Unrestricted submarine warfare refers to the German military strategy during World War I where they attacked enemy ships, including civilian vessels, without warning and without providing a chance for passengers and crew to evacuate.
Imagine playing a game of hide-and-seek where you can tag anyone you find. In unrestricted submarine warfare, German submarines were like stealthy players who could tag any ship they spotted, even if it was full of innocent people enjoying their voyage.
Lusitania: The sinking of the Lusitania by a German U-boat in 1915 shocked the world as over 1,100 civilians died, including Americans. This event contributed to the eventual entry of the United States into World War I.
Blockade: The British naval blockade on Germany restricted supplies from reaching its shores during WWI. This led to shortages of food and resources within Germany and contributed to social unrest and economic hardships.
Submarine Warfare Policies: Prior to unrestricted submarine warfare, Germany had employed various submarine warfare policies such as cruiser rules (warning before attack) and prize rules (allowing searches before sinking). These policies aimed to limit civilian casualties but eventually gave way to unrestricted attacks due to strategic considerations.
What would have been a likely outcome if Germany had not used unrestricted submarine warfare during World War I?
What would likely have been the result if Germany had not reintroduced unrestricted submarine warfare in 1917 and kept the United States out of World War I?
What if Germany hadn't returned to unrestricted submarine warfare in WWI?
Study guides for the entire semester
200k practice questions
Glossary of 50k key terms - memorize important vocab
© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.