Why the Germans Torpedoed the Lusitania

[@Mitsonify]

Don't know what's worse, shooting a civilian vessel or using unarmed people as a meatshield to hide munitions.

[@Celrador]

+Keyboard Warrior Don't forget the British Q-Ships, heavily armed ships with concealed weaponry and disguised as merchants meant to abuse the "prize rules", which even lead to Germany starting the unrestricted submarine warfare in the first place.

[@f0otball41]

They're both as bad as each other you idiot.

[@pebo8306]

@@anzacwashington7050 The Lusitania was an official warship,registered as an auxiliary cruiser.She was built with funds from the Royal Navy! churchill for sure shed not a single tear for the people killed!Most probably he opened the best bottle of whiskey available!

[@stephenmelton2532]

@@anzacwashington7050 :Little evidence? Divers found at least 4 million rounds of ammunition in her cargo holds. The wreck was found in 2008. All kinds of evidence exists it was hauling war material.

[@cinegraphics]

Using people as meatshield is worse. Because once you load ammo and weaponry on a "passenger" ship, it's not a passenger ship anymore. From that moment on it was a military vessel. And Germans had every right to sink it. In fact, the put an ad in American newspapers that they will sink that ship. So whoever boarded it.... it's his own fault.

[@jude_the_apostle]

This video isn't on why they sunk it, its on how they sunk it. Change why to how.

[@josiaha7783]

The last Goffena If you have eyes maybe you'd see that they shoot it with a torpedo, for the love of god make an effort.

[@jude_the_apostle]

why did they torpedo it you moron??

[@jude_the_apostle]

***** oh thanks

[@michaelrearden3159]

Well, they wont say that anyway because its a US Gov. documentary, and the Lusitania is one of the big excuses the US uses for its otherwise unwarranted entry into the war against the C. Powers

[@matthewmartin7411]

Michael Rearden if you do your history you will find out the German U-boats were sinking passenger ships carrying US citizens which gives United States probable cause to go kick Germany's ass also something you may not know United States intercepted a telegram from the Germans to the Mexican government because Germany was going to fund a Mexican Revolution so Mexico could take back the four border states to occupy United States with Mexico and keep the United States out of the war trust me United States have plenty of reason to enter World War 1 do your history do your research before commenting

[@zuutlmna]

The Lusitania was carrying war munitions, thus qualifying it as a legitimate military target. Divers recovered a sample of the arms from the Lusitania wreck in the 1980's. An agency associated with the German gov't ran a warning in a New York newspaper prior to the ship's departure, not to sail on the Lusitania.

[@zuutlmna]

I was a subscriber to "Skin Diver Magazine" back in the 1980's. I seem to recall they had a small article on the Lusitania military arms transport verification.

[@yokoa3825]

Xavier maybe it's only illegal in certain countries?

[@pgtv14]

Xavier Yeah, it is, but warcrimes are okay if you're the winner.

[@auldflyer]

WHERE IS YOUR EVIDENCE FOR THIS?

[@granddukeofmecklenburg]

@@auldflyer both the US and Britsh governments have admitted it

[@9208655]

You might mention that the Lusitania was carrying tons of munitions and weapons. The Germans knew the cheeky brits hid their supplies among civilians, to try to grant free shipping through contested waters. The Germans on many occasions warned the allies that if it continued they would have no choice but to shoot.

[@9208655]

That doesnt make any sense... I can agree with war tactics and not ideologies.

[@janhemmer1414]

WaffleMaster91 sarcasm...hop0e you got it

[@9208655]

You never know about some people

[@beststuff_intown6765]

Jan Hemmer how is he a nazi if this went down in like 1915 or 1916, dude.....know your history

[@janselkennethtolentino8269]

And I'm pretty sure they were warned through newspapers

[@unknown-im2bh]

My great grandmother was on the Lusitania, I remember her telling stories before she passed away. She described the sinking as unexpected and unbelievably fast, my great grandfather died in the sinking because he was trapped below deck :(

[@hiteshadhikari]

She must have missed 50 ads in newspapers telling people not to board the ship

[@noaerrr]

@@hiteshadhikari bruh

[@hiteshadhikari]

@@noaerrr yep, they put out ads not to mount the ship and how it will be a target in case it tries funny business

[@emusaurus]

Yep, sure she was.

[@Sixty4Horses]

@@emusaurus It’s plausible that he’s telling the truth. 2000 people were aboard, each with many (future) grandchildren / great grandchildren. I’m sure I’d be interested in an event like this knowing if it had significance in my family... I don’t see why you think that’s so extraordinary to leave a comment like that.

[@Tears_of_Isha]

this didn't really tell me why they did it

[@astro_che]

where?

[@cloudshelf9052]

Wyatt Shelley they had permission to engage on any British vessel even unarmed

[@Karuminu2]

It's because Schweiger was a fucking, heartless moron.

[@janhemmer1414]

and the brits were carrying ammo...

[@med9371]

Karuminu2 they had war supplies

[@asasnat342]

For those who want to know exactly why they hit it: The Lusitania was secretly and illegally carrying weapons, making it a target that the Germans would torpedo (because Germans treated ships with weapons aboard as naval ships). There you go.

[@curlitlikecurley6604]

My great grandfather was on this ship.. his job was to transport the horses from America to Britain.. he survived however tragically turned mentally ill after witnessing all the horses die

[@wd-type9643]

*every question went unanswered. Thanks again Smithsonian.*

[@kajusadomaitis6799]

😃

[@Fatkiller22]

Watch the actual documentary than. This is just a clip from it.

