what was lusitania ww1

Were there weapons on the Lusitania?

The attack on the Lusitania — which killed 1,198 people, including over 100 Americans — outraged the British and American public and was frequently used in war propaganda in both countries to illustrate German atrocities. It is true that some weapons were aboard, Ms. Preston said.

Was the Lusitania an American ship?

The RMS Lusitania was a British ocean liner torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-20 on 7 May 1915, becoming a casualty of World War I. 128 American civilians died in the attack, turning American opinion against Germany, making the sinking a turning point of the war. However, the United States would not declare war on Germany and enter World War I until April 1917.

How many people died in the Lusitania?

On the afternoon of 7 May, a German U-boat torpedoed Lusitania 11 miles (18 km) off the southern coast of Ireland inside the declared war zone. A second internal explosion caused her to sink in 18 minutes, killing 1,198 passengers and crew.

Who were the survivors of the Lusitania?

Lusitania survivor Theodate Pope was given up for dead when rescuers pulled her inert body from the Irish Sea with boat hooks. They placed her on the deck of the rescue ship in a row of corpses. Another Lusitania survivor, Belle Naish, had befriended Pope on the doomed voyage. Naish bent down and touched her ]

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Why was the Lusitania important in ww1?

The disaster set off a chain of events that led to the U.S. entering World War I. A German U-boat torpedoed the British-owned steamship Lusitania, killing 1,195 people including 128 Americans, on May 7, 1915. The disaster set off a chain of events that led to the U.S. entering World War I.

What was the Lusitania known for?

It was revealed that the Lusitania was carrying about 173 tons of war munitions for Britain, which the Germans cited as further justification for the attack. The United States eventually protested the action, and Germany apologized and pledged to end unrestricted submarine warfare.

Why did the German sink the Lusitania?

It was revealed that the Lusitania was carrying about 173 tons of war munitions for Britain, which the Germans cited as further justification for the attack. The United States eventually sent three notes to Berlin protesting the action, and Germany apologized and pledged to end unrestricted submarine warfare.

Why did the Lusitania sink so fast?

The longitudinal bulkheads, designed to limit flooding, concentrated the weight of water on one side of the ship and endangered Lusitania's stability, causing her sinking. The weight of coal and cargo being shifted to the starboard side of the list may not have helped matters.

Why did so many died on the Lusitania?

On May 7, 1915, the British civilian ocean liner Lusitania was hit by a torpedo fired by German submarine U-20, just off the coast of Ireland. Within 18 minutes, the ship sank; 1,193 people died, including 128 Americans, leaving 767 people, mostly civilians, stranded in lifeboats or floundering in the cold water.

Which was bigger Titanic or Lusitania?

Both British ocean liners had been the largest ships in the world when first launched (the Lusitania at 787 feet in 1906, and the Titanic at 883 feet in 1911). And both were ostentatiously luxurious, designed to ferry the world's wealthiest passengers between Europe and the United States in comfort and elegance.

Who really sank the Lusitania?

Kapitänleutnant Walter Schwieger was the thirty-year-old commander of the submarine U-20 that sank the Lusitania. His war diary describes the attack and the rapid sinking of the great liner as he viewed it through his periscope.

Did anyone survive the Lusitania?

761 people survived out of the 1,266 passengers and 696 crew aboard, and 123 of the casualties were American citizens.

What was the Lusitania?

The Lusitania was a British passenger ship that was owned by the Cunard Line and was first launched in 1906. Built for the transatlantic passenger...

What happened to the Lusitania?

In May 1915 the British ocean liner was sailing from New York City to Liverpool, England. Following reports of German U-boat activity along the Iri...

Why did the Lusitania sink so fast?

The ship sank within 20 minutes of being hit by a German torpedo. There has been much speculation about its quick demise, many pointing to the seco...

Why was the Lusitania important?

The British ocean liner’s demise contributed indirectly to the United States’ entry into World War I. In 1915 it was sunk by a German U-boat, resul...

