In 1916, Woodrow Wilson was re-elected as President of the United States despite the fact that he kept resisting calls from some American citizens, and many of our European allies, to get involved in the situation in Europe. World War I had ground to something of a stalemate, but no one was willing to give in and something was needed to break the standoff. Wilson, however, was committed to keeping America out of the war, even after the sinking of the Lusitania and the subsequent deaths of more than 100 Americans on that ship. However, in 1917, America's stance was going to change, and the war in Europe would be changed as well.
On March 24, 1916, the Germans, who had already torpedoed and sank the Lusitania, "accidentally" torpedoed and sank the French ferry ship, The Sussex. This ship's sinking cost 25 American lives. America immediately demanded that Germany suspend all submarine activity (which Germany had already claimed to have done after the Lusitania incident), or else we would sever all ties with the German government. Germany obliged and on April 24, 1916, Germany officially abandoned their U-Boat program.
On January 31, 1917, Germany announced to America that they planned to break its pledge (called the Sussex pledge) to limit or restrict submarine warfare, and that all ships, including neutral merchant ships (which American ships were) would be sunk on sight anywhere, including in Allied waters. The Germans felt that they had no choice but to resort to submarine warfare once again because the British Royal Navy had successfully managed to blockade the English Channel, not allowing merchant ships into or out of Germany. Germany was basically choked off from the outside, so in retaliation, they re-launched their submarine program.
In what was a bit of irony, President Wilson thought that Germany was bluffing, stating that he refused to believe Germany would resort to the sinking of unarmed ships. Little did Wilson realize that Germany had already taken steps toward that plan, even before announcing their intentions!
Realizing that the restart of their submarine warfare program would anger the United States and likely force us into the war, Germany took one last stab at not only getting their u-boat program up and running again, but to also keep the United States out of the war. To that end, the German Foreign Secretary, Arthur Zimmerman, wrote what is called the Zimmerman Telegram or Zimmerman Note...
Zimmerman Note
Berlin, January 19, 1917,
On the first of February we intend to begin submarine warfare unrestricted. In spite of this, it is our intention to endeavour to keep neutral the United States of America.
If this attempt is not successful, we propose an alliance on the following basis with Mexico: That we shall make war together and together make peace. We shall give general financial support, and it is understood that Mexico is to reconquer the lost territory in New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona. The details are left to you for settlement...
You are instructed to inform the President of Mexico of the above in the greatest confidence as soon as it is certain that there will be an outbreak of war with the United States and suggest that the President of Mexico, on his own initiative, should communicate with Japan suggesting adherence at once to this plan; at the same time, offer to mediate between Germany and Japan.
Please call to the attention of the President of Mexico that the employment of ruthless submarine warfare now promises to compel England to make peace in a few months.
Zimmermann
(Secretary of State)
Now, the note was to serve two purposes: to convince the Mexican government to attack the United States if it appeared we would enter the War, and also for Mexico to negotiate with the Japanese Empire to side with Germany in the War. It should be noted that the relationship between the United States and Mexico was NOT a good one at this time, as we were still chasing Pancho Villa across the Mexican countryside after he had raided several border towns in Texas. Germany obviously thought they could use this tension to their advantage. There were just a couple of things the Germans didn't count on...
2. The British intercepted, decoded, and then gave to the Americans the Zimmerman note...
The effect on the United States should not come as a shock. After Germany followed through with its plan to reinstate "unrestricted submarine warfare", including the sinking of seven American merchant ships, three in one day!, and after it was proven that the Zimmerman Note was not a fake (two different times in March, 191, Zimmerman, himself, actually admitted to writing the telegram), the United Stated officially declared war on Germany on April 6, 1917.
On March 24, 1916, the Germans, who had already torpedoed and sank the Lusitania, "accidentally" torpedoed and sank the French ferry ship, The Sussex. This ship's sinking cost 25 American lives. America immediately demanded that Germany suspend all submarine activity (which Germany had already claimed to have done after the Lusitania incident), or else we would sever all ties with the German government. Germany obliged and on April 24, 1916, Germany officially abandoned their U-Boat program.
On January 31, 1917, Germany announced to America that they planned to break its pledge (called the Sussex pledge) to limit or restrict submarine warfare, and that all ships, including neutral merchant ships (which American ships were) would be sunk on sight anywhere, including in Allied waters. The Germans felt that they had no choice but to resort to submarine warfare once again because the British Royal Navy had successfully managed to blockade the English Channel, not allowing merchant ships into or out of Germany. Germany was basically choked off from the outside, so in retaliation, they re-launched their submarine program.
In what was a bit of irony, President Wilson thought that Germany was bluffing, stating that he refused to believe Germany would resort to the sinking of unarmed ships. Little did Wilson realize that Germany had already taken steps toward that plan, even before announcing their intentions!
Realizing that the restart of their submarine warfare program would anger the United States and likely force us into the war, Germany took one last stab at not only getting their u-boat program up and running again, but to also keep the United States out of the war. To that end, the German Foreign Secretary, Arthur Zimmerman, wrote what is called the Zimmerman Telegram or Zimmerman Note...
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| (Original encoded Zimmerman Note) |
Zimmerman Note
Berlin, January 19, 1917,
On the first of February we intend to begin submarine warfare unrestricted. In spite of this, it is our intention to endeavour to keep neutral the United States of America.
If this attempt is not successful, we propose an alliance on the following basis with Mexico: That we shall make war together and together make peace. We shall give general financial support, and it is understood that Mexico is to reconquer the lost territory in New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona. The details are left to you for settlement...
You are instructed to inform the President of Mexico of the above in the greatest confidence as soon as it is certain that there will be an outbreak of war with the United States and suggest that the President of Mexico, on his own initiative, should communicate with Japan suggesting adherence at once to this plan; at the same time, offer to mediate between Germany and Japan.
Please call to the attention of the President of Mexico that the employment of ruthless submarine warfare now promises to compel England to make peace in a few months.
Zimmermann
(Secretary of State)
Now, the note was to serve two purposes: to convince the Mexican government to attack the United States if it appeared we would enter the War, and also for Mexico to negotiate with the Japanese Empire to side with Germany in the War. It should be noted that the relationship between the United States and Mexico was NOT a good one at this time, as we were still chasing Pancho Villa across the Mexican countryside after he had raided several border towns in Texas. Germany obviously thought they could use this tension to their advantage. There were just a couple of things the Germans didn't count on...
1. Mexico realized that they were much weaker militarily than the United States and had no real hope of pulling off an occupation of the lands that Mexico had ceded to the United States. Additionally, Mexico realized that there was no way that Germany could help Mexico out financially, or otherwise, in a war against the United States because the United States was the main weapons manufacturer in North America and wouldn't supply an army that was attacking them. Meanwhile, Germany was being choked off by Great Britain, so there was no way the Germans could arm Mexico, either. As such, Mexico just ignored the telegram...
The effect on the United States should not come as a shock. After Germany followed through with its plan to reinstate "unrestricted submarine warfare", including the sinking of seven American merchant ships, three in one day!, and after it was proven that the Zimmerman Note was not a fake (two different times in March, 191, Zimmerman, himself, actually admitted to writing the telegram), the United Stated officially declared war on Germany on April 6, 1917.
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