# Lusitania, 7 May 1915: A Torpedo off Ireland > Trace the U-20 attack, the rapid sinking off the Irish coast, and the diplomatic consequences for neutral America. Canonical URL: https://aristotree.com/harbor.notes/lusitania-7-may-1915-a-torpedo-off-ireland Language: en Creator: harbor.notes Last modified: 2026-10-08T08:11:18.709Z Concepts: 10 Relationships: 14 This is a public, user-curated knowledge graph. Follow the cited sources when verifying claims. ## Concepts ### Unrestricted submarine warfare Unrestricted submarine warfare is a type of naval warfare in which submarines sink merchant ships such as freighters and tankers without warning. Topics: history, historical episode Sources: - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unrestricted_submarine_warfare - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unrestricted_submarine_warfare?action=history - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ ### Woodrow Wilson Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th president of the United States, serving from 1913 to 1921. He was the only Democrat to serve as president during the Progressive Era, when Republicans dominated the presidency and legislative branches. Topics: history, historical episode Sources: - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodrow_Wilson - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodrow_Wilson?action=history - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ ### RMS Lusitania RMS Lusitania was a British ocean liner launched by the Cunard Line in 1906 as a Royal Mail Ship. She was the world's largest passenger ship until the completion of her sister Mauretania three months later. Topics: history, historical episode Sources: - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RMS_Lusitania - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RMS_Lusitania?action=history - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ ### William Thomas Turner Captain William Thomas Turner was a British merchant captain. He is best known as the captain of RMS Lusitania when she was sunk by a German torpedo in May 1915. Topics: history, historical episode Sources: - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Thomas_Turner - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Thomas_Turner?action=history - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ ### Cunard Line The Cunard Line is a British shipping company and an international cruise line based at Carnival House at Southampton, England, operated by Carnival UK and owned by Carnival Corporation. Since 2011, Cunard and its four ships have been registered in Hamilton, Bermuda. Topics: history, historical episode Sources: - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cunard_Line - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cunard_Line?action=history - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ ### Lusitania, 7 May 1915: A Torpedo off Ireland Trace the U-20 attack, the rapid sinking off the Irish coast, and the diplomatic consequences for neutral America. Topics: history, historical episode Sources: - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinking_of_RMS_Lusitania - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinking_of_RMS_Lusitania?action=history - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinking_of_the_RMS_Lusitania ### SM U-20 (Germany) SM U-20 was a German Type U 19 U-boat built for service in the Imperial German Navy. She was launched on 18 December 1912, and commissioned on 5 August 1913. During World War I, she took part in operations around the British Isles. Topics: history, historical episode Sources: - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SM_U-20_(Germany) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SM_U-20_(Germany)?action=history - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ ### Old Head of Kinsale The Old Head of Kinsale is a headland near Kinsale, County Cork, Ireland. Topics: history, historical episode Sources: - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Head_of_Kinsale - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Head_of_Kinsale?action=history - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ ### Zimmermann telegram The Zimmermann telegram was a secret diplomatic communication issued from the German Foreign Office on January 17, 1917, that proposed a military contract between the German Empire and Mexico if the United States entered World War I against Germany. Topics: history, historical episode Sources: - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zimmermann_telegram - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zimmermann_telegram?action=history - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ ### Walther Schwieger Kapitänleutnant Wilhelm Otto Walther Schwieger was a German military officer. He was a U-boat commander in the Imperial German Navy during First World War. In 1915, he sank the passenger liner RMS Lusitania with the loss of 1,198 lives. Topics: history, historical episode Sources: - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walther_Schwieger - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walther_Schwieger?action=history - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ ## Relationships - Lusitania, 7 May 1915: A Torpedo off Ireland — related_to → RMS Lusitania: Passenger liner - Lusitania, 7 May 1915: A Torpedo off Ireland — related_to → SM U-20 (Germany): Attacking submarine - Lusitania, 7 May 1915: A Torpedo off Ireland — related_to → Walther Schwieger: Submarine commander - Lusitania, 7 May 1915: A Torpedo off Ireland — related_to → William Thomas Turner: Liner captain - Lusitania, 7 May 1915: A Torpedo off Ireland — related_to → Cunard Line: Liner operator - Lusitania, 7 May 1915: A Torpedo off Ireland — related_to → Old Head of Kinsale: Nearby headland - Lusitania, 7 May 1915: A Torpedo off Ireland — related_to → Woodrow Wilson: Led US response - Lusitania, 7 May 1915: A Torpedo off Ireland — related_to → Unrestricted submarine warfare: Naval strategy - Lusitania, 7 May 1915: A Torpedo off Ireland — related_to → Zimmermann telegram: Later US crisis - SM U-20 (Germany) — related_to → Walther Schwieger: Commanded by - RMS Lusitania — related_to → William Thomas Turner: Captained by - RMS Lusitania — related_to → Cunard Line: Operated by - SM U-20 (Germany) — related_to → Unrestricted submarine warfare: Used submarine warfare - Woodrow Wilson — related_to → Zimmermann telegram: Received the telegram