Zimmermann telegram international encyclopedia of the first. The coverage of rankins congressional debut effectively displays the distressing split that the prospect of war caused in the ranks of the suffragists, but the adventures of. Zimmermann sent the telegram in anticipation of resumption of unrestricted. The zimmermann telegram america enters the war, 19171918. Arthur zimmermann 5 october 1864 6 june 1940 was state secretary for foreign affairs of the german empire from 22 november 1916 until his resignation on 6 august 1917. A century after the infamous zimmermann telegram was made. Zimmermann telegram, coded message sent january 16, 1917, by german foreign secretary arthur zimmermann to the german minister in mexico. February 24, 1917 the zimmermann telegram today in history. Pdf download the zimmermann telegram free unquote books.
On march 1, 1917, the text of the socalled zimmermann telegram, a message from the german foreign secretary, arthur zimmermann, to the german ambassador to mexico proposing a mexicangerman. The british handed a copy of the telegram to the american government, which in turn leaked it to the press. However, he was also closely involved in plans to suppor. However, he was also closely involved in plans to support rebellions in ireland and in india, and to assist the bolsheviks to. Download the zimmermann telegram ebook pdf or read online books in pdf, epub. His name is associated with the zimmermann telegram during world war i. However, it resulted in us president woodrow wilson breaking off diplomatic relations with germany on 3 february. On the morning of march 1, 1917, virtually every american newspaper published a bombshell story. More than that, however, it is a solid analysis of german foreign policy and the international context of 1917. The zimmermann telegram galvanized american public opinion against germany once and for all. The telegram was intercepted and decoded by british intelligence. The zimmermann telegram marchapril 2017 english edition. The zimmermann telegram revealed archive, 2 march 1917.
The american press published news of the telegram on march 1. She was awarded the pulitzer prize for general nonfiction in 1963 for the guns of august and again in 1972 for stilwell and the american experience in china. Some suspected the telegram might be a forgery to manipulate america into the war. Contingent on america then declaring war on germany, zimmermann proffered. Tuchmans classic histories of the first world war era in january 1917, the war in europe was, at best, a tragic standoff. Intercepted by the british, the note revealed a plan to renew unrestricted submarine warfare and to form an alliance with mexico and japan if the u.
Mar 07, 2017 englunds selfimposed time frame proves constraining, however. Several weeks later, on february 24, the british presented the zimmermann telegram to the u. Englunds selfimposed time frame proves constraining, however. He informed the mexicans that unrestricted submarine warfare would commence on february 1 st, 1917. The zimmermann telegram or zimmermann note was a 1917 diplomatic proposal from the german empire for mexico to join the central powers, in the event of the united states entering world war i on the side of the entente powers. Zimmermann telegram national wwi museum and memorial. Britain knew that all was lost unless the united states joined the war, but president wilson was unshakable in his neutrality.
In january of 1917 arthur zimmermann, the foreign secretary of kaisers germany sent a telegram to his embassy in mexico city for prompt delivery to the host government. A threat on our bordera german plot to align itself with mexico and japan against the us is made public. The word arizona was not in the german codebook and thus had to be split into phonetic syllables. Of all the books touching on the zimmermann telegram of jan 1917, tuchmans 1958 treatment best. Government in an effort to capitalize on growing antigerman sentiment in the united states. Contemporaries and historians have, since the moment of its publication, wondered about the motives for zimmermanns incredible blunder, which he admitted publicly on 3 march 1917. Receipt from london of the text of the zimmermann telegram on february 24, 1917, did not prompt wilsons decision for armed neutrality, but it did cause him to lose all faith in the german government. Since 1 march 1917, the day its decrypted text was published in us newspapers, the zimmermann telegram has been a subject of popular fascination. She also made less use of german language materials than the current book. The laconia sinking and the zimmermann telegram as key factors in the public reaction against germany 1953. Information about the zimmermann telegram war plot spreads throughout american newspapers march 1, 1917.
Zimmermann telegram is published in american newspapers. Ambassador walter page to president woodrow wilson conveying a translation of the intercepted zimmermann telegram from germany to mexico, in which germany proposed an alliance and disclosed its plans to begin unrestricted submarine warfare, february 24, 1917. However, on march 29, 1917, zimmermann gave a speech in the reichstag confirming the text of the telegram and so put an end to all speculation as to its authenticity. Mexico and japan quickly made it clear they had no intention of invading. The zimmermann telegram america enters the war, 19171918 contents preface 1. Telegram of war friday, 9 march 1917 sunday, 11 march 1917. Zimmermann acknowledges the plot, but argues that it was not hostile because it was contingent on a us declaration of war against germany. Based on an examination of virtually all available german, british, and u. The british codebreakers deserve their recognition, but so do the ingenious methods of the british govt to find a way to release the info without compromising the secrecy of the codebreaking.
