Chapter 19, sec.1, Critical Thinking #5

Why do you think Germany escalated its U-boat attacks in 1917? Think About:
• Germany’s military buildup
• the effects of the British blockade
• Germany’s reason for using submarine warfare

Germany escalated its U-boat attacks in 1917 in order to prove that it had the strongest Navy. Before this Britain had the largest and most powerful navy because it is an island. Germany want to have the largest army, so it became competitive with Britain. Germany wanted to be "superior"for nationalistic reason, and also having a larger navy would make it easier when it came to imperialism. Germany was also being very effected by the British blockade. The blockade blocked the German coast preventing weapons and other military supplies from getting to Germany. American goods could not reach Germany and Germany could not get food/fertilizers into the country. Famine struck and 750,000 Germans starved to death. Germany supported their use of using the submarines by saying they were preventing Britain from receiving more supplies and that they were hindering her ability to support her allies. Germany also said that because they had less naval power they had to fight a naval "guerrilla warfare".