Remember the Lusitania!
Remembrance is used to fuel anti-German feeling in London on the first anniversary of the sinking of RMS Lusitania.
The first anniversary of the Lusitania's tragic sinking, like the 100th, is an obvious and proper moment for remembering the 1198 lost lives. The propaganda value of the incident for Britain and its allies in WWI is well-known. Yet some of the banners of the British Empire Union seen here - which move from patriotism to xenophobia - reveal the dangers of using tragedy to fuel hate.
Founded as the 'Anti-German Union' in April 1915, the British Empire Union, as it was renamed in 1916, organised many demonstrations and lobbied for the internment of all-naturalised British-Germans throughout WWI. In the post-war period they continued to spout such hatred, often under the banner "Once a German - Always a German", before the growth of socialism became a bigger target.
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The Sinking of RMS Lusitania
Remembering one of Britain's worst maritime disasters and a pivotal moment of World War One.
It was the worst maritime disaster of World War I so far: 1,197 souls were lost when the Cunard liner RMS Lusitania was torpedoed by German U-boat 20 off Ireland's south coast on the 7th May 1915. The mighty Lusitania, once one of the proudest vessels in Cunard's fleet, took just 18 minutes to sink. The tragedy had profound repercussions on the international stage, sparking anti-German riots in Britain and outrage across the globe. The death of 148 American citizens started a process that ultimately led to neutral America entering the war on the Allied side.
This small collection gathers together films of the Lusitania, from her heyday as one of Britain's most popular luxury liners, to reportage of her sinking and its aftermath, and the official commemorations on the anniversary of the tragedy. The films highlight some of the issues surrounding the disaster, from the personal tragedies to official reactions and the Lusitania's use as a powerful symbol in war propaganda.
7 videos in this collection
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The Sinking of the Lusitania
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John Bull's Animated Sketchbook No. 4
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Anti-German Riots in Liverpool following the Loss of 'Lusitania'
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Funeral of the Lusitania Victims
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Remember the Lusitania!
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