Final answer:
The German government resorted to submarine warfare in World War I for three main reasons: countering the Western Allies, expanding the submarine fleet, and declaring war zones and warnings.
Step-by-step explanation:
The German government resorted to submarine warfare in World War I for three main reasons:
- Countering the Western Allies: Germany recognized that the Western Allies, specifically Britain and France, heavily relied on American food and credit. By unleashing submarines on British and French ships, which were transporting American-made food and material across the Atlantic, Germany hoped to counter this dependency and weaken the Allies.
- Expanding the submarine fleet: Germany significantly expanded its submarine fleet during the war. From having only 24 submarines in 1914, they increased their fleet to 120 submarines by 1917. This expansion allowed them to have a greater impact on naval warfare.
- Declaring war zones and warnings: The German government declared the sea-lanes leading to Europe and France as war zones. They warned Americans that any ship heading toward these ports would be sunk. This declaration aimed to disrupt the flow of supplies to the Allies and put pressure on neutral nations like the United States.