The Kaiser's U-Boat Assault on America: Germany's Great War Gamble in the First World War

by Hans Joachim Koerver

Overview

In depth study of the use of U-Boats in the First World War and the diplomatic, economic, and military consequences.

A deeply researched and engaging account of the use of U-Boats in the First World War. The focus touches on both diplomatic and economic aspects as well as the tactical and strategic use of the U-boats.

The book also examines the role played by US president Woodrow Wilson and his response to American shipping being sunk by U-boats and how that ultimately forced his hand to declare war on Germany.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781526773869
Publisher:	Pen and Sword
Publication date:	10/06/2020
Pages:	360
Product dimensions:	9.30(w) x 6.00(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Hans Joachim Koerver is an accomplished historian in the field of naval history and has researched exhaustively at the British National Archives. He’s written several books on naval warfare.

Table of Contents

Preface vii

Primary Personnel x

Timeline xi

Measures and Abbreviations xii

1 Pre-War

Chapter 1 World Economy 2

Chapter 2 Anglo-German Naval Arms Race 7

2 August 1914 - Meltdown

Chapter 3 Great Britain 20

Chapter 4 Imperial Germany 22

Chapter 5 Communication 28

Chapter 6 Neutral Countries 31

Chapter 7 British Blockade and German Uboats 36

3 1915-Trial and Error

Chapter 8 Step by Step to the Uboat War 42

Chapter 9 First Submarine War 48

Chapter 10 British Blockade in Spring 53

Chapter 11 Kaiser, Reich and Tirpitz 55

Chapter 12 Lusitania 59

Chapter 13 War of Words 65

Chapter 14 Arabic 74

Chapter 15 Tirpitz's Uboat War 81

Chapter 16 British Blockade in Autumn 83

Chapter 17 America and Germany 86

4 1916-All Options on the Table

Chapter 18 Storm Warning 90

Chapter 19 Conflicting Decisions 100

Chapter 20 Hurricane 105

Chapter 21 Sussex 110

Chapter 22 British Blockade in Spring 117

Chapter 23 Peace Wanted? 120

Chapter 24 Uboat Warfare 127

Chapter 25 Krupp and the Uboats 144

Chapter 26 Merchant Submarines 150

Chapter 27 Uboat Armament 158

Chapter 28 Uboat Strike continues 162

Chapter 29 New Leadership 167

Chapter 30 Soft Uboat War 182

Chapter 31 England and the Uboats 187

Chapter 32 Famine, Peace, Uboats 195

Chapter 33 Uboat Peace? 205

5 1917 - All-out Uboat Offensive and War with America

Chapter 34 January - Final Decisions 216

Chapter 35 February - Prelude 227

Chapter 36 March - High Noon 238

Chapter 37 April - Mr Wilson Goes to War 253

Chapter 38 The Epochal Year 257

Appendix

Chapter 39 History and History Writing 268

Chapter 40 Sources Used 272

Chapter 41 Statistics - My Numbers 276

Chapter 42 Documents 280

Bibliography 300

Endnotes 308

Index 341

Editorial Reviews

"...an absorbing work for those interested in both the Great War and early submarine-based strategic theory. Perhaps more important, it is an excellent illumination of a multiclass, militaristic, and diplomatically inept state trying to adapt to the realities of modern war and the exploitation of new technology—and catastrophically failing."

Naval History

"This is highly recommended work that should find its ways on the bookshelves of twentieth-century European and naval historians alike."

The Northern Mariner

"Read this book not just for the description of war activities but for the unique perspectives of economic, political and diplomatic forces."

The NYMAS Review

"Providing a study of diplomatic and economic aspects of the U-boat operations against the United States as well as the tactical and strategic use of the U-boats, Koerver provides a volume that is extensively researched in primary and secondary sources, yet very readable. Numerous charts, graphs, and photographs enhance the volume."

Naval War College Review

"Exhaustively researched and written by a German historian, the book focuses on the U-boat action against the United States in particular. Not only operations and tactics are covered, but all are placed in a larger geopolitical context."

Seapower