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German U-Boat
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What did the
Sussex Pledge state?
The Sussex Pledge
promised a change in Germany’s naval warfare policy. Sussex Pledge
promised that:
● Passenger
ships would not be targeted
● Merchant ships
would not be sunk until the presence of weapons had
been established, nor without provision for the
safety of passengers and crew.
Why did Germany abandon the Sussex Pledge?
Germany abandoned the Sussex Pledge
because the German command believed that US resources
and military operations were tied up with the
1910
Mexico revolution and the cross-border raids into New
Mexico led by Pancho Villa and were convinced they could
defeat the Allies by instituting unrestricted submarine
warfare before the United States could enter the war.
What did the
Sussex Pledge state?
The German Government notified the US Government of
the that German naval forces had received the following order:
"In accordance with the general principles of visit and search
and the destruction of merchant vessels, recognized by international
law, such vessels, both within and without the area declared a naval
war zone, shall not be sunk without warning and without saving human
lives unless the ship attempts to escape or offer resistance".
Sussex Pledge
Facts for kids
The following fact
sheet on Sussex Pledge perpetrated by saboteurs in WW1.
Facts
about the Sussex Pledge for kids
Sussex Pledge Fact 1:
WW1 began in Europe on July 28, 1914
but the United States remained neutral for over two
years and entered WW1 on April 6, 1917.
Sussex Pledge Fact
2: On 4 February, 1915 Germany declared
the seas around Britain a war zone that would be
subjected to submarine warfare and that from 18
February, 1915 allied ships in the area would be sunk
without warning.
Sussex Pledge Fact 3:
The German announcement resulted in an angry and
indignant reaction from the United States. Attacking civilian
vessels without warning violated an international treaty that
stipulated that military vessels had to reveal their intentions to
merchant ships, and make provisions for the safety of the targeted
ship’s crew and passengers, before sinking it.
Sussex Pledge Fact 4:
Germany justified their policy of of unrestricted
submarine warfare by claiming that many British merchant ships were
actually warships in disguise and that their U-boats would be placed
at great risk if they revealed themselves before firing.
Sussex Pledge Fact 5:
On May 7, 1915 the British passenger ocean liner the
Lusitania was sunk by a
German U-Boat. A total of 1158 people were killed, including 148
Americans.
Sussex Pledge Fact 6:
The sinking of the Lusitania
caused outrage in America and public opinion turned
against Germany. President Wilson issued three diplomatic notes
in May, June, and July 1915 affirming the rights of US
citizens to travel safely at sea and warned that future sinkings would be viewed as "deliberately unfriendly."
Sussex Pledge Fact 7:
On March 24, 1916 a German U-Boat
(submarine) in the English Channel attacked what it
thought was military ship that was on a mine-laying
mission.
Sussex Pledge Fact 8:
The ship was actually an English
Channel passenger ferry called 'The Sussex' and was on
the short voyage from Folkestone to Dieppe carrying 325
passengers with 53 crew members.
Continued...
Facts
about the Sussex Pledge for kids
Facts
about the Sussex Pledge for kids
The following fact
sheet continues with facts about the Sussex Pledge perpetrated by
saboteurs in WW1.
Facts
about the Sussex Pledge for kids
Sussex Pledge Fact
9: The Sussex ship was severely damaged
by the U-Boat attack. Lifeboats were launched, but two
of them capsized and many passengers were drowned. At
least fifty people died and several Americans traveling
on the Sussex were injured.
Sussex Pledge Fact
10: Although no US citizens were killed
in the U-Boat attack, the incident enraged the American
public causing a heated diplomatic exchange between the
US and German governments which resulted in the "Sussex
Pledge"
Sussex Pledge Fact
11: The "Sussex Pledge" was made by
Germany on May 4th 1916 to the United States giving
assurances that passenger ships would not be targeted
and that Merchant ships would not be sunk until the
presence of weapons had been established and provisions
made for the safety of passengers and crew.
Sussex Pledge Fact 10:
Less than a year later, on February
1, 1917 Germany went back on its promises in the Sussex
Pledge and resumed unrestricted submarine warfare.
German U-Boats began to attack American ships in the
North Atlantic.
Sussex Pledge Fact 11:
Two days later, on February 3, 1917 the cargo
ship "The Housatonic" was the first American ship sunk by the
Germans under their unrestricted submarine warfare
Sussex Pledge Fact 11:
On February 3, 1917 President Wilson announced a
break in diplomatic relations with the German government (considered
a prelude to a declaration of war).
Sussex Pledge Fact 12:
Breaking the Sussex Pledge led to the sinking of
five more American merchant ships by German U-boats.
Sussex Pledge Fact 13:
The cause of the US entry into WW1 were the
provocative acts surrounding the sinking of the Lusitania and the
breaking the Sussex Pledge together with other events such as acts
of sabotage in America including the
Black Tom Explosion and the
serious diplomatic incident referred to as the
Zimmermann Telegram
Sussex Pledge Fact 14:
The United States declared war with
Germany and entered into World War 1 on April 6, 1917.
Sussex Pledge Fact 15:
During WW1, 126,000 Americans died
and 234,000 Americans were wounded. World War 1 ended on
11 November 1918.
Facts
about the Sussex Pledge for kids
Facts
about the Sussex Pledge
for kids: American entry
and US role World War I
On April 6, 1917 the United States
Senate declared war on Germany
and fought with the allies in WW1. For additional
facts and information refer to the following links: .
Sussex Pledge for kids - President Woodrow Wilson Video
The article on the Sussex Pledge provides detailed facts and a summary of one of the important events during his presidential term in office. The following
Woodrow Wilson video will
give you additional important facts and dates about the political events experienced by the 28th American President whose presidency spanned from March 4, 1913 to March 4, 1921.
Sussex Pledge
●
Interesting Facts about Sussex Pledge for kids and schools
●
Key events
and Sussex Pledge for kids
●
The Sussex Pledge, a major
event in US history
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Woodrow Wilson Presidency from March 4, 1913 to March 4, 1921
●
Fast, fun facts about the Sussex Pledge
●
Foreign & Domestic
policies of President Woodrow Wilson
● Woodrow Wilson Presidency and
Sussex Pledge for schools,
homework, kids and children |