[@Justyourlocalgamer]

I can tell you this my great uncle was on the Lusitania and he was on crew when it was sinking Captain Turner ordered him to get on 1 of the 6 lifeboats that were safely launched. He was ordered to get on because the crew member on the lifeboat was crazy and could not control himself and he died but my great uncle survived.

[@molanlabexm15]

Bet you they killed him.

[@Justyourlocalgamer]

No

[@Justyourlocalgamer]

He survived

[@molanlabexm15]

@@Justyourlocalgamerno, I am saying Uncle and crew killed em. Back in the day that would be done sometimes to prevent panic.

[@Justyourlocalgamer]

@molanlabexm15 im actually not sure because only my moms side of the family know

[@Macorian]

Germany had publicly announced that they would consider the Lusitania an enemy vessel, since it was carrying large amounts of supplies and soldiers. Yes, even adds were placed in major US newspapers warning civilians not to board the Lusitania. What happened was simply that the US government was knowingly sending civilians to their death in order to have a pretext for war against Germany. So, of course they don't tell why. It was a supply vessel for the British/Allied war effort and hence, a breach of international law by the US. Firstly because they were officially not at war with Germany, Austria and Turkey and secondly because they used a civilian ship. Germany would not allow war supplies to be sneaked up to Britain. After duly announcing their stance on the matter, they did what everybody knew would happen.

[@paulheenan9098]

+Macorian The Germans had no absolute proof that she was carrying war supplies. They sunk her simply because she was an easy target in their imaginary war zone. Commander Schwigier later regretted his actions, for he fired on an innocent vessel with innocent people onboard and did nothing to help them.

[@Macorian]

Hi Paul, I beg to differ. The context matters greatly here. The US was supplying Britain and had been for quite some time at that point. That was an open secret. Germany had hesitated to take action against ships it knew were carrying supplies. At that time, Germany's submarine activity was not unrestricted (as it would later be) but avoided neutral vessels. Given the evidence Germany had, they put advertisements in 50 US newspapers, including those in New York right next to the schedule of the Lusitania warning travellers that she would be considered an enemy vessel upon entering the exclusion zone. That doesn't fit at all with your description of an opportunistic attack. A bewildering array of errors and decisions on the US/UK side made it possible for U-20 to attack and sink the Lusitania with a single torpedo (eye-witnesses report an unusually strong explosion). Understandably commander Schwieger would have a heavy conscience due to the huge loss of life. Still, the Lusitania was not such an easy target and everyone travelling on her was told beforehand that she would be attacked. Strategically, it was a disaster for Germany, as it justified the US' entry into the war; for the war-party in Washington and especially for the British and her allies, it was, although it's very cruel to say, a decisive strategic 'victory'... . The US' coming to their aid against Germany is most likely what decided the war against Germany.

[@paulheenan9098]

Macorian Even so, it didn't give the Germans the authority to fire on her without warning. The custom was to allow the occupants to flee the vessel before sinking it.

[@Celrador]

+Paul Heenan You are completely disregarding the reason Germany started with its unrestricted submarine warfare in the first place. The British started using Q-Ships, which were heavily armed ships with concealed weaponry and disguised as merchants meant to abuse the "prize rules" by luring in submarines.

[@Rammstein0963.]

@Paul so you think risking my boat and crew (were I a U-boat skipper)is a better idea?

[@Acc0rd79]

They say the Lusitania was smuggling weapons to England but has always been kept a Hush Hush.

[@gandalfthegreatwhite4393]

Acc0rd79 -It was. _See my comment in the next video._

[@gandalfthegreatwhite4393]

dave hathaway Divers recently found that the Lusitania was carrying munitions. So, yeah. www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1098904/Secret-Lusitania-Arms-challenges-Allied-claims-solely-passenger-ship.html

[@willis1999]

tkondor For someone who did a thesis on the Lusitania, this is terrible. Churchill wasn't even PM until 1940. This is 1915 and World War One.

[@gandalfthegreatwhite4393]

willis1999 In October 1911, Churchill was appointed *First Lord of the Admiralty* and continued in the post into the First World War.

[@COLEEN322]

Gandalf the Great White churchill was a fat murdering alcoholic racist who reveled in violence and death!

[@irfan123100]

Is it true that they were actually transporting weapons and supplies.

[@3dsmash715]

yep

[@DERP_Squad]

Yes, though the admiralty has never given a fully detailed answer and likely never will. However research shows it was probably carrying somewhere between 2,000 and 2,500 tons of direct war materials along with many other materials which could have been for either civilian or military use.

[@mrdickwhiskey]

The sub couldn't know that.

[@janhemmer1414]

yeah but the brits could stop whining about it as they fucked up themself

[@Mishn0]

+mrdickwhiskey If German spies in the US found out that tons of small arms ammunition were loaded aboard they did.

[@drServitis]

I USED TO KNOW A WOMAN WHO WAS ON THE LUSITANIA WHEN SHE WAS IN HER 20's AND SURVIVED ITS SINKING. She's since died of old age, but she used to speak of it often.

[@alfiemarsh1774]

drServitis really cool wish I met her😀

[@GlitchedBlox]

lol so fake xD, how old are you now?

[@3.2mviews10]

what she say

[@WilliamMurphy-uv9pm]

Most folks who live through such horror don't want to talk about such things. Bad memories and nightmares.