The socalled zimmermann telegram included a proposal for the return of the american southwest to mexico. Formal diplomatic relations between the us and germany end. A closer look at the germanmexican secret rapprochement in 19151916 is necessary to understand it. On march 1, 1917, the telegram made headline news across the. The zimmermann telegram was a proposal by germany to mexico in january 1917 to join germany in a war against the united states. The proposal was intercepted and decoded by british intelligence. This telegram, written by german foreign secretary arthur zimmermann, is a coded message sent to mexico, proposing a military alliance against the united states. Revelation of the contents outraged american public opinion and helped generate support for the united. Home browse books book details, decision for war, 1917. Not as well known as other books by barbara tuchman, the zimmermann telegram covers an astounding piece of wwi history. German uboat sinks the ss aztec, an american steamer, killing 28 americans.
Since 1 march 1917, the day its decrypted text was published in us. Download zimmermann telegram or read online books in pdf, epub, tuebl, and mobi format. On march 1, 1917, the telegram made headline news across the united states, and five weeks later, america entered world war i. The zimmermann telegram paperback march 12, 1985 by barbara w. Oct 09, 2019 several weeks later, on february 24, the british presented the zimmermann telegram to the u. In january 1917, with the first world war locked in terrible stalemate and america still neutral, german foreign secretary arthur zimmerman gambled the future of the conflict on a single telegram.
Then, with a single stroke, the tool to propel america into the war came into a quiet british office. The german saboteur lothar witzke, responsible for the march 1917 munitions explosion at the mare island naval shipyard in. In march 1917, the united states moved closer to entering the great war when. The zimmermann telegram audiobook written by barbara w. Even then, there was considerable antipathy toward the british side, particularly among americans of german and irish ethnicity. Nov 05, 2009 on march 1, 1917, the text of the socalled zimmermann telegram, a message from the german foreign secretary, arthur zimmermann, to the german ambassador to mexico proposing a mexicangerman.
Before the day was out senate foreign relations committee chairman william f. Drawing on a wealth of contemporary russian and american diaries, memoirs, oral histories, and newspaper accounts, pulitzer prizewinning journalist will englund creates a highly detailed. But this message was intercepted and decoded in whitehalls legendary room 40 and zimmermans audacious scheme for world domination was exposed. On march 1, 1917, the american public learned about a german proposal to ally. On 16 january arthur zimmermann, the german foreign minister, sent a telegram to count. The zimmermann telegram central intelligence agency. Moreover, publication of the telegram in the press on march 1 set off the first nationwide demand for war with germany. Boghardt has given us a deeply researched and wellwritten book that tells us much that is new about the zimmermann telegram and its role in american entry into world war i. Previous 15 of 18 next all objects the zimmermann telegram. On april 6, 1917, the united states congress formally declared war on germany and its allies.
The obvious threats to the united states contained in the telegram inflamed american public opinion against germany and helped convince congress to declare war against germany in 1917. March 1917 is a riveting history of the month that transformed the worlds greatest nations as russia faced revolution and america entered world war i. In january 1917, the british intercepted a coded telegram from german foreign secretary arthur zimmermann to germanys ambassador to mexico that offered to assist mexico in reconquering u. The secret history of the zimmermann telegram history. Skeptics persisted until zimmermann admitted to writing it several days later. The contents of zimmermanns note were published in the american media on march 1. In january 1917, british naval intelligence intercepted a secret telegram from. For europe to be saved, the united states had to join the warbut president wilson remained unshakable in his neutrality. The telegram was intercepted by british spies and given to the press by president woodrow wilson, outraging american public opinion and providing a casus bellum a formal cause for war and was one of several reasons for congress to. Arthur zimmermann wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. The publication of the zimmermann telegram in the march 1 editions of american newspapers caused a sensation. By the winter of 191617, world war i had reached a deadlock. Nov 20, 2012 on the morning of march 1, 1917, virtually every american newspaper published a bombshell story.
Topics in chronicling america the zimmermann telegram. Contingent on america then declaring war on germany, zimmermann proffered an alliance for the purpose of the mexicans reacquiring the lost. The zimmermann telegram or zimmermann note or zimmerman cable was a secret diplomatic communication issued from the german foreign office in january 1917 that proposed a military alliance between germany and mexico. Read the fulltext online edition of decision for war, 1917. In the dark winter of 1917, world war i was deadlocked. The proud tower, the pulitzer prizewinning the guns of august, and the zimmermann telegram comprise barbara w. March 1, 1917 the zimmermann telegram is publicized in the u. Zimmermann telegram published in united states history. The zimmermann telegram paperback march 12 1985 amazon. He, congress and the us public were not yet ready to enter the war. Of all the books touching on the zimmermann telegram of jan 1917, tuchmans 1958 treatment best and completely explains the explosive nature of this enciphered communication to mexico inviting it along with japan to join germany in waging war on the united states. Intelligence, diplomacy, and americas entry into world war i thomas boghardt naval institute press, 2012, 319 pp. Her titles include bible and sword, the zimmermann telegram, the proud tower, notes from china, a distant mirror, practicing history, the march of folly, and the first salute. War, in the zimmermann telegram boghardt gives us the first new book on this.
1042 1597 1000 1554 91 1093 817 1312 1454 821 281 857 1529 1582 96 1490 1174 1185 347 547 526 370 795 314 500 615 1370 243 179 1001 573 105 1053 507 270