May 7, 1915 saw German U-boat U-20 fired a single torpedo at what Cunard passenger liner, sinking it with the loss of 1,198 lives and helped turn public opinion against Germany and contributed to America's entry into WWI?
Sinking of the RMS Lusitania Sinking of the RMS Lusitania The sinking of the Cunard ocean liner RMS "Lusitania" occurred on Friday, 7 May 1915 during the First World War, as Germany waged submarine warfare against the United Kingdom which had implemented a naval blockade of Germany. The ship was identified and torpedoed by the German U-boat and sank in 18 minutes. The vessel went down off the Old Head of Kinsale, Ireland, killing 1,198 and leaving 761 survivors. The sinking turned public opinion in many countries against Germany, contributed to the American entry into World War I and became an iconic symbol in military
SM U-20 (Germany) SM U-20 (Germany) SM "U-20" was a German Type "U 19" U-boat built for service in the Imperial German Navy. She was launched on 18 December 1912, and commissioned on 5 August 1913. During World War I, she took part in operations around the British Isles. "U-20" became infamous following her sinking of the British ocean liner on 7 May 1915, an act that dramatically reshaped the course of World War I. On 7 May 1915, "U-20" was patrolling off the southern coast of Ireland under the command of Kapitänleutnant Walther Schwieger. Three months earlier, on 4 February, the Germans