How many tons of munitions did the Lusitania carry?

It was revealed that the Lusitania was carrying about 173 tons of war munitions for Britain, which the Germans cited as further justification for the attack. The United States eventually protested the action, and Germany apologized and pledged to end unrestricted submarine warfare. However, in November of that same year a U-boat sunk an Italian liner without warning, killing more than 270 people, including more than 25 Americans. Public opinion in the United States began to turn irrevocably against Germany.

What happened on January 31, 1917?

On January 31, 1917, Germany, determined to win its war of attrition against the Allies, announced it would resume unrestricted warfare in war-zone waters. Three days later, the United States broke diplomatic relations with Germany, and just hours after that the American ship Housatonic was sunk by a German U-boat.

Why did the British warn the Lusitania?

The sinkings of merchant ships off the south coast of Ireland prompted the British Admiralty to warn the Lusitania to avoid the area or take simple evasive action , such as zigzagging to confuse U-boats plotting the vessel’s course.

How long did it take for the Lusitania to sink?

The torpedo blast was followed by a larger explosion, probably of the ship’s boilers, and the ship sank off the south coast of Ireland in less than 20 minutes. It was revealed that the Lusitania was carrying about 173 tons of war munitions for Britain, which the Germans cited as further justification for the attack.

What was the prelude to Lusitania?

Prelude to Lusitania: Germany Announces Unrestricted Submarine Warfare. When World War I erupted in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson (1856-1924) pledged neutrality for the United States, a position that the vast majority of Americans favored. Britain, however, was one of America’s closest trading partners, and tension soon arose between ...

What happened on May 7, 1915?

Contents. On May 7, 1915, less than a year after World War I (1914-18) erupted across Europe, a German U-boat torpedoed and sank the RMS Lusitania, a British ocean liner en route from New York to Liverpool, England. Of the more than 1,900 passengers and crew members on board, more than 1,100 perished, including more than 120 Americans.

How many people died in the Lusitania?

Of the more than 1,900 passengers and crew members on board, more than 1,100 perished, including more than 120 Americans. Nearly two years would pass before the United States formally entered World War I, but the sinking of the Lusitania played a significant role in turning public opinion against Germany, both in the United States and abroad.

What was the final straw of the war?

The Zimmerman telegram was the final straw. The sinking of Lusitania was a public relations nightmare for Germany as public opinion in the United States turned against them. But President Wilson still wasn’t ready to take his country to war. Then, in early 1917, Britain intelligence intercepted a telegram from German Foreign Minister Arthur ...

How many people died in the Lusitania?

A German U-boat torpedoed the British-owned steamship Lusitania, killing 1,195 people including 128 Americans, on May 7, 1915. The disaster set off a chain of events that led to the U.S. entering World War I.

Why did the British subsidize the construction of the Lusitania?

The British Admiralty subsidized the ship’s construction with the understanding it would be pressed into military service if war broke out. After World War I began in 1914, Lusitania remained a passenger ship, although it was secretly modified for war.

What happened before the war?

Before entering the war, the U.S. issued a warning. In August 1915, a German submarine sunk the British ocean liner S.S. Arabic and claimed self-defense. The event further strained diplomatic relations between the United States and Germany.

What did German naval commanders know about the British merchants?

By February 1915, German naval commanders knew British merchants were arming their ships and that both merchant and passenger ships were transporting weapons and supplies from the United States to Europe.

When did Lusitania sink?

Since it was assumed Germany would still allow passengers to get into lifeboats prior to an attack, the cautions were largely ignored. On May 7, 1915, six days after leaving New York for Liverpool, Lusitania took a direct hit from a German U-boat submarine—without any warning—and sank within 20 minutes. pinterest-pin-it.

When did Lusitania leave New York?

Days before Lusitania was scheduled to leave New York for Liverpool in early May 1915, the Imperial German Embassy in Washington D.C. placed ads in American newspapers reminding Americans that Britain and Germany were at war.

Why were the Lusitania and Mauretania commissioned by Cunard?

