WWI, The Battle of Bolimow, The German army's first extensive use of poison gas in Eastern front

An inconclusive battle between the German Ninth Army and the Russian Second Army, the Battle of Bolimov, launched on 31 January 1915, formed part of the third German attack directed against Warsaw

Bolimov is site of the German army's 1st extensive use of poison gas.  The firing of several thousand gas shells proved entirely unsuccessful.  Not only was the xylyl bromide (a tear gas) blown back towards the German lines, it also failed to vaporise in the freezing temperatures, falling harmlessly to the ground.

Russians launched a number of heavy frontal counterattacks by some 11 divisions (led by Vasily Gurko), suffering 40,000 casualties and achieving little

German artillery repulsing the Russian attacks with ease.