Sinking of the Lusitania
A German U-boat sank the British passenger liner Lusitania, killing 1,198 people including 128 Americans.
On May 7, 1915, a German submarine torpedoed the British ocean liner RMS Lusitania off the coast of Ireland. The ship sank in just 18 minutes, killing 1,198 of the 1,959 people on board, including 128 Americans. Germany argued the ship was carrying war supplies (which was partially true), but the attack on a civilian vessel outraged the world, particularly the United States. The sinking turned American public opinion against Germany and was one of the factors that eventually led the U.S. to enter the war in 1917.
Key Takeaways
128 Americans were killed, shifting U.S. public opinion against Germany
Demonstrated the dangers of unrestricted submarine warfare
Helped pave the way for U.S. entry into the war