Tappen, Von

Dr. German chemist; he suggested using xylyl bromide in artillery shells as a chemical weapon during World War I. However, the first use of the T-Stoff, as it was known, was a failure and he took no further part in chemical warfare. The idea was first tried against the Russian army at Bolimov 31 Jan 1915. However, due to the severe cold the substance failed to vaporize as it should have done and so had no effect on the Russians. The shells were tried again in March, this time against the British at Nieuport, but once more failed. After this Tappen appears to have taken no further interest in chemical warfare. A member of the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Physical Chemistry in Berlin, von Tappen also introduced Professor Fritz Haber to the idea of chemical warfare, in which he became a major figure.