The RMS Lusitania was torpedoed by the German U-Boat U20 on this day off Kinsale Head, south-west Ireland. There were 1,959 men, women and children on board and 1,198 perished including 128 American citizens.
The German authorities defended the decision by claiming that the Lusitania was also carrying ammunition to aid the British war effort, a claim that was most probably true. However, the sinking horrified the world, gave a great boost to the British army’s recruiting campaign and became the main indirect reason why the USA eventually entered the war in April 1917.