[@drServitis]

That old lady was tough as nails, old school type.@@WilliamMurphy-uv9pm

[@peteketners5939]

All ship and submarine commanders (Allied and German) had current copies of ship's registries and classifications. The Lusitania had just been fitted with gun mounts along her deck. Even though no cannons were actually mounted, it was enough to have her re-classified from passenger ship to warship (Armed Merchant Cruiser). Captain Schwieger knew this as well the munitions she was carrying. I'm sure he regretted the loss of many lives, but did his duty by following procedures.

[@auldflyer]

WHERE IS YOUR EVIDENCE, WHAT COMICS HAVE YOU BEEN READING?

[@artyjaycayairlines]

@@auldflyer ??????

[@YouTubeisZionistTool]

*Britain wanted US in WWI* - any other reason is BS The same trick is played again and again and We are the victims

[@johannsebastianbach9003]

But actually US joined the germans in ww1

[@bitchwhat6267]

Adolf Hitler yes we helped Germany and together we won ww1 and ww2!!! Germany and US became rising dominant empires and everyone feared both of us since we were certainly allies! No one wants to mess with us! The strongest “alliance”!

[@roynettle6864]

@@bitchwhat6267 Ah yes the famous alliance between US and Germany I believe it was called the "unholy alliance"

[@ThervingianGoth]

Together, they beat the alliance between Italy and Russia!

[@53Strat]

Dude, you are spot on. I keep saying this. It was a controlled act, people dont realise there is allot more going on then just the war. Look it up, the internet is here for everyone. The U.S wanted this to happen, I'm just going to say that the Federal Reserve was created in 1913, a year prior. Connect the dots yourself.

[@Kynos1]

The British Admiralty knew all about the imminent danger due to the activities of Room 40, but neither did they warn the Lusitania of the imminent danger, nor did they provide a military escort, even though warships were stationed close by.

[@mauricedesaxe1745]

Wait, most naval destroyers could make nearly 30 knots. Lusitania made 26 at her top speed... destroyers could have kept up with her easy.

[@mauricedesaxe1745]

JR AL Greater tonnage = larger, more powerful engines. It's one of the reasons why a smaller steamer could only make 14 knots versus Lucy's 26. An aircraft carrier, though larger and thus heavier, can produce ridiculous amounts of horsepower. Nuclear systems only triples this effect.

[@efstratiosthomopoulos2958]

triple*

[@calebshonk5838]

It was actually the Lusitania that would have slowed the escorts down. The British Admiralty didn't want their combat ships to "waste" their time guarding civilian ships. Rather, they wanted them patrolling and escorting the heavier capital ships, ie, battleships, dreadnoughts, etc. This wasn't Germany in the 1940s, in WW1 Germany actually had a considerable modern navy that actually posed a threat to the Royal Navy. The British were more concerned about a possible second Battle of Jutland than they were about protecting passenger liners. Not to mention, the news of thousands of dead civilians "murdered by a ruthless hun" made for good British propaganda in the States.

[@spiranca]

Yes but it was carrying weapons & supplies plus civilians plus it was a great ship? Why not guard it? Even after obvious threat signs?

[@arthurmilmore7685]

one of the boiler rooms had been shut down as an economy measure. this made her a much easier target to hit.

[@rosesprog1722]

Not only were the British employing the blockade to stop, destroy or confiscate ships carrying cargo to Germany, they also disguised warships as merchant ships, used neutral flags as cover (Q-ships), and armed merchant ships, giving them orders to ram German U-boats. This turned every British merchant ship into a warship in the opinion of Germany, who had objected to this policy in vain. The Royal Navy showed its own disregard of civilians by loading passenger ships with weapons. Early on, Lusitania had been withdrawn from passenger service for conversion to war before being returned to civilian status. The ship was also captained by a Royal Naval officer. Both the 1914 “Jane’s Fighting Ships” plus the “British Naval Packet Book” listed Lusitania and Mauritania, among others, as “armed merchantmen.” It is reasonable to conclude that she might no longer be considered a harmless passenger ship to the enemy and would be suspected of carrying war materials, which she was.

[@Pfsif]

The Americans were smuggling munition (proven), the Germans even took out a full page add in a major NY newspaper telling people not to travel on the Lusitania because she is now officially a military ship.

[@auldflyer]

WHERE IS YOUR EVIDENCE FOR THIS?

[@Realswisher97]

Alan Hopwood I got the evidence from your mother

[@vulpesinculta3238]

@@auldflyer The wreck of the Lusitania contains millions of .303 rounds. There are videos available on the internet of unmanned submarine cameras going over pile after pile of bullets on the wreck of the Lusitania. It was carrying materials for the war effort, and therefore sinking it was legal, even if a thousand civilians died in the process.

[@airplanegod]

That's all true however a reminder that Germany was the bad guy here.

[@ThervingianGoth]

airplanegod How so? Hm?

[@yuenhai]

Brits using civilians to transport arms and munitions What's the difference from Taliban using civilians as shields

[@GlitchedBlox]

the difference is that the civilians here are not a shield.

