what contributed the MOST to germanys decision to resume unrestricted submarine warfare against the united states prior to US entry into WWI?
There were multiple factors that contributed to Germany's decision to resume unrestricted submarine warfare against the United States prior to US entry into World War I. However, the most significant factor was the desperate economic and military situation faced by Germany.
1. British blockade: The British had imposed a naval blockade on Germany, cutting off its access to essential goods and supplies. This blockade severely impacted Germany's economy and war efforts, leading to widespread food shortages and economic instability.
2. German naval ambition: Germany had been investing heavily in its navy, aspiring to rival the British Royal Navy. However, its naval fleet was greatly outnumbered and confined to the Baltic Sea due to British naval superiority. The German navy's effectiveness was limited by the blockade, and resuming unrestricted submarine warfare against Britain and its allies was seen as a way to break the blockade.
3. Limited options: Germany felt that it had limited military options to counteract the British blockade. Land offensives had been unsuccessful, and the use of submarines to attack merchant ships offered the potential to disrupt British supply lines and weaken their war efforts.
4. Zimmerman Telegram: In January 1917, British intelligence intercepted and decoded a telegram sent by German Foreign Secretary Arthur Zimmermann to the German ambassador in Mexico. The telegram proposed an alliance between Germany and Mexico and hinted at the potential for Mexico to regain territories lost to the United States. This revelation further deteriorated US-German relations and played a part in increasing tensions between the two countries.
5. Gambler's logic: Some German military leaders, including Admiral Henning von Holtzendorff, convinced Kaiser Wilhelm II and the German High Command that the resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare could be a decisive move to cripple the British and force them to negotiate a peace treaty before significant US involvement in the war. They gambled that by sinking enough ships, Germany could bring Britain to its knees before the United States had a chance to mobilize its full military strength.
In summary, Germany's decision to resume unrestricted submarine warfare against the United States was primarily driven by the dire economic and military situation it faced due to the British blockade, limited military options, naval ambitions, and the belief that this strategy could end the war before the US became a formidable opponent.