Lusitania sunk

1915NotableContested

A German U-boat torpedoes the British liner Lusitania off Ireland, killing 1,198 people including 128 Americans. Outrage over the sinking turns American opinion against Germany.

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Contested history

Consensus: The U-boat U-20 torpedoed the liner without warning on 7 May 1915; a second explosion moments later helped sink her in about 18 minutes.

A single torpedo from U-20Established

The submarine's war diary records one torpedo.

The second explosion came from munitionsDebated

The manifest listed rifle cartridges and shell casings; others blame a boiler or coal dust explosion.

Britain deliberately exposed the ship to draw the US inUnsupported

Critics cite the lack of an escort and a Churchill letter about embroiling neutrals, but no evidence shows a plan to sacrifice the liner.