Quick Facts
- Date:
- March 24, 1916
- Location:
- English Channel
- Europe
- Context:
- World War I
- Key People:
- Woodrow Wilson
Adding us as a Preferred Source tells Google you trust our content, so our articles show up more often in your Google Search, Discover feed, and AI Overviews.
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies.
Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
U-boats surrendering during World War I
German U-boats surrendering to the Allies during World War I.
Sussex Incident
World War I [1916]
Sussex Incident, (March 24, 1916), torpedoing of a French cross-Channel passenger steamer, the Sussex, by a German submarine, leaving 80 casualties, including two Americans wounded. The attack prompted a U.S. threat to sever diplomatic relations. The German government responded with the so-called Sussex pledge (May 4, 1916), agreeing to give adequate warning before sinking merchant and passenger ships and to provide for the safety of passengers and crew. Ultimately, the German high command came to see this policy as impracticable, and the pledge was upheld only until February 1917, when unrestricted submarine warfare was resumed.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Jeff Wallenfeldt.
Discover the fascinating events that shaped the world, straight from our editors.
By clicking “Sign Up”, you consent to the Britannica
Privacy Policy
and
Terms of Use.