February 1st

What:
Germany resumes unrestricted submarine warfare

Where:
Germany, North Sea, Atlantic Ocean

Year:
1917

Information and Significance
On February 1st, 1917, Germany resumed unrestricted submarine warfare against Allied, namely British, shipping. This enraged the United States. After nearly three years of neutrality many Americans had died at the hands of German U-boats that sunk their ships without warning. Specifically, more than 100 US citizens died when the cruise liner, the Lusitania, was sunk by a German U-boat. Unrestricted submarine warfare was in violation of international law and jeopardized American commercial interests in Europe. With the defeat of Russia the allies were bogged down by huge numbers of German, Turkish and Austro-Hungarian soldiers that were coming from the Eastern Front. The Central Powers were starting to gain momentum on the Western, Italian and Sinai fronts. However, a combination of the unrestricted submarine warfare and the Zimmerman telegram lead to the American declaration of war on Germany. More than two million Americans would be sent to fight on the Western Front in Northern France and Belgium. Their sheer numbers and economic capabilities would soon overwhelm Germany and its allies and force all four major Central Powers, the German, Austro Hungarian and Ottoman Empires and the Kingdom of Bulgaria to sign an armistice with the Allies.