Lusitania and Mauretania were commissioned by Cunard, responding to increasing competition from rival transatlantic passenger companies, particularly the German Norddeutscher Lloyd (NDL) and Hamburg America Line (HAPAG). They had larger, faster, more modern and more luxurious ships than Cunard, and were better placed, starting from German ports, to capture the lucrative trade in emigrants leaving Europe for North America. The NDL liner Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse captured the Blue Riband from Cunard's Campania in 1897, before the prize was taken in 1900 by the HAPAG ship Deutschland. NDL soon wrested the prize back in 1903 with the new Kaiser Wilhelm II and Kronprinz Wilhelm. Cunard saw its passenger numbers affected as a result of the so-called " Kaiser-class ocean liners ".

What amenities did the Titanic and the Olympic offer?

Both Olympic and Titanic offered swimming pools, Turkish baths, a gymnasium, a squash court, large reception rooms, À la Carte restaurants separate from the dining saloons, and many more staterooms with private bathroom facilities than their two Cunard rivals.

What was the name of the ship that was sunk by a German U-boat?

Notes. First ship of Cunard's four-funnelled grand trio, along with RMS Mauretania and RMS Aquitania. RMS Lusitania was a British ocean liner that was sunk on 7 May 1915 by a German U-boat 11 miles (18 km) off the southern coast of Ireland, killing 1,198 passengers and crew. The sinking occurred about two years before the United States declaration ...

Why was the Lusitania painted grey?

During the ship's first east-bound crossing after the war started, she was painted in a grey colour scheme in an attempt to mask her identity and make her more difficult to detect visually.

How big was the White Star?

This made the White Star vessels about 15,000 tons larger than the Cunard vessels. Both Lusitania and Mauretania were launched and had been in service for several years before Olympic, Titanic and Britannic were ready for the North Atlantic run. Although significantly faster than the Olympic class would be, the speed of Cunard's vessels was not sufficient to allow the line to run a weekly two-ship transatlantic service from each side of the Atlantic. A third ship was needed for a weekly service, and in response to White Star's announced plan to build the three Olympic -class ships, Cunard ordered a third ship: Aquitania. Like Olympic, Cunard's Aquitania had a lower service speed, but was a larger and more luxurious vessel.

Where was the Lusitania built?

367 on 17 August 1904, Lord Inverclyde hammering home the first rivet. Cunard nicknamed her 'the Scottish ship' in contrast to Maure tania whose contract went to Swan Hunter in England and who started building three months later. Final details of the two ships were left to designers at the two yards so that the ships differed in details of hull design and finished structure. The ships may most readily be distinguished in photographs through the flat-topped ventilators used on Lusitania, whereas those on Mauretania used a more conventional rounded top. Maure tania was designed a little longer, wider, heavier and with an extra power stage fitted to the turbines.

How deep is the Titanic?

Expeditions to Lusitania have shown that the ship has deteriorated much faster than Titanic has, being in a depth of 305 feet (93 m) of water. When contrasted with her contemporary, Titanic (resting at a depth of 12,000 feet (3,700 m)), Lusitania appears in a much more deteriorated state due to the presence of fishing nets lying on the wreckage, the blasting of the wreck with depth charges and multiple salvage operations. As a result, the wreck is unstable and may at some point completely collapse. There has been recent academic commentary exploring the possibility of listing the wreck site as a World Heritage Site under the World Heritage Convention, although challenges remain in terms of ownership and preventing further deterioration of the wreck.

What is the difference between Lusus and Lyssa?

Lusus is usually translated as "game" or "play", while lyssa is a borrowing from the Greek λυσσα, "frenzy" or "rage", and sometimes Rage personified ; for later poets, Lusus and Lyssa become flesh-and-blood companions (even children) of Bacchus.

What is the origin of the name Lusitani?

