<P> The sinking of the Cunard ocean liner RMS Lusitania occurred on Friday , 7 May 1915 during the First World War , as Germany waged submarine warfare against the United Kingdom which had implemented a naval blockade of Germany . The ship was identified and torpedoed by the German U-boat U-20 and sank in 18 minutes . The vessel went down 11 miles ( 18 km ) off the Old Head of Kinsale , Ireland , killing 1,198 and leaving 761 survivors . The sinking turned public opinion in many countries against Germany , contributed to the American entry into World War I and became an iconic symbol in military recruiting campaigns of why the war was being fought . </P>
why was the sinking of the lusitania important to ww1
turned public opinion in many countries against Germany contributed to the American entry into World War I became an iconic symbol in military recruiting campaigns of why the war was being fought