[@Nico-lp7zd]

@@GlitchedBlox they where definitly used as meat shields

[@GlitchedBlox]

@@Nico-lp7zd they are not meat shields, they doesn't protect the ship

[@waynepurcell6058]

@@GlitchedBlox Civilians placed on a ship, airliner, or even a bus that is carrying war supplies are MEAT SHIELDS. The Lusitania was a auxiliary cruiser that had hidden deck guns and was transporting millions of small arms rounds and some cordite. At that point the Lusitania becomes a military ship and thus a legitimate military target. The British were trying to keep the Germans from attacking those supplies by using innocent civilian as a deterrent. That is a MEAT SHIELD.

[@GlitchedBlox]

@@waynepurcell6058 meatshield: protect something using someone, so does decepting means meatshield? no

[@freyalw326]

My great grandmother's two family friends Gwendolyn and Anna Allan were both killed aged 16 and 15. Anna's body was never found. Rest in peace to all who died.

[@cpawp]

There is no answer for that "Why" given here. And it wasnt mentioned that serious doubts came up on the uboat to shout at a passenger ship. Not only in the ranks, one sailor was relieved and later courtmarshalled, And why just one torpedo for a big ship like the Lusitania? Too many questions unsolved with this vid, sry.

[@tkondor]

cpawp why just one torpedo? because one torpedo can sink a ship like the Lusitania, it was mere luck, that the torpedo hit the ship exactly where she smuggeld ammunition and gun cotton, which caused a 2nd huge explosion...so, we could say that it was a BLAST! :D

[@gfoster13]

But the Britannia was also torpedoed

[@spiranca]

George Foster Yes tragically two days before armistice. But most of the crew was saved.

[@hmhsbritannic7765]

George Foster I was not torpedoed

[@randomlyentertaining8287]

HMHS Britannic No, you just got drunk and walked into a mine.

[@jackmehoffer2724]

Because it was carrying war material... But don't let that get in the way for good propaganda

[@thisisryan2094]

+Jack Mehoffer It still violated a million war rules and was an attack completely unjustified. It was a terrible thing does by the Germans

[@Kardia_of_Rhodes]

+Generation Cinema If a Russian passenger ship was smuggling an atomic bomb, I would sink it. Remember the U-Boat only fired one torpedo, the captain could have ordered the crew to fire more if he wanted to.

[@pmwowp4859]

+Generation Cinema to tell story america put wep on ship. Then They put many civils on IT to work AS decoy / the germen sunk IT beacuse of that

[@thisisryan2094]

PMWOWP Doesn't mean the Germans were allowed to sink it. That's still not justification. The Lusitania was classified as a civilian ship, which it mainly was, and the Germans sunk it. That was unlawful

[@pmwowp4859]

Generation Cinema take the wep away from ship lusitania never sink :)

[@thorthegodofthunder9150]

The reason why there was no escort with Lusitania is: They thought sending an escort will make the germans suspicious about what the ship is carrying. Thats why they didn't send an escort. It was a smart move but unfortunately it didn't work.

[@northwestprof60]

Your post is idiotic. Plenty of passenger ships got escorts.

[@WilliamMurphy-uv9pm]

She was also a relatively fast ship if I recall correctly.

[@DANIELLE_BREANNA_LACY]

@@WilliamMurphy-uv9pm Yeah, but she wasn’t traveling at full speed when the Germans fired the torpedo which allowed it to easily strike her on the starboard bow.

[@WilliamMurphy-uv9pm]

@@DANIELLE_BREANNA_LACY So, does that mean it was the captain of the Lusitania who caused the sinking or were the Germans just good at torpedoing large ships at sea at whatever speed they were moving. Seems a lot more to the story. Was she slowed down hoping to be ignored? If the Germans warned in advance, and they did, that they would sink her, why didn't people believe them? Seems that they lived up to their word. And, since she did, in fact, carry war materials, the Allies had lied.

[@ziggymorris8760]

The captain swore that the ship was carrying munitions, but he couldn’t prove it and nearly got locked up for sinking it. Only 60 years later did the truth come out that it was carrying a horde of weapons from the U.S. that were being sent to the British. The captain was right.

[@lukeschultz6886]

I highly doubt the Germans even sunk this ship.

[@artyjaycayairlines]

@@lukeschultz6886 ???

[@DANIELLE_BREANNA_LACY]

@@lukeschultz6886 Yes, they did. Walther Schwieger was the man who gave the order to fire that torpedo at the Lusitania and people who survived the sinking mentioned being able to see it from the ship.

[@Synystr7]

Because the video fails to actually say why the german's sunk it, here's what was found on the wreckage: "At the time she was sunk, she was carrying over 4 million rounds of small-arms ammunition (.303 caliber), almost 5,000 shrapnel shell casings (for a total of some 50 tons), and 3,240 brass percussion fuses, in addition to 1,266 passengers and a crew of 696."

[@auldflyer]

WHERE IS YOUR EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THIS?

[@etiennesickleton1483]

​@@auldflyer on the ocean floor

[@AZA9J6]

watch the guy on the left at 1:35 cuz the chick thinks he's leaning in for a kiss hahahahahaha damn she peeled off hella hard

[@SinFuLL]

😂😂😂

[@arronjones6985]

Jokes 🤣🤣🤣

[@stuartcrossland1746]

Churchill was head of the admiralty when the Lucitania was torpedoed,some say he allowed it to happen for a reason. Thats called a false flag.

[@robertyoung3992]

Lusitania

[@ThervingianGoth]

Robert Young Why did you write a comment just saying Lusitania?

[@daetoris4473]

Cause the first guy spelt it wrong

[@gtirdoc]

Yes, and JP Morgan and friends were behind it as they had a lot to gain from it. Just like the Titanic and the Federal Reserve System were created straight after it.