The etymology of the name of the Lusitani (who gave the Roman province their name) remains unclear. Popular etymology connected the name to a supposed Roman demigod Lusus, whereas some early-modern scholars suggested that Lus was a form of the Celtic Lugus followed by another (unattested) root *tan-, supposed to mean "tribe", while others derived the name from Lucis, an ancient people mentioned in Avienius' Ora Maritima (4th century AD) and from tan ( -stan in Iranian ), or from tain, meaning "a region" or implying "a country of waters", a root word that formerly meant a prince or sovereign governor of a region.

What is the name of the ship that was torpedoed by a German U-boat?

The province was also the namesake of the North Atlantic Ocean liner RMS Lusitania infamous for being torpedoed by a German U-boat in 1915. The ship's owners the Cunard Line commonly named their vessels after Roman provinces with the Lusitania so being called after the Roman Iberian province to the north of the Strait of Gibraltar while her sister ship RMS Mauretania was named after the Roman North African province on the south side of the strait.

What is the name of Portugal's colony?

As with the Roman names of many European countries, Lusitania was and is often used as an alternative name for Portugal, especially in formal or literary and poetic contexts. The 16th-century colony that would eventually become Brazil was initially founded as " New Lusitania ". In common use are such terms as Lusophone, meaning Portuguese-speaking, and Lusitanic, referring to the Community of Portuguese Language Countries —once Portugal's colonies and presently independent countries still sharing some common heritage. Prior to his invasion in 1807, Napoleon Bonaparte proposed the establishment of a French-backed puppet Kingdom of Northern Lusitania as one of the successor states to Portugal under the assumption that such a campaign would result in an easy French victory.

What is the capital of the Lusitania?

It was named after the Lusitani or Lusitanian people (an Indo-European people ). Its capital was Emerita Augusta (currently Mérida, Spain ), and it was initially part of the Roman Republic province of Hispania Ulterior, before becoming a province of its own in the Roman Empire.

Where is Lusitania located?

Lusitania ( / ˌluːsɪˈteɪniə /; Classical Latin: [luːsiːˈtaːnia]) or Hispania Lusitana was an ancient Iberian Roman province located where modern Portugal (south of the Douro river) and part of western Spain (the present autonomous community of Extremadura and a part of the province of Salamanca) lie. It was named after the Lusitani or Lusitanian people (an Indo-European people ).

What was the name of the peninsula that Rome conquered?

With Lusitania (and Asturia and Gallaecia ), Rome had completed the conquest of the Iberian peninsula, which was then divided by Augustus (25–20 BC or 16-13 BC) into the eastern and northern Hispania Tarraconensis, the southwestern Hispania Baetica and the western Provincia Lusitana. Originally, Lusitania included the territories of Asturia and Gallaecia, but these were later ceded to the jurisdiction of the new Provincia Tarraconensis and the former remained as Provincia Lusitania et Vettones. Its northern border was along the Douro river, while on its eastern side its border passed through Salmantica ( Salamanca) and Caesarobriga ( Talavera de la Reina) to the Anas ( Guadiana) river.

What was the position of Germany on the Lusitania?

Germany held the position that as the Lusitania was sailing with munitions on board she was a hostile enemy ship and they were within their rights to fire on her. On the other side of the coin, a skeleton representing death stands at a Cunard Line booth handing out tickets to a crowd.

What happened on May 7th?

On the afternoon of May 7, the Lusitania approached the southern coast of Ireland, without a naval escort, where German U-boats were known to be active and had recently sunk three ships. Due to fog, Captain William Turner was forced to slow the Lusitania down. Contrary to the Admiralty's instructions for avoiding U-boats, ...

How many Americans died in the Lusitania attack?

Of those killed, 123 were Americans. While Europe was already embroiled in World War I, America was still a neutral country and hadn't yet officially entered the war, although a number of American men and women had joined the war effort through volunteer organizations or by enlisting in the Allied armed forces. The American public and Congress, however, were divided as to whether or not the U.S. should officially join in the fighting. The attack on the Lusitania, a passenger ship with civilians on board, by a military submarine signaled the end of the more "civilized" warfare of the 19th century. It also proved to be a powerful propaganda tool for turning American public opinion against Germany and in support of joining the war.

