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I watched an excellent docudrama yesterday of the events around the sinking of the Lusitania on 7 May 1915. It was entitled Das Untergang des Lusitania, which is German for The Destruction of the Lusitania. The movie was on Das Erste a German TV channel, and unfortunately it was all in German and I dont think it is available in the States as it is a new film.The sinking of the Lusitania was and is a controversial period in the First World War and there have been many accusations on both sides about what really happened. The US was almost drawn into the war because of the ships sinking and the loss of American life. The British propagandists played this aspect to the hilt in the American press. American reaction to the sinking led the Germans to abandon their first period of unrestricted submarine warfare as a concession to keep America out of the war.The film I saw last night is perhaps one of the most balanced accounts I have yet seen or read of the sinking of the ship. It is another chapter with how impressed I am with German historical scholarship. The Rankean tradition is alive and well in German academia. I would reccomend that anyone interested in the history of WWI see this film if or when it becomes available in English. Once again, it was excellent, especially the portrayals of the captains of both the U-Boat that sank the ship and the Captain of the Lusitania.
Do you think the Lusitania was carrying weaponry/ammo? IE was it a legitimate military target? I read an article recently on the BBC website suggesting this. The only problem, divers allegedly found many boxes of ammo and guns recently but took no pictures of it or samples…that to me means the “proof” is questionable.
I believe that the British and Americans admitted after the war that the Lusitania was carrying munitions, but I would have to further research to speak with any authority. Passengers and the U-boat crew reported a secondary explosion and the logs of U-20 as well as passenger accounts confirm that only one torpedo was fired.
Last I heard the massive explosion was due to a steam explosion; the cargo was 20-100K rounds of .303 ammo. This isn't high explosive or very much for that matter. About what was supposed to be shipped by the Germans to the Irish for the Easter Rising.
Lusitania was without doubt carrying gunpowder.Rationale: 1, Black Tom Island (Major US Port for gunpowder and shell export). a). Location was next to CNRR of NJ Coal Depot across from Lucy's pier.b). Britain was blockaded and low on igredients to manufacture gun powder.b1. This difficulty played a roll in loss of the Dardinelle campaign.b2. Shortly after the loss, Britain quietly changed methods for gun powder production.c). Shortly after the Lusitania went down, Black Tom Island (Now part of Liberty Isle) blew up.d). The explosion that sank the Cunarder was caused by a torpedo igniting titghtly packed gunpowder sacks.SP
Steph,This is a more logical reason (and far less revisionist) than the one I mentioned in my last post, consistent with what I learned in school. While the steam explosion is possible the powder is the simpler and more rational explaination. Sadly we aren't likely to ever get a conclusive answer... smoking gun if you will.
Steph,
b). Britain was blockaded and low on igredients to manufacture gun powder.b1. This difficulty played a roll in loss of the Dardinelle campaign.b2. Shortly after the loss, Britain quietly changed methods for gun powder production.
I have extensively researched the Gallipoli campaign and I have never heard that the British troops were low on munitions at any point in the campaign. The British lost the Dardanelles campaign because their planning was poor and the commander was an idiot. One look at the terrain tells you that they should have never invaded at the tip of the peninsula. Lack of munitions had nothing to do with it. I think you are talking about the artillery shortages of 1915. Do you have sources for this assertion?
The British lost the Dardanelles campaign because their planning was poor and the commander was an idiot. One look at the terrain tells you that they should have never invaded at the tip of the peninsula. Lack of munitions had nothing to do with it. I think you are talking about the artillery shortages of 1915.
Agreed
