Germany's unrestricted submarine warfare was widely disliked and the sinking of the Lusitania added fuel to this. Interpreted as yet another example of German 'frightfulness', Britain and her allies gave the following reasons as to why Germany was wrong to sink the Lusitania:

• U-boats were not meant to attack passenger ships without first warning them and then helping passengers to safety.
• Although it was later proved in secret documents that Lusitania was carrying munitions: rifle cartridges and shrapnel shell cases, this was not illegal.
• The Captain of U20 - Schweiger - was known to have destroyed some neutral, passenger and hospital ships without warning.

Source C: The Times, 8th May 1915

'The opinion is expressed that Germany may be deliberately seeking to force the United States into war. "The Germans are running amok," said a representative American citizen last evening. "They appear to have cast restraint to the winds, and to be bent on challenging the conscience of civilized humanity." Whether or not the passengers, four-fifths of whom are citizens of the United States, have been saved, no doubt can exist as to the ruthlessness of the German intention. The Lusitania was torpedoed without any care for the safety of the neutral passengers on board, whom, for all that the commander of the German submarine or submarines cared, might have been killed by the sinking of the ship. This piece of "frightfulness" will arouse the utmost indignation in the United States, and will place the Government in an extremely difficult position.'

Source D:
This is a picture of the Lusitania Medallion. It was circulated in Germany in August 1915. It shows the sinking of the Lusitania on 5th May 1915 two days before it actually happened. The Lusitania Medallion was used by Britain as further proof of German atrocities.

© IWM