it was enough to allow them to function.
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