History & Area Studies / World History / European History

The Deadly Secret of the Lusitania: Why Britain Let 1,200 Die to Drag America into WWI

Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania

Erik Larson

In 1915, the luxury ocean liner Lusitania was torpedoed and sank in 18 minutes, killing 1,198 people. But the real story is far more shocking. The British Navy's top-secret 'Room 40' had cracked Germany's codes and knew exactly where U-20 was hunting. They chose not to warn the captain. Why? Because Winston Churchill and other leaders secretly hoped the attack would force the United States into World War I. This video uncovers the hidden intelligence failures, the deadly design flaw in the ship's coal bunkers, and the cynical political calculus that turned a civilian disaster into a weapon of war. Based on Erik Larson's gripping book 'Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania', we reveal the truth behind one of history's most controversial maritime tragedies.