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.
Why did the US sink the Lusitania?
On May 7, 1915, six days after leaving New York for Liverpool, Lusitania took a direct hit from a German U-boat submarine—without any warning—and sank within 20 minutes. The backlash aroused anti-German sentiment in America.
Who sank Lusitania?
Kapitänleutnant Walter Schwieger
Kapitänleutnant Walter Schwieger was the thirty-year-old commander of the submarine U-20 that sank the Lusitania. His war diary describes the attack and the rapid sinking of the great liner as he viewed it through his periscope.
What are the facts about the RMS Lusitania?
Welcome to The Lusitania Resource! Here you will find facts and history about the British passenger ship RMS Lusitania, her sinking, well as the biographies of passenger and crew on board when the German submarine U-20 torpedoed and sank her on 7 May 1915. Old Head Lusitania Museum & Signal Tower is looking for your help!
Who was killed in the sinking of the Lusitania?
The RMS Lusitania was a British ocean liner torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-20 on 7 May 1915, becoming a casualty of World War I. 128 American civilians died in the attack, turning American opinion against Germany, making the sinking a turning point of the war.
Who is the owner of the Lusitania wreck?
The late Mr. Gregg Bemis gifted the wreck to Lusitania Museum/Old Head Signal Tower Heritage CLG in 2019 in recognition of the achievements of the work of this local community voluntary group and to continue his legacy. You can watch the YouTube video and visit the link to the GoFundMe page below.
When did the Germans warn Americans about the Lusitania?
In early May 1915, several New York newspapers published a warning by the German Embassy in Washington, D.C., that Americans traveling on British or Allied ships in war zones did so at their own risk.