A xylyl bromide attack, 1918
Xylyl bromide, also known as White Cross, is a chemical gas weapon that was introduced to the military in 1914 during World War I. In January 1915, White Cross was used by the Imperial German Army for the first time, with 18,000 "t-shells" being fired at the Imperial Russian Army at Bolimow; the winter weather rendered the gas useless. The gas was similar to tear gas, and it was used extensively in the early stages fo the war.