WH Writing Assignment X
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Nov 24, 2024
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Writing Assignment X: World War I
Topic: Discuss British and German naval blockade tactics during the Great War. What was the
context? Though Britain and Germany's goals were similar, they used different strategies in their
blockades - what were the different strategies used by the two countries? What were the results
of these tactics? (Lecture, textbook, Canvas websites)
During the First World War, also known as the Great War, Britain and Germany would impose a
naval blockade acting as a trade restriction against the United States. Throughout most of the
war, the United States under Woodrow Wilson remained neutral to the conflict. However, the
U.S. continued its already established trade with European countries and because of this, both
Britain and Germany desired to stop U.S. trade to either opposing country. That is, Britain
wanted to stop U.S. trade to Germany and Germany wanted to stop U.S. trade to Britain. Both
countries would utilize different strategies to achieve their goal, but before we delve into the
contrasting strategies, let us briefly examine what was happening during the war.
There were four main “-isms” (Nationalism, Imperialism, Militarism, Romanticism) that would
eventually lead to the cause of WWI, with the assassination of Franz Ferdinand being the spark
to start it (
Lecture 15:33
). The alliances consisted of the Allies (Russia, France, Britain, United
States) and the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman-Turks) (
Lecture 27:07
).
The war would mainly be fought on two fronts, the eastern and western, with Germany in the
middle fighting on both sides. Although there were two “breakout campaigns” the fronts hardly
moved, so both sides had to gain any advantage that they could. Thus, the strategy of the naval
blockade was implemented.
Both sides employed their tactics in different ways, but it would be Britain who held the
advantage. Generally, the accepted rule during wartime was to fire a warning shot towards an
unknown merchant ship and this is exactly how Britain continued to operate when they
established their blockade. Once firing a warning shot, the merchant ship would be boarded and
searched. If any military supplies such as ammunition or guns were found, the process was to
“
evacuate the crew and passengers, providing them with safe refuge; or finally sink or capture
the ship
” (
World War I: Understanding the War at Sea Through Maps para. 3)
Germany would take a different approach which would be referred to as ‘unrestricted submarine
warfare’. Germany had developed and utilized its new marine technology during the war. This
new technology was the submarine, also known as the German U-boat. However, while
operating these U-boats, it was important for them to stay hidden beneath the surface, hence it
would not surface to fire a warning shot. So, when ANY ship entered the German blockade, it
would be fired upon without warning. This is exactly what happened when a German U-boat
sank the British passenger ship Lusitania, which was carrying 127 Americans.
The sinking of the Lusitania along with the ‘Zimmerman Telegram’ sent to Mexico and
intercepted by British intelligence, “…f
inally provoked the USA into entering the war against
the Central Powers
” (
Spotlights on History: The Blockade of Germany para. 5
). The result of
Germany’s aggressive marine warfare, in which the U.S. troops would prove to be and
overwhelming force for Germany, would unwittingly lead to an armistice or cease fire in
November of 1918. Germany along with the Central Powers knew they had been defeated and
now they were going to be forced to pay reparations to the Allies. United States president
Woodrow Wilson urged the Allies to forego reparations and promoted non-vindictive peace, but
his pleas were ignored. As a consequence of Germany’s harsh punishment by the Allies, a new
leader would emerge during the 1930’s in Germany, resulting in the deadliest war in history.
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