How fast is the Lusitania?

The Lusitania was a British ocean liner operated by the Cunard Lines and was one of the largest and fastest passenger ships in the world, at 787 feet long with nine passenger decks and an average speed of 25 knots. Funded by the British Admiralty, she was launched in 1906 with the understanding that she could be used as an auxiliary cruiser for ...

How many people were on board the Lusitania?

As the crew scrambled to launch the lifeboats, they were impeded by the severe tilt of the sinking ship. They managed to launch only six boats for the 1,959 people on board. Within 18 minutes, the Lusitania was sunk. Alerted to the disaster by the Lusitania's distress signal, rescue ships immediately launched from Ireland to render aid. However, for many passengers help came too late, and in the end only 764 people were saved while 1,195 were drowned or died of hypothermia in the cold Atlantic water.

What is the box lid of the Goetz medal?

The box containing an exact replica of Goetz's commemoration medal. This replica was used by the British as anti-German propaganda . The box lid explains Britain's position on the sinking of the "Lusitania.". As Goetz's medal circulated, the British got their hands on it and saw the opportunity for propaganda and the chance to inflame British ...

How many people were saved in the Lusitania disaster?

However, for many passengers help came too late, and in the end only 764 people were saved while 1,195 were drowned or died of hypothermia in the cold Atlantic water.

What submarine sank the Lusitania?

Fast Facts. The RMS Lusitania was a British ocean liner torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-20 on 7 May 1915, becoming a casualty of World War I. 128 American civilians died in the attack, turning American opinion against Germany, making the sinking a turning point of the war.

When was the Lusitania wreck?

Lusitania flowers at the wreck site, presented by Richard Woods (son of Nancy Wickings-Smith) Friday, 7 May 1915: The RMS Lusitania is torpedoed by the German submarine U-20 at 2:10 pm and sinks to ]

Where did the RMS Lusitania leave her slip?

On this day 115 years ago, 7 June 1907, the RMS Lusitania left her slip at John Brown and Co., Clydebank, Scotland, to be outfitted to become the revolutionary, luxurious, historical, and tragic ship ]

When did the RMS Lusitania sink?

Here you will find facts and history about the British passenger ship RMS Lusitania, her sinking, well as the biographies of passenger and crew on board when the German submarine U-20 torpedoed and sank her on 7 May 1915.

Who owns the RMS Lusitania?

The Lusitania Museum/Old Head Signal Tower group of Kinsale, Ireland, the new owners of RMS Lusitania, are at an advanced stage in the design process of their planned state-of-the-art museum. The late Mr. Gregg Bemis gifted the wreck to Lusitania Museum/Old Head Signal Tower Heritage CLG in 2019 in recognition of the achievements of the work of this local community voluntary group and to continue his legacy. You can watch the YouTube video and visit the link to the GoFundMe page below.

Where was the wreck of the British ship?

Wreck location: 51°25′N 8°33′W, ~300 feet (91 meters) underwater, ~11 miles (18 km) south of the Old Head of Kinsale, Ireland.

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Why did Dernburg say Lusitania was auxiliary cruiser?

Dernburg said that because Lusitania "carried contraband of war" and also because she "was classed as an auxiliary cruiser" Germany had had a right to destroy her regardless of any passengers aboard.

What happened to the Lusitania in 1914?

As was typical for the period, the hull plates of Lusitania were riveted, and as the lifeboats were lowered they dragged on the inch-high rivets, which threatened to seriously damage the boats before they landed in the water. 1914 picture showing additional collapsible lifeboats added to the ship.

What did Captain Turner say about the sinking of Lusitania?

He argued that up until the time of the sinking he had no reason to think that zig-zagging in a fast ship would help. Indeed, that he had since commanded another ship which was sunk while zig-zagging. His position was supported by evidence from other captains, who said that prior to the sinking of Lusitania no merchant ships zig-zagged. Turner had argued that maintaining a steady course for 30 minutes was necessary to take a four-point bearing and precisely confirm the ship's position, but on this point he received less support, with other captains arguing a two-point bearing could have been taken in five minutes and would have been sufficiently accurate.