[@ComdrPirozhki]

To be honest, the Thumbnail made me think this will be a War Thunder Video

[@AS-zk6hz]

An elderly friend of mine told me his father was on the Lusitania. He said his father knew the sub was out their tracking them. All morning. When the ship was torpedoed. How he saved himself was he swam all the way to shore which was a long way off

[@henrytownshend8862]

How many miles and how many hours

[@ToreDL87]

They didn't know the sub was out there, they knew subs might be out there. Other than that it was rotten luck, she was zig-zagging, and turning away from the sub, when she altered course and turned back in and that's when they let'er have it.

[@Firguy_the_Foot_Fetishist]

I heard about that guy. I also heard he swam away from the Titanic.

[@Schwertfisch13]

​@@ToreDL87 The altering of course was instigated by none other than Winston Churchill.

[@harrisonmundschutz2654]

The fact that there were so many non-combatants who wanted to travel from America to Britain during the world wars just goes to show how unsurprising it is that people are travelling during the pandemic

[@southernhighlander22]

The British broke the neutral laws by loading a ship with ammo

[@mikeuhlir4823]

The Brits used " civilian ships" to transport weapons and ammunition across the seas. The Germans knew that fact. So,.... civilian ships were fair game.

[@alexreid-wh9gq]

They also used hospital Ships in the Med in WW1 to move some armed troops & weaponry etc.

[@JamesTilsley1]

We made sure that the Germans were lovely and locked in their home ports for the whole war though didn’t we

[@xander4670]

@@JamesTilsley1 nope, their u-boats were everywhere

[@AAa-cr2kt]

The Lusitania was smuggling munitions this is clear propaganda

[@markharrison2544]

RMS Lusitania was a legitimate military target.

[@Handleweary]

Book by Erik Larson called "Dead Wake" does an excellent job of describing the sinking. Passengers, cargo, etc.

[@jacobphillipanderson4458]

I've read it. Great book and outstanding at telling the story of the ship and all the events surrounding it.

[@JamesRichards-mj9kw]

Churchill caused the sinking of RMS Lusitania.

[@laurieguccione8867]

They sunk it because it had ammunition on the ship

[@jackpez]

They didn't necessarily say why did they shoot it. They said when and how.

[@jasonl6984]

BlueFireJack the Germans shot it because and the video said this the German captain of the ship said that this was just what he's been waiting for. Meaning a passenger ship with no escort

[@jackpez]

Raidin You so he's a heartless bitch?

[@jasonl6984]

BlueFireJack yes, the German mission of most u boats was to destroy any British ships military or civilian because they were carrying able bodied men who could fight and were carrying food and supplies so if the Germans destroyed any boats that's less supplies and men for the british

[@greenfingernaildirt356]

Raidin You LOL FUCKING MORON THE LUSITANIA CARRIED HUNDREDS OF TONS OF GRENADES AND SHELLS SO SHE WAS A MILITARY SHIP

[@greenfingernaildirt356]

BlueFireJack no the Lusitania had hundreds of tons of shells and grenades on board. So its deemed a military ship.

[@Kwolfx]

This short video is full of misinformation. Turner did not go to full speed. He was only travelling at 18 knots when he could have made 21 knots. The U-20's captain overestimated the Lusitania's speed. Turner ordered the turn to take a four point bearing to establish his exact position. That put him directly in the path of the U-20.

[@DANIELLE_BREANNA_LACY]

My great great grandfather was one of the engineers of that ship.

[@MrTona94]

Truly enjoyed narrating this documentary for The Smithsonian Channel. The complete program will air May 4 and 5 in the US

[@Irish_For_Life1842]

1) German submarines attempted to follow the standards of war with the new war tool the submarine. Germany explained to the Allies that they would surface without shooting and warning the ship they confronted that they needed to get in the lifeboats before the ship was sunk. 2) The British made it standard practice to ram the subs while they were giving the warning. All warnings then ceased. 3) The Allies, primarily British, blockaded Germany. Massive numbers of Germans starved to death. Germany retaliated the best they could. 4) The Brits would use other countries flags to sneak munitions into Europe. 5) Britain absolutely wanted the US to come into the war on the side of the British. 6) The British consistently ran illegal munitions on passenger liners and even HOSPITAL SHIPS 7) Germans complained to the Allies regularly on the flouting of International law or Germany would sink merchant ships. 8) Germans had been warning the noncombatant countries that they were legitimate targets IF they came into the war zone and could be sunk. 9) Despite all the warnings given to the countries doing business with the Allies Germany went one step farther. They took good sized ads placed next to the ads for the Lusitania warning that if they entered the war zone they would be a fair target and that they may be sunk. One thing that I found real interesting. The Admiralty paid half or more to build the passenger ships. This was done to give the British Navy the right to commandeer a passenger liner. The British than listed the ship on their records as how they anticipated using it. The Lusitania was listed as a naval Cruiser!

[@lizardboi716]

The lusitania was actually hauling alot of weapons and ammunition like a convoy

[@dornierdo1724]

@Lizard Boi That doesn't mean it's right to sink it. It was still a passenger ship carrying civilians.

[@thomasmatthewharris1980]

Doesn't make it right

[@OttoFlick]

@@dornierdo1724 When you smuggle war material on passenger ship it's not anymore passenger ship but legitimate military target so it was right to sink it.

