Question

Which statement explains why a German submarine sank the Lusitania? (5 points)
Germany wanted to draw the United States into the war.
The German commander mistook it for a warship.
Germany practiced unrestricted submarine warfare.
Germany had warned Americans not to travel on British ships.

Answer 1

None of these is real good. The Germans thought (correctly, as it turned out) that the Lusitania was carrying war materials (weapons and ammunition) to England, and had previously declared that such ships would be sunk without warning, as part of the German attempt at embargoing war supplies from its enemies. WIth respect to your answer choices:

(1) Germany certainly did not want to draw the United States into the war in Europe. That would've been suicidal.

(2) The German commander of the U-20, Walther Schwieger, was wel aware the Lusitania was not a warship, and had already sunk a number of commercial ships on that particular voyage.

(3) This is a reasonable answer, as the Germans had announced in February of 1915 that ships entered in the waters around Great Britain might be sunk without warning. Lusitania was sunk in May of 1915.

(4) This is true, and in fact the German embassy specifically warned Americans not to travel on the Lusitania, but that isn't why the boat was sunk.

Answer 2

The reason I say the third is a rasonable but not good answer is that it is true, but doesn't get at WHY the Lusitania was sunk. The answer is to prevent weapons and ammunition from getting to England.

Answer 3

Correct Answer: C. Germany practiced unrestricted submarine warfare.