Question

What were the issues with unrestricted submarine warfare? (Restricted vs. Unrestricted)

A. Restricted submarine warfare aimed to minimize civilian casualties, while unrestricted warfare targeted civilian ships as well.
B. Restricted submarine warfare allowed submarines to attack military vessels only, while unrestricted warfare allowed attacks on all ships.
C. Restricted warfare was used primarily by the Allies, while unrestricted warfare was used by the Central Powers.
D. Restricted warfare led to fewer naval engagements, while unrestricted warfare increased the number of naval battles.

Answer 1

Unrestricted submarine warfare involved attacking all ships without warning, including civilian and neutral vessels, contrasting with restricted warfare which involved warning and attempting to ensure civilian safety. Option A.

Step-by-step explanation:

The issues with unrestricted submarine warfare during World War I largely revolved around the targeting of civilian and neutral ships, which was in contrast to restricted warfare.

Under the restricted submarine warfare protocol, ships would be warned before being sunk to allow for the evacuation of civilians.

In practice, however, Germany found it difficult to adhere to these rules, particularly with the demands of warfare, and moved to unrestricted submarine warfare, where any ship could be a target without prior warning, as announced in January 1917.

This significant shift in strategy resulted in a high number of merchant and civilian ships being torpedoed without warning.

Unrestricted warfare led to international condemnation and strained diplomatic relations, particularly with the United States, after the sinking of ships like the Lusitania.

This eventually contributed to the American decision to enter the war. Comparatively, restricted warfare attempted to strike a balance between military objectives and the norms of international law, by engaging only military vessels or ensuring civilian safety before attacking merchant ships.

Option A.