[@janrobson9247]

My partner’s great grandfather was a 49 year old fire stoker, Jack Shepherd. He died on the Lusitania. He never stood a chance. The British were complicit in his death.

[@pebo8306]

The Lusitana was'nt a civilian vessel from the beginning!She was partly built with fonds of the admiralty,and officially registered in the navy as "auxilliary cruiser"!

[@DANIELLE_BREANNA_LACY]

No, the Lusitania was a civilian liner in the beginning. Only during WWI was she a war vessel disguised as an extremely luxurious civilian liner!

[@pe.bo.5038]

@@DANIELLE_BREANNA_LACY Lusitania was partly built with fonds of the admiralty and was officially listed as an Auxiliary Cruiser.She onpurpose had a bulkhead system;but lacked a counter-flodding system.Lusitania was a legitimate target!

[@EmergencyVehiclesVictoria]

HAHAHHAHA DID ANYONE REALISE AT 1:37 THE BABY WAS A CABBAGE?!😂😂🤣😂😂

[@frankrahhh]

so many freakin ships were sunk in 1910's

[@Zazkon08]

You: why the germans torpedoed the lusitania Me:idk?

[@DANIELLE_BREANNA_LACY]

Me: because the Lusitania was carrying a load of military hardware to Europe!

[@therealkoishikomeji9260]

Passenger ship: *exists* Germany: *confused screaming*

[@dornierdo1724]

@the real koishi Komeji Germany: *I'm about to end this whole ship’s career*

[@pancytryna9378]

Germany: sends a lot of warnings about sailing in a war zone Passangers: ignore warnings Captain: does nothing to secure ship German U-Boot: sinks ship USA: * suprised pikachu *

[@charlesjakesamadan4008]

@@pancytryna9378 allies: *Hippity Hoppy your 3 big ships are ours now*

[@thetruth7633]

MH-17 of 1915, used to get things cooking .. USA : "But we have to do something!!"

[@loelazarcon7452]

Germans fire on the Lusitainia Smithsonian: Its brighter here

[@omarbartolini3386]

“The rules of fair play do not apply in love and war.” John Lyly

[@jackthorton10]

Indeed

[@garyph4]

R.I.P. RMS LUSUTIANA

[@robertyoung3992]

Lusitania

[@juliendufour4513]

This video answers the question "how" but not "why".

[@archeomax05soli10]

-Hans ich bin so tired.. *Otto leans on launch switch* -Ach! You armed ze torpedoes! Ve are pointing ein civil ship! -Kalm down, hans. Vat might happen?

[@adamtaylor766]

Long story short the brits had guns and ammo on the ship. They were putting the guns and ammo on a passenger ship to deter the germans from sinking it.

[@xavierdaly5534]

my great great grandmom worked on the lusitania. she survived.

[@ryanflood635]

+Xavier “X Man” Daly I just found out that a family member on my Grandads side, was killed on the Lusitania. AND a family member on my Nans side had died on the Titanic... crazy stuff what we learn from our ancestry.

[@xavierdaly5534]

Ikr

[@apoli4312]

cool

[@realtissaye]

Liars

[@The98Man098]

FnafGamre_YT 2007 so he was caught in the blade.

[@CH-gr7tn]

Anyone know where I can watch or download it?

[@AtlasDaytona]

I’ve seen the full episode where this clip was taken from, it was so good that I had rewatched it over 10 times, xd

[@dj-he4mo]

They really should've had an escort. Even just a couple tugboats

[@joanofarcxxi]

Whether or not the Brits were carrying munitions, what kind of cold blooded individuals ruthlessly fire a torpedo knowing there are many hundreds of innocent lives, unsuspecting children, women, and men on board? I can not fathom such cold lack of human decency.

[@radrook2153]

Humans are infamous for lack of human decency.

[@YenLoWangx]

Welcome to war.

[@DaleJackson0]

Not their problem. Legit military target, the civilians shouldn’t have gotten on voard

[@antoniodelaugger9236]

innocent lives who willingly boarded the vessel that was already marked as a viable military target, shame to the lives lost but natural selection

[@RavusNox-z5i]

It was a legitimate target. The monster was the US government allowing this ship to set sail, and civilians to embark on it.

[@hejdu4480]

Bring back memories of silent hunter III when you spot a big fat target. TORPEDO LOSS!

[@kage_tactical]

Germans: Sinking ships since since ww1

[@DANIELLE_BREANNA_LACY]

Fortunately, that’s over now and Germany is a much more peaceful country.

[@princeothello5802]

This is why history needs to be taught no matter how repulsive.

[@j.b.708]

im sure it has nothing to do with global banking interests and pulling america into their war.

[@thorthegodofthunder9150]

One junior and one senior crew member were unwilling to do. The junior tried stopping them but failed. The senior was the periscope man. He didnt try anything but he was unwilling and sad. He tried to make it look like a coincidence by saying "Shes too far". But when Lusitania turned, he had to it.

[@korbyntaylor8089]

Why didn't the Germans listen to. The senior crew member? H... He tried to warn them.

[@artyjaycayairlines]

@@korbyntaylor8089 ???

[@korbyntaylor8089]

@@artyjaycayairlines what? He did. Is that a theory?

[@korbyntaylor8089]

And also what am I, a Black Mesa scientist?

[@artyjaycayairlines]

@@korbyntaylor8089 I don’t mean What you’re saying! I meant How you said it!

