England's Distress: Postcard map of England and Ireland with the restricted zone Germany proclaimed around the islands, showing the ships destroyed by submarine in the 12 months beginning February 1, 1917.
Englands Not12 Monate uneingeschränktenU-Bootskrieges auf dem nördlichen See kriegsschauplatzAlle durch Minen und vor dem 1. Februar 1917 vernichteten Schiffe sind in dieser Karte nicht enthalten.SperrgebietsgrenzenBedeutet ein durch die Tätigkeit unserer U-Boote versenktes Schiffe ohne Berücksichtigung seine GrosseDie Eintragungen der Schiffe entsprechen dem Versunkungsort.England's distressUnqualified 12 monthsSubmarine warfare in the North Sea theaterAll ships destroyed by mines of before February 1, 1917 are not included in this map.restricted zone boundaries[Sunken ship symbol] indicates a ship sunk by the actions of our submarines without taking into account the size of the vessel. The records correspond to the ships' place of operations.Reverse:Auf Anregung Sr. Majestät des Kaisersi. Auftr. des Admiralstabes d. Rais. Marine zu Gunsten der Sinterbliebenen der Besatzungen von U-Booten, Minensuch- und Vorpostenbooten herausgegeben vom Verein für das Deutschtum im AuslandFaber'sche Buchdruckerei, Magdeburg.At the suggestion of His Majesty the Emperorhis commission of Naval Staff Rais d. Navy issued in favor of the sintering relatives of the crews of submarines, minesweepers and outpost boats by the Association for Germans abroadFaber'sche book printing, Magdeburg.
"Wilson's second note arrive[d] in Berlin in the early morning of 16 October. It was far firmer in tone than the first note, denouncing the 'illegal and inhuman' practices of the armed forces of Germany, calling for an end to submarine warfare, of destruction of property in Flanders and France, and for further changes in the government. This reply greatly strengthened the hand of those who were calling for a levée en masse, and Ludendorff began to think of moving all the troops in the east to the western front and of a 'fight to the bitter end', ideas which moderate politicians like Solf thought were 'extremely dangerous'."
In late September and early October, 1918, both Germany and Austria-Hungary exchanged notes requesting peace negotiations with Woodrow Wilson who responded to Germany's first note on October 9 indicating a willingness to negotiate. German commander Erich Ludendorff had suffered nervous collapses after the Allied victories of the Second Battle of the Marne and the Battle of Amiens, and, hoping to preserve the army, had demanded the Government begin peace negotiations immediately. By mid-October he was arguing Germany could fight on into 1919. Germany's submarine warfare campaign had brought the United States into the war in 1917. Driven back by repeated Allied attacks, the Germans also retreated to consolidate their positions, often destroying villages and towns in their wake.
The Silent Dictatorship by Martin Kitchen, page 261, copyright © 1976 by Martin Kitchen, publisher: Croom Helm, publication date: 1976
1918-10-16, 1918, October, Ludendorff, Erich Ludendorff, Woodrow Wilson, Wilson, submarine warfare, Flanders, unrestricted submarine warfare
