Spotlight On

Lusitania

The British ocean liner RMS Lusitania primarily ferried people and goods across the Atlantic Ocean between the United States and Great Britain. On May 1, 1915, the Lusitania was attacked by German U-boats. The Germans say their U-boat only fired one torpedo. Many believe the second explosion was caused by the ignition of ammunition hidden in the cargo hold.The damage from the second explosion that made the ship sink. The Lusitania sunk within 18 minutes.

 

Of the 1,959 people on board, 1,198 died. The toll of civilians killed in this disaster shocked the world. Americans were outraged to learn 128 U.S. civilians were killed in a war in which they were officially neutral.  The sinking of the Lusitania heightened tensions between the U.S. and Germany and helped sway American opinion in favor of joining the war.