Post Description

The First World War - Blockade (2004)
Verenigd Koninkrijk
Documentaire, Oorlog
50 min.

Regisseur: Marcus Kiggell

Studio: Hamilton Films Partnership Production

English: THE FIRST WORLD WAR - BLOCKADE
The British-with their overwhelming sea power-established a naval blockade of Germany immediately on the outbreak of war in August 1914, issuing a comprehensive list of contraband that all but prohibited American trade with the Central powers, and in early November