The Attack of The Lusitania

On May 7. 1915, just nine months into World War I, one of the largest and fastest luxury passenger liners of its day was en route home to England when a German sub blew it out of the water. Of the 1,959 people aboard the Lusitania, nearly two-thirds died. Many men, women, and children were trapped inside as the great ship sinks in just eighteen minutes. Many historians believe the sinking of the Lusitania is more tragic than the Titanic disaster, because the attack on the Lusitania was a deliberate murderous act of war upon a ship of innocent souls. The sinking of this great ocean liner shocked the world, and "Avenge the Lusitania!" was the rallying cry that lured many young American men to enlist during World War I.