Monument to the Victims of the USS Maine (Havana) Monument to the Victims of the USS Maine (Havana) The Monument to the Victims of the USS "Maine" (Spanish: "Monumento a las víctimas del Maine") was built in 1925 in on the Malecón boulevard at the end of Línea street, in the Vedado neighborhood of Havana, Cuba, built in honor of the American sailors that died in the explosion of in 1898, which served as the pretext for the United States to declare war on Spain thus starting the Spanish–American War. The ship had anchored at Havana three weeks prior at the request of American consul Fitzhugh Lee. The monument
Sinking of the RMS Lusitania war, privately struck a small run of medals as a limited-circulation satirical attack (fewer than 500 were struck) on the Cunard Line for trying to continue business as usual during wartime. Goetz blamed both the British government and the Cunard Line for allowing "Lusitania" to sail despite the German embassy's warnings. Popular demand led to many unauthorised copies being made. One side of the popular medal showed "Lusitania" sinking laden with guns (incorrectly depicted sinking stern first) with the motto ""KEINE BANNWARE!"" ("NO CONTRABAND!"), while the reverse showed a skeleton selling Cunard tickets with the motto ""Geschäft Über Alles"" ("Business