Sussex pledge
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What was the Sussex pledge?
The Sussex pledge was an agreement made by Germany during World War I to stop the indiscriminate sinking of nonmilitary ships. This commitment came about after a German submarine torpedoed the French passenger steamer Sussex in March 1916, resulting in numerous injuries and fatalities, including Americans.
In May 1916, the German government declared that merchant ships would only be sunk if contraband materials were on board, also promising to ensure the safety of those on board. However, in February 1917, Germany resumed unrestricted submarine warfare, violating the pledge. This decision was influenced by the German navy's belief that it could defeat Great Britain within five months through unrestricted submarine warfare and that the United States was no longer neutral.
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Why was the Sussex pledge made during World War I?
The Sussex pledge was made during World War I as a promise from the German government to stop the indiscriminate sinking of nonmilitary ships. This agreement came about after a German submarine torpedoed the French passenger steamer Sussex in March 1916, injuring many, including Americans.
The United States, a neutral country at the time, considered the injury or death of its citizens an act of war. President Wilson threatened to cut off diplomatic ties with Germany if they continued attacking civilian ships. Germany issued the Sussex pledge on May 4, 1916, agreeing to sink merchant ships only if contraband materials were on board and providing safety to those on board. However, Germany resumed unrestricted submarine warfare in February 1917, violating the pledge.
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Which countries were involved in the Sussex pledge?
The Sussex pledge was an agreement during World War I where the German government promised to stop indiscriminately sinking nonmilitary ships after a German submarine attacked the French passenger steamer Sussex in March 1916. The attack injured several Americans, which prompted U.S. Pres. Woodrow Wilson to threaten to cut off diplomatic relations with Germany. In response, on May 4, 1916, Germany agreed to the Sussex pledge, promising to only sink merchant ships with contraband and ensure the safety of those on board. However, Germany resumed unrestricted submarine warfare on February 1, 1917, which violated the pledge because they believed the United States was no longer neutral.
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What led to the creation of the Sussex pledge?
The Sussex pledge was prompted by Germany's unrestricted submarine warfare during World War I. In March 1916, a German submarine torpedoed the French passenger steamer Sussex, resulting in 80 casualties, including Americans.
President Woodrow Wilson threatened to sever diplomatic ties with Germany unless they stopped attacking civilian vessels. In response, on May 4, 1916, Germany issued the Sussex pledge, promising to avoid sinking passenger ships and merchant ships without warning and to ensure the safety of passengers and crew. However, this pledge was ultimately upheld only until February 1917, when Germany resumed unrestricted submarine warfare.
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How did the Sussex pledge affect submarine warfare?
The Sussex pledge initially curtailed unrestricted submarine warfare after the Sussex Incident, in which a German submarine torpedoed a French passenger steamer, the Sussex, in March 1916.
Germany pledged to sink merchant ships only if they carried contraband and ensured the safety of those onboard. However, in February 1917, Germany resumed unrestricted submarine warfare, believing it could defeat Great Britain within five months. This decision to violate the Sussex pledge was based on the assumption that the United States was no longer neutral due to its support for the Allies. The resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare ultimately led the United States to enter World War I in April 1917.
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What happened after Germany broke the Sussex pledge?
After Germany broke the Sussex pledge on February 1, 1917, by resuming unrestricted submarine warfare, the United States broke diplomatic relations with Germany on February 3 and started arming merchant ships on March 9. Germany's military leaders believed this strategy would defeat Great Britain within five months and were willing to risk bringing the United States into the war.
Anticipating war with the U.S., German Foreign Secretary Arthur Zimmermann sent a coded telegram to Mexico on January 16, 1917, proposing an alliance if the U.S. declared war on Germany. In exchange, Mexico would recover its "lost provinces" of Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico. British intelligence intercepted the Zimmermann Telegram and shared it with the U.S., further enraging American public opinion.
After German U-boats sank several U.S. ships in March 1917, President Wilson asked Congress to declare war. On April 6, 1917, the U.S. formally entered World War I as an associated power.
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Sussex pledge, agreement by the German government during World War I to stop the indiscriminate sinking of nonmilitary ships. The pledge followed the torpedoing of the French passenger steamer Sussex in the English Channel by a German submarine on March 24, 1916. The submarine captain attacked the Sussex because he believed that it was a British minelayer. Fifty people died and many more were injured, including several Americans. As the United States was not a belligerent at the time, the killing or wounding of Americans was seen by all the warring powers as a potential casus belli for U.S. Pres. Woodrow Wilson. Although the front portion of the ship was destroyed, the Sussex did not sink. The heavily damaged ship managed to make it to Boulogne, France, under its own power.
The Sussex was not the first nonmilitary ship to be attacked by German submarines. In March 1915 a German submarine torpedoed the British passenger ship Falaba, and two months later the British luxury liner Lusitania was also sunk, drowning 1,198 passengers, including 128 Americans. In August the British passenger ship Arabic was torpedoed near the coast of Ireland by a German submarine, killing at least 40. From this incident came the Arabic pledge on September 18, 1915, in which Germany promised to not sink passenger ships without warning and to give civilians 30 minutes to leave a targeted ship. The attack on the Sussex would violate the Arabic pledge.
United Press International correspondent John H. Hearley was aboard the Sussex when it was attacked and filed a report shortly after. He reported that three Americans aboard the ship declared that they had seen a torpedo coming toward the Sussex just before the explosion. “Near the French port of Dieppe a terrific explosion occurred,” Hearley wrote. “I was conversing with several Americans about 4:30 p.m. when the blast shook the Sussex from bow to stern. One empty life boat was splintered and a huge fountain of water shot over the side. Many passengers standing at the rail were engulfed in this wave and hurled violently into the sea. It was among them that most of the casualties occurred.” According to Hearley, survivors remained on the stricken ship until 11:00 pm, when most were evacuated by another ship; that ship landed at Boulogne early the following day.
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On April 19, 1916, in an address to Congress, Wilson threatened to completely sever diplomatic relations with the imperial German government if the Germans did not immediately cease attacking civilian vessels. The German government issued the so-called Sussex pledge on May 4, 1916. It stipulated that Germany would sink a merchant ship only if contraband materials were found on board. Germany also pledged to provide safe passage to anyone on board such a vessel.
On February 1, 1917, Germany announced the resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare in specific war zones. The change occurred after representatives of the German navy convinced military leadership and Wilhelm II that unrestricted submarine warfare could bring Great Britain to its knees within five months. It was acceptable to violate the Sussex pledge, they believed, because the United States could no longer be considered a neutral party after providing munitions and financial support to the Allies.
Not everyone in the German high command believed that canceling the Sussex pledge was a good idea. Chancellor Theobald von Bethmann Hollweg argued that the resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare would almost certainly bring the United States into the war and possibly lead to Germany’s defeat; this prediction soon proved to be correct. Wilson announced a break in diplomatic relations with Germany two days later, and on April 6, 1917, the United States formally entered World War I.