How far did the Lusitania go after the torpedo?

The ship travelled about two miles (3 km) from the time of the torpedoing to her final resting place, leaving a trail of debris and people behind. After her bow sank completely, Lusitania ' s stern rose out of the water, enough for her propellers to be seen, and went under.

How many passengers did the Lusitania carry?

She departed Pier 54 in New York on 1 May 1915 on her return trip to Liverpool with 1,959 people aboard. In addition to her crew of 694, she carried 1,265 passengers, mostly British nationals as well as a large number of Canadians, along with 128 Americans. Her First Class accommodations, for which she was well regarded on the North Atlantic run, were booked at just over half capacity at 290. Second Class was severely overbooked with 601 passengers, far exceeding the maximum capacity of 460. While a large number of small children and infants helped reduce the squeeze into the limited number of two- and four-berth cabins, the situation was rectified by allowing some Second Class passengers to occupy empty First Class cabins. In Third Class, the situation was considered to be the norm for an eastbound crossing, with only 373 travelling in accommodations designed for 1,186.

Why did the British want to celebrate the sinking of Lusitania?

It was in the interests of the British to keep US citizens aware of German actions and attitudes . One over-enthusiastic propagandist's fabricated story was circulated that in some regions of Germany, schoolchildren were given a holiday to celebrate the sinking of Lusitania. This story was based on the popular reception given the Goetz medal (see below) and was so effective that James W. Gerard, the US ambassador to Germany, recounted it being told in his memoir of his time in Germany, Face to Face with Kaiserism (1918), though without vouching for its validity.

What happened at 14:14 on the Lusitania?

At 14:14, electrical power failed, plunging the cavernous interior of the ship into darkness.

Why was the sinking of the Lusitania justified in a war zone?

The Germans claimed that sinking the Lusitania was justified in a war zone because its cargo included ammunition and shell casings to be used in the war. Of the 159 Americans on board the ship, only 31 survived. Several children who were on board died as well. Activities.

What was the significance of the sinking of the Lusitania?

The sinking of the Lusitania was an important event in World War I. The death of so many innocent civilians at the hands of the Germans galvanized American support for entering the war, which eventually turned the tide in favor of the Allies. What was the Lusitania?

How many passengers did the Lusitania carry?

It mostly traveled across the Atlantic Ocean between Britain and the United States carrying passengers and cargo. The ship was 787 feet long and could carry 3,048 passengers and crew.

What happened to the Lusitania?

The torpedo made a direct hit on the side of the ship and a huge explosion was felt throughout the ship. The Lusitania immediately began to sink. The captain of the Lusitania, Captain William Turner, ordered that the ship head for the Irish coast, but it was no use.

Why did the captain of the Lusitania shut down the boilers?

The captain of the Lusitania had shut down one of the ships boilers to save costs. This reduced the speed of the ship and may have made it more vulnerable to torpedo attack. The phrase "Remember the Lusitania" was used as a battle cry both by Allied soldiers and on posters used to recruit new soldiers to the army.

What did the Germans call their submarines?

They called their submarines "Unterseeboots" or "undersea boats". This name was shortened to U-boats. On February 4, 1915, the Germans declared the seas around Britain a war zone and said they would attack any Allied ship that entered the region. The Lusitania Departs.

How many people survived the Lusitania?

Within twenty minutes of being struck, the Lusitania had sunk. Of the 1,959 people on board, only 761 survived and 1,198 were killed. The killing of so many innocent people by the German u-boat caused outrage in many countries of the world.

Overview

Development and construction

Career

Rogue wave crash

Outbreak of the First World War

1915

Sinking

Aftermath

Overview

Origin of the name

Lusitanians

War against Rome

Roman province

Notable Lusitanians

Legacy of the name

See also