[@sirboomsalot4902]

Lusitania would have been torpedoed even if it wasn't carrying munitions, as the Germans were in unrestricted submarine warfare and anything British would be sunk. The Germans told the British people this too

[@footylad6468]

My birthday is one day before the sinking

[@anormalcommentor9452]

may 6th?

[@deutschlandairsoft5980]

It was sunk because any allied ships were to be considered 'targets' and the lusitania was a 'target' for the German navy in both world wars

[@Klistern2]

+Juicy Bunz It was sunk because of BANK INTERESTS. 2 years earlier congress handed over the fed reserve. What happens when theres war? CENTRAL BANKS PROFIT.. When a government is hugely in debt they are at the mercy of these central banks who can manipulate markets and therefor the social structure of a nation. When the government is no longer any use, they just financially support the OPPOSITION, who are then obligated to look after the banks interests.

[@deutschlandairsoft5980]

Klistern2 That's confusing

[@tylerbuckley7409]

How was Lusitania a target in world war two when she was already at the bottom of the sea in 1917 in world war one

[@tyteavlogs21]

Fuck u dumb nazi

[@brianoneel5963]

What brought me here was the book "Dead Wake" by Erik Larson, which is about the sinking. Well worth the read.

[@Busterkeatonrules]

Seconded. That's an amazing book. It genuinely brings the disaster to life, along with the era in which it took place.

[@veljkostevanovic7597]

The correct answer is because Lusitania was too large and fast to be successfully engaged with the submarine's deck gun. Next question please...

[@jackbaker8346]

The Germans warned they would sink the ship when it left from port and said not to get on. It was a direct neglect of wartime laws and they thought they could sail a passenger ship through a war zone. That’s the equivalent of driving a school bus through a battlefield.

[@kgerischer1]

Still waiting for their answer on why the did it

[@DANIELLE_BREANNA_LACY]

Because the Lusitania was carrying a load of military hardware to Europe to be used against them!

[@harryslife3402]

One lesson. Check your weather as the amount of sinking ships which sink because of the weather

[@ETHIE]

It’s brighter here says the channel who shows plane crashes and also ships sinking

[@slappy7642]

Press F to pay respect for Lusitania

[@ramonguzman4990]

They torpedoed the Lusitania because it had over 1 million bullets suppling the British for WW1 (from America to the UK) and it wouldn’t be considered a war crime since it had stuff for war on the ship

[@williamvalentino3947]

She struck a mine the area was hvy mined the Brits this the nearest u-boatvwas further south

[@theirishanime007]

She had arms and ammunition on her. She sank in 18 minutes. It doesn't take a rocket scientists to put two and two together.

[@BrokenAngelWings]

Absolutely a legal shot in my opinion. The Lusitania carried like other civilian ships ammo and supplies for the Army. We even warned the Brits and the Americans that we Germans will sink their ships because we see them as an enemy vessel and not as a passenger ship. More like a freighter/merchant for war material. The Brits and Americans didn't want to listen to it and so paid the price for it. A price THEY (The UK And the United States) could have stopped.

[@markharrison2544]

It was no longer a civilian ship.

[@BrokenAngelWings]

I agree

[@auldflyer]

WHERE IS YOUR EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THIS?

[@markharrison2544]

The British admitted the ship was carrying war munitions in 1982.

[@Formulozza1]

You lost, get over it. War crime!

[@chukchuk7632]

I urge everyone to look up "Tuckerton Tower" in NJ. The actual town would be Mystic Island in Little Egg Harbor Twp. The radio tower in the early 1900's was built by the Germans and reportedly used to sink the Lusitania with a signal "get Lucy". There are 3 very large concrete pillars spread throughout the small town here that were the bases for the tower which was at the time the 2nd tallest structure in the world after the Eiffel Tower.

[@kurtsherrick2066]

PeeshooterGaming90823. You are one misinformed gamer. Maybe you should study more instead of playing games. The Lusatania was packed with material for artillery shells millions of bullets that are on the manifest. You need to understand that the Germans had alot of spies on the Ports. The British depth charged the Lusatania for two week in the Fifties do make the ship impossible to explore because technology was catching up to Churchill Hills and room 4l's terrible crime. In 1982 when the wreck was first explored and only in a few save places gun powder and Cooper and Alininum powder we're found. They make bombs and artillery shells out of that. The Germans had a right to sink her. They put advertisements in the papers telling Americans not to sail on British Ships. U20 had sunk numerous ships without any lose of life. Churchill fitted passenger and merchant ships with big Guns although the Lusatania had just the gun mounts at the time she was sunk. The Germans before this move let crews unload in life boats before the U Boats sunk to them. Now the U Boats couldn't take a chance they would get hit. U20 knew that one torpedo wouldn't cause the big ship to sink in 18 minutes. She sunk a ship like the day before with multiple Torpedos and it took over three hours to sink. U 20 knew the ship was eleven miles from the coast of Ireland and survivors would be easily picked up. About 30 seconds after the Torpedo hit a huge second explosion from inside the ship caused the rapid sinking. It was ammunition, coal dust or a steam explosion. The British made sure we will never know the truth. But the Lusatania was carrying war material. Churchill stated he wanted American Ship's to be sunk by the Germans to get America in the war. I ask you to research Churchill and his terrible deed.

[@maverick837]

its funny that you wrote your on comment instead of replying

[@laytonplayz166]

Dumbass.

