What if the allies intercepted the German air raid at Bari, Italy, on December 2, 1943?

One consequence of this attack was the realization that you could use mustard analogs for chemotherapy. The medical officers treating those exposed did serial blood counts (not done in WWI) and noticed that white cells, in particular, were depressed by exposure. After the war this led to further research and led to the introduction of nitrogen mustard derivatives to treat leukemia (a cancer of the hematopoietic system where abnormal white cells multiply without restraint) in the late 1940s. If this does not occur, it could have a major impact retarding the development of chemotherapy for cancer.
 
Your welcome.
While one magazine article isn't indisputable truth, I don't find it hard to believe that Himmler would want to learn what the results from the exposure to mustard gas was on the local population. What is hard to believe is that an SS officer disagreed with Himmler and secretly disobeyed the order and got the needed information to the medical personal in Bari.

Yes, the fishy part is the SS officer's warning, not the fact that intel reports reached the Axis. That would be across the lines. The SS officer would decide to send word back that the victim should be treated for "gas poisoning" (which treatment for which gas?) - and according to your account, he wouldn't do this by using the intel network in order to inform physicians in Bari, South of the frontline, but just by telling Italian civilian doctors in German-occupied territory - North of the frontline.
Fishy, overall.
 
Yes, the fishy part is the SS officer's warning, not the fact that intel reports reached the Axis. That would be across the lines. The SS officer would decide to send word back that the victim should be treated for "gas poisoning" (which treatment for which gas?) - and according to your account, he wouldn't do this by using the intel network in order to inform physicians in Bari, South of the frontline, but just by telling Italian civilian doctors in German-occupied territory - North of the frontline.
Fishy, overall.
I think the SS officer informed the local Red Cross and then they passed on the information to Red Cross personal on the allied side of the lines.
 

Archibald

Banned
One consequence of this attack was the realization that you could use mustard analogs for chemotherapy. The medical officers treating those exposed did serial blood counts (not done in WWI) and noticed that white cells, in particular, were depressed by exposure. After the war this led to further research and led to the introduction of nitrogen mustard derivatives to treat leukemia (a cancer of the hematopoietic system where abnormal white cells multiply without restraint) in the late 1940s. If this does not occur, it could have a major impact retarding the development of chemotherapy for cancer.

Whaat ? mustard gas a cure for blood cancer. Seriously ?

Reminds of the guy that found his skizofrenia was improved by exctasy.
 
Not mustard gas precisely but a derivative - the docs treating the Bari gas exposure victims noticed mustard made white cell count go down and after the war... FYI I am an MD
 
Then the war would have become the first long term experiment in the use of weapons off mass destruction. We probably would have seen the sped up production of ballistic missile systems on the part of the Germans, who would be quick to recognize them as the ideal delivery system for these types of weapons.

Ballistic missiles are good delivery systems for nukes, but they are far from ideal for chemical or biological weapons. Both are more effectively deployed at medium to low altitude, and the flight profile of ballistic missiles means that they pass through the optimum height for release very quickly. Chemical and biological agents in ballistic warheads also have to deal with atmospheric heating, which can denature or damage their components. These problems could be solved, as the Soviets did during the Cold War, but they are still hardly 'ideal'. The Germans do have a much better delivery system for these types of weapon, of course - the V1 was an extremely cost-effective way of dropping explosives on the UK, and and it could also be a good delivery system for chemical or biological weapons. But it's in no way a ballistic missile.
 
I think the SS officer informed the local Red Cross and then they passed on the information to Red Cross personal on the allied side of the lines.
I find this highly unlikely. Many of the medical personnel involved in treating the injured were WW1 veterans and the younger ones would have been taught about the effects of CW agents. There is evidence that treatment for sulphur mustard contamination was begun before Alexander's intervention, though he made it definitive my recovering parts of US CW munitions.

Whaat ? mustard gas a cure for blood cancer. Seriously ?
The effect of sulphur mustard on while blood cells was noted (based on samples taken by Alexander) but the first chemotherapy agent (Mustine, 2-chloroethylmethylamine) was a form of one of the nitrogen mustards, HN2. It's been replaced by less toxic compounds.
 
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