Sinking Of The Rms Lusitania

Sinking Of The RMS Lusitania

The RMS Lusitania was a British ocean liner that was sunk by a German U-boat on 7 May 1915, during the First World War. The sinking of the Lusitania was a major turning point in the war, as it helped to bring the United States into the conflict.

The Lusitania was built in 1906 and was one of the largest and fastest ships in the world at the time. She was operated by the Cunard Line and sailed between Liverpool, England, and New York City. On 1 May 1915, the Lusitania sailed from New York on her return trip to Liverpool. There were 1,959 passengers and crew on board, including 128 Americans.

On 7 May, the Lusitania was about 11 miles off the coast of Ireland when she was torpedoed by the German U-boat U-20. The torpedo struck the ship's starboard side, just below the waterline. The explosion caused a massive hole in the ship's hull, and the Lusitania began to sink rapidly.

The passengers and crew were panic-stricken, and many of them jumped overboard. However, the lifeboats were not able to accommodate everyone, and 1,198 people drowned. Among the victims were 128 Americans, including the prominent businessman and philanthropist Charles Frohman.

The sinking of the Lusitania was a major propaganda victory for Germany. The German government claimed that the Lusitania was carrying munitions, and that the sinking was justified. However, the British government denied this claim, and the United States government launched an investigation into the sinking. The investigation concluded that the Lusitania was not carrying munitions, and that the sinking was a violation of international law.

The sinking of the Lusitania had a profound impact on the United States. The American public was outraged by the sinking, and it helped to turn public opinion against Germany. In April 1917, the United States declared war on Germany, and the sinking of the Lusitania is often cited as one of the main reasons for the American entry into the war.

The sinking of the Lusitania remains one of the most controversial maritime disasters in history. The debate over the sinking continues to this day, with some historians arguing that the Germans were justified in sinking the ship, while others argue that the sinking was a war crime.