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[[File:Lusitania-warn.png|300px|right|thumb|German advertisement in all major newspapers, warns passengers not to take the ''Lusitania.'' The ad did not say the Germans would violate international law by not giving passengers a chance to board lifeboats.]]

[[File:Lusitania-warn.png|300px|right|thumb|German advertisement in all major newspapers, warns passengers not to take the ''Lusitania.'' The ad did not say the Germans would violate international law by not giving passengers a chance to board lifeboats.]]

On April 30th, 1915, ''Lusitania'' was being loaded in New York with supplies. Over on the other side of the Atlantic in Germany, Kapitänleutnant Walter Schwieger was ordered to take his U-20 German submarine on patrol. ''Lusitania'' started its trip to Britain on May 1st, 1915, carrying 1257 passengers and 702 crew members under the command of Captain William Turner.  

On April 30th, 1915, ''Lusitania'' was being loaded in New York with supplies. Over on the other side of the Atlantic in Germany, Kapitänleutnant Walter Schwieger was ordered to take his U-20 German submarine on patrol. ''Lusitania'' started its trip to Britain on May 1st, 1915, carrying 1257 passengers and 702 crew members under the command of Captain William Turner. The same day she sailed, the ''New York Times'' ran its shipping schedules; business was normal as far as the neutral United States was concerned. On the same page below the Cunard advertisement for ''Lusitania'', the German embassy ran a printed add of its own:

 

On May 7th, ''Lusitania'' and the German submarine both entered the Irish Channel.   

On May 7th, ''Lusitania'' and the German submarine both entered the Irish Channel.   

Running low on fuel Kapitänleutnant Schwieger was onm his way back to Germany when by chance he crossed paths with the ''Lusitania.'' He immediately recognized the huge ship as an unarmed passenger liner. He fired one torpedo. The torpedo was spotted, but it was too late to maneuver. After exploding it triggered a secondary, larger explosion within the ship.  Due to the list of the ship, it was impossible to launch half of her lifeboats. A distress signal was sent out and picked up at Queenstown (now called [[Cobh]]), Ireland.   The Lusitania sank 18 minutes after the torpedo hit.

Running low on fuel Kapitänleutnant Schwieger was on his way back to Germany when by chance he crossed paths with the ''Lusitania.'' He immediately recognized the huge ship as an unarmed passenger liner, later writing in his war diary:<ref> Quoted in Bailey (1935), p. 55</ref>

 

:"Ahead and to starboard four funnels and two masts of a steamer with course perpendicular to us come into sight (coming from SSW it steered toward Galley Head). Ship is made out to be large passenger steamer. [We] submerged to a depth of eleven meters and went ahead at full speed, taking a course converging with the one of the steamer, hoping it might change its course to starboard along the Irish coast. The steamer turns to starboard, takes course to Queenstown thus making possible an approach for a shot. Until 3 P. M. we ran at high speed in order to gain position directly ahead. Clean bow shot at a distance of 700 meters (G-torpedo, three meters depth adjustment); angle 90°, estimated speed twenty-two knots. Torpedo hits starboard side right behind the bridge. An unusually heavy explosion takes place with a very strong explosion cloud (cloud reaches far beyond front funnel). The explosion of the torpedo must have been followed by a second one (boiler or coal or powder?). The superstructure right above the point of impact and the bridge are torn asunder, fire breaks out, and smoke envelops the high bridge. The ship stops immediately and heels over to starboard very quickly, immersing simultaneously at the bow. It appears as if the ship were going to capsize very shortly. Great confusion ensues on board; the boats are made clear and some of them are lowered to the water. In doing so great confusion must have reigned; some boats, full to capacity, are lowered, rushed from above, touch the water with either stem or stern first and founder immediately. On the port side fewer boats are made clear than on the starboard side on account of the ship's list. The ship blows off [steam]; painted black, no flag was set astern. Ship was running twenty knots. Since it seems as if the steamer will keep above water only a short time, we dived to a depth of twenty-four meters and ran out to sea. It would have been impossible for me, anyhow, to fire a second torpedo into this crowd of people struggling to save their lives."

Queenstown sent out rescue boats, which arrived at the scene two hours after the sinking; they rescued 761 people from the wreckage. The total number of deaths was 1,198.

The in his war diary Kommandant Kapitanleutnant Schwieger recorded:<ref> Quoted in Bailey (1935), p. 55</ref>

Schwieger's torpedo triggered a secondary, larger explosion within the ship. Due to the severe list of the ship to starboard, it was impossible to launch the lifeboats on her port side. A distress signal was sent out and picked up at Queenstown (now called [[Cobh]]), Ireland. ''Lusitania'' sank 18 minutes after the torpedo hit, taking 1,198 men, women, and children with her. Two hours after her sinking the first rescue boats arrived from Queenstown; they succeeded in rescuing 761 people.

:"Ahead and to starboard four funnels and two masts of a steamer with course perpendicular to us come into sight (coming from SSW it steered toward Galley Head). Ship is made out to be large passenger steamer. [We] submerged to a depth of eleven meters and went ahead at full speed, taking a course converging with the one of the steamer, hoping it might change its course to starboard along the Irish coast. The steamer turns to starboard, takes course to Queenstown thus making possible an approach for a shot. Until 3 P. M. we ran at high speed in order to gain position directly ahead. Clean bow shot at a distance of 700 meters (G-torpedo, three meters depth adjustment); angle 90°, estimated speed twenty-two knots. Torpedo hits starboard side right behind the bridge. An unusually heavy explosion takes place with a very strong explosion cloud (cloud reaches far beyond front funnel). The explosion of the torpedo must have been followed by a second one (boiler or coal or powder?). The superstructure right above the point of impact and the bridge are torn asunder, fire breaks out, and smoke envelops the high bridge. The ship stops immediately and heels over to starboard very quickly, immersing simultaneously at the bow. It appears as if the ship were going to capsize very shortly. Great confusion ensues on board; the boats are made clear and some of them are lowered to the water. In doing so great confusion must have reigned; some boats, full to capacity, are lowered, rushed from above, touch the water with either stem or stern first and founder immediately. On the port side fewer boats are made clear than on the starboard side on account of the ship's list. The ship blows off [steam]; painted black, no flag was set astern. Ship was running twenty knots. Since it seems as if the steamer will keep above water only a short time, we dived to a depth of twenty-four meters and ran out to sea. It would have been impossible for me, anyhow, to fire a second torpedo into this crowd of people struggling to save their lives."

==Aftermath==

==Aftermath==