Reaping the Whirlwind: The U-boat War off North America during World War I

In his book, "The Submarine War in the North Atlantic," Dominic Etzold explores the use of German naval records in English-language histories of the 1917-1918 period of naval combat in the Atlantic, providing a fresh and engaging perspective.

Format: Hardback
Length: 408 pages
Publication date: 28 August 2023
Publisher: Schiffer Publishing Ltd

When America declared war on Germany in 1917, it unleashed a resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare off the North American coast. Until now, German naval records have not been extensively utilized in English-language histories of this brief but intense period of naval combat in the Atlantic. By studying and comparing both American and German archival sources, author Dominic Etzold has constructed an engaging, modern, and revelatory account of the operation.

The resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare off the North American coast in 1917 marked a significant turning point in the naval history of the world. Prior to this, submarine warfare had been limited in scope and intensity, with both the United States and Germany adhering to a naval blockade that prohibited the use of submarines to attack merchant ships. However, with the outbreak of war, both sides saw the submarine as a powerful tool for achieving strategic objectives and breaking the enemy's naval blockade.

One of the most notable aspects of the resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare was the use of the so-called "U-boat," which was a German submarine that was designed specifically for long-range patrols and attacks on enemy shipping. These submarines were equipped with advanced technology, including torpedoes and sonar, that allowed them to strike at their targets with incredible precision and efficiency.

The United States responded to the German use of submarines with a series of measures designed to counter the threat. These included the deployment of a fleet of warships, including the battleship USS Maine, which was sunk in Havana Harbor in 1915, as well as the establishment of a naval blockade that cut off Germany from vital supplies of food and fuel.

Despite these efforts, the German navy continued to operate with relative impunity, sinking hundreds of merchant ships and causing significant damage to the United States' naval fleet. One of the most notable incidents of this period was the sinking of the Lusitania, a British passenger ship that was carrying American passengers and crew. The Lusitania was torpedoed and sunk by a German submarine in 1915, killing over 1,100 people, including 128 Americans.

The sinking of the Lusitania was a major turning point in the public's perception of the war, and it led to increased pressure on the United States to declare war on Germany. In 1917, President Woodrow Wilson announced that the United States would enter the war on the side of the Allies, and the United States Navy began to play a more significant role in the naval combat in the Atlantic.

The United States Navy's efforts to counter the German navy were successful, and the German navy was eventually forced to abandon its unrestricted submarine warfare strategy. This was due in part to the deployment of a fleet of American submarines, including the USS Barb, which was the first American submarine to sink a German U-boat.

In conclusion, the resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare off the North American coast in 1917 was a significant event in the naval history of the world. The use of the U-boat by the German navy was a major threat to the United States, and it led to a series of measures that ultimately forced the German navy to abandon its strategy. The sinking of the Lusitania was a major turning point in the public's perception of the war, and it led to the United States' entry into the war on the side of the Allies. The United States Navy's efforts to counter the German navy were successful, and the German navy was eventually forced to abandon its unrestricted submarine warfare strategy.

Weight: 934g
Dimension: 165 x 236 x 34 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780764367045