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What is the Lusitania and why is it important?
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 and what happened to her?
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 sank her in 18 minutes, killing 1,198 passengers and crew.
How did the Lusitania lead to 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.
Why did the Germans sank 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.
What was the Lusitania used for?
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 trade, it was luxurious and noted for its speed.
Why did US enter WWI?
The United States later declared war on German ally Austria-Hungary on December 7, 1917. Germany’s resumption of submarine attacks on passenger and merchant ships in 1917 became the primary motivation behind Wilson’s decision to lead the United States into World War I.
What does Lusitania mean in ww1?
noun. (italics) a British luxury liner sunk by a German submarine in the North Atlantic on May 7, 1915: one of the events leading to U.S. entry into World War I. an ancient region and Roman province in the Iberian Peninsula, corresponding generally to modern Portugal.
What started World war 1?
The assassination of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand on 28 June 1914 set off a chain of events that led to war in early August 1914. The assassination was traced to a Serbian extremist group that wanted to increase Serbian power in the Balkans by breaking up the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
What famous person died on the Lusitania?
Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt, once one of the richest men in the US, who died on board the Lusitania. The family fortune was founded by Cornelius Vanderbilt, known as the Commodore, a rough-hewn steamboat captain who left school at 11 and made a fortune in shipping and railway in the first half of the 19th century.
What does Lusitania mean in World War 1?
Lusitania a Cunard liner which was sunk by a German submarine in the Atlantic in May 1915 with the loss of over 1,000 lives; the event was a factor in bringing the US into the First World War. Lusitania was originally an ancient Roman province in the Iberian peninsula , corresponding to modern Portugal.
Why did the Germans sink the Lusitania?
The main reason why German u boats sank unarmed ships such as the lusitania is because the Germanys believed that many such boats were carrying supplies that were helping their enemies. 3.0.
What do you know about the Lusitania?
Lusitania (/ ˌ l uː s ɪ ˈ t eɪ n i ə /; Classical Latin: [lˠuː.s̠iˈt̪aː.ni.a]) 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.
What was the submarine that sink the Lusitania?
SM U-20[Note 1] was a German Type U 19 U-boat built for service in the Imperial German Navy. She was launched on 18 December 1912, and commissioned on 5 August 1913. During World War I, she took part in operations around the British Isles. U-20 became infamous following her sinking of the British ocean liner RMS Lusitania on 7 May 1915, an act that dramatically reshaped the course of World War I.