[@justinebautista1383]

she has no artillery shells aboard she had small arms ammo but definetly not artillery

[@kurtsherrick2066]

@@justinebautista1383 The ship had Cooper and Aluminum powder which was used for shells and bombs. The Lusitania also had material that was used for shells. No telling what else could be found if the hulk could be fully explored. A survivor was told by a Grew Member that the Ship contained many Arms that wasn't on the Manifest. There now is a Interesting Docudrama that came out in June 6, 2020 Called The Mystery of the Lusitania Tragedy. It backs up much of what I have been saying. There is countless books and Articles explaining much of what History has lied about. And those who have called me names and insulted my Character will be proven wrong with a little Resesrch. The Docudrama is on U Tube and it is 130 Minutes long. Look at that Docudrama and then I will be looking for some Apologies. My Dad had a Masters in American and World History. He served on a Destroyer in the Atlantic for two years and on 6 PT Boat in the Pacific for almost two year's. He served in the Occupation of Japan for six months. He taught me about the Germans putting Warnings in American Newspapers telling Americans not to sail on the Lusitania and any British Ships because they were at War with Britain. Also the Germans marked our Parts of the Sea where they would sink ships in those Waters. They kept their word on that. The British Admiralty had plenty of chances to redirect the Lusitania where the Ship wouldn't be fired on and they refused because it would take a extra day of Sailing to go around the Waters that the Germans said they would only sink ships. Watch the Docudrama and I wait for everyone's apologies. The British Admiralty was evil. At least the Judge didn't convict Turner but he lied about the Torpedoes to keep the truth from being known and to help Britain remain a Country.

[@sgtmeerkat6653]

if cars were possible to go on water, my mums car would travel faster than that ship by 100x

[@immigrantgaming420epic]

Could you please explain what do you mean?

[@warningsigns4526]

did it for the bankers of course

[@Idkjustgothere]

Was the wreak ever found?

[@robertyoung3992]

off the Irish Coast

[@footylad6468]

Why does it say “American tragedy” it should be “british tragedy”

[@idontknowwhatimdoing760]

Because a lot of the passengers on board where American so it was more of a joint tragedy

[@damianclark550]

Great explanation

[@radrook2153]

Click Bait.

[@sarahthehorsegirl1871]

My great great grandma came over to America on the Lusitania

[@vermillionline5871]

To be helpful the reason why the Germans targeted the Lusitania was because the British told the Germans that the ship was not carrying weapons and bombs and the British lied and the Germans found out they lied

[@sovietunion920]

“It’s brighter here”

[@superancientmariner1394]

Room 40 was the Admiralty's secret intelligence-gathering and -processing department that provided vital intelligence to the British military commands and their allies during the First World War., ....a predecessor to Bletchly park.. To have informed lusitania of U 20s position would have indicated to the Germans that the Admiralty could read their codes.. I also do not think that the U boats were waging unrestricted warfare at that time, as they made efforts to spare neautral shipping where possible. Fog would have been the reason for a decrease in speed. Even today with radar, this is still the case And the Capt would have wanted to get an accurate fix for the simple reason he was aware of British Minefields in the area. Besides, as first lord of the Admiralty, would not have been in a position within the government to be concerned about getting the USA into the war....especially as he had other things to be concerned about, like the Dardanelles.

[@superancientmariner1394]

leonard bolton Fog would have been the reason for the decrease in speed to 15 knots from 21..( Turner could not even see the Fastnet rock ) When the Lusitania was hit she had, in fact, increased speed to 18 knots to make the tide at the bar. Also, he would not be able to calculate his timing to the bar without his first landfall for a fix.

[@armyam3679]

You

[@superancientmariner1394]

Titipat's Channel ?...What.?

[@northwestprof60]

No. It could have been done in any number of ways, the fact that it was not speaks to the usual levels of inaction in bureaucracies (see the US & Pearl Harbor).

[@dwaynehoward240]

How is it i stumbled up on this video from another video on May 6th..

[@Steuerbeamter]

This video is telling us, how the germans torpedoed the Lusitania, but not why they did it. Maybe World War I had something to do with it, and the total u-boat war.

[@matthewclinton792]

+Ae Snake what the hell is wrong with you, idiot

[@Panda21F9N8VUSUCKACUCK09G0]

OK wrong info. It sank on ww1

[@triandfit1]

While the Lusitania sinking was a factor, it did not directly lead to the US joining the war. Germany’s attempt to coerce Mexico to invade the US was a far greater reason. the Brits intercepted the message and sent it on to Washington.

[@ottersirotten4290]

and whos more trustworthy than the Brits right?^^

[@starbucks_girl7836]

Dis is exactly why I don't get on ships xD

[@harampug9150]

The ending music is a bit fucked up

[@apollo1258]

There was an escort and Churchill ordered it to leave. He knew that submarines were in the area and was hoping the Lusitania would be sunk. He was desperate to draw in the Americans on the Allied side. One torpedo was fired at her which would have slowed her but not sink her. The British deceitfully armed the Lusitania with rifle rounds and artillery shells. This one torpedo ignited the munitions and caused her to sink quickly. The English used the civilians as scapegoats and at the same time cynically demonized the Germans. This sinking caused US public opinion to turn against the Germans, which is want Churchill wanted and draw America towards the Allied cause.

[@solarsatan9000]

Didnt she sink in 18 minutes

[@jamesreece2363]

This was ww1 not ww2

[@joshuaplotkin8826]

so he really didn't know what ship he was attacking.