Zyklon B

Zyklon B was a cyanide-based pesticide used during World War II by the Nazi regime in extermination camps. Originally developed for disinfecting and pest control, it was repurposed for mass murder, as it could rapidly and effectively kill large groups of people. The substance was released as a gas—hydrogen cyanide—through canisters or pellets, causing respiratory failure. Its use is now universally condemned as part of the Holocaust's atrocities, exemplifying the tragic misuse of scientific innovations for inhumane purposes.