Attack of the Dead Men

The day was August 6, 1915. World War One had been raging on.

German forces had been pushing back the Russians in Eastern Europe. For months, the Germans had attempted to capture Osowiec Fortress in Northern Poland from the Russians, so far to no avail.

It was an old fort, built during the early 19th century, and not in the best state by World War One. However, Russian artillery proved to be sufficient to hold off the Germans, who continue their attacks.

Using Gas

Exhausted by months of no progress on the fortress, the Germans realized that it was time for a new plan. They decided to try a relatively experimental weapon: poison gas.

Poison gas was fairly new when the Great War broke out. As long as the wind was in their favor, the Germans could use it as a very deadly weapon.

There were two types of poison gas during the war: mustard gas and chloride gas. Mustard gas was easier to survive and recover from, however it could affect those wearing a gas mask. This type of gas was more common on the Western Front, since most of the Allies supplied gas masks to their armies.

Chloride gas, on the other hand, would basically melt a person’s lungs and any soft flesh internally. However, it could be avoided with a proper gas mask.

The Advance

During World War One, the Russians were using mostly outdated equipment. They also had no gas masks.

The Germans knew this and decided to use chloride gas, the deadlier of the two types. Deploying gas was not new to them, especially for those who had already fought on the Western Front. German forces put on their gas masks, deployed the chloride gas, and began their march on the fortress.

The whistle blew and German soldiers poured out of their trench to advance on the Russians. They had allowed some time for the gas to kick in, and suspected all of the Russians to be dead by now. Without gas masks, chances of survival were slim to none.

Everything seemed to go as planned, until the Germans got close enough to the fortress.

The Dead Men Strike

The Germans suddenly hesitated. A loud bang went off, and one German soldier dropped dead.

Then, from within the fortress, the Germans could see movement. It was slow movement, but there were bodies moving around. The bodies started climbing out of the fortress, in an attempt to advance on the Germans.

Over 7,000 German soldiers marched toward the fortress, yet not a single one made it there. Most of them fled in terror at the “dead men” in front of them. Others were shot down before they could realize what hit them. The remaining Germans tripped over their own barbed-wire as they retreated.

Cause and Effect

What happened to be advancing on the Germans were, in fact, the Russians. About one hundred Russian soldiers had noticed the incoming gas attack before it hit the fortress.

The Russian soldiers informed their officer of the coming attack. In response, the officer ordered all of his men to urinate in a rag and wear it on their face. It may have been unpleasant, but it could have meant life or death for the Russians.

The urine rags did not prevent the Russians from dying. Instead, it slowed down their deaths. After the gas struck, the Russian soldiers were in the process of dying as they attacked the advancing Germans.

The Result

Some Germans who survived the attack later recalled what they had witnessed. The Russians were literally coughing up their lungs as they were being dissolved. Germans recalled seeing “unblinking bloodshot eyes” and mouths drooling with blood.

The dying Russians soon fell dead, however the sight was enough to send the Germans in retreat. Some Russians had managed to survive the gas attack, and occupied the fortress until another German threat would arrive.

On August 18, when that threat was imminent, the Russians destroyed the old fortress and withdrew. They left behind only the memory of the horrifying Attack of the Dead Men.

Conclusion

This battle during World War One is certainly one of the most frightening of all time. The Russians had reportedly “walked like zombies” toward the Germans. Interestingly enough, most German soldiers were accustomed to seeing melted faces on the Western Front. The dying Russians must have been extremely horrifying to see, as to send experienced soldiers of the Kaiser into retreat.

Do you think that this battle was used as inspiration for zombie movies and video games to come?

Sabaton, a Swedish heavy metal band, released a song about the Attack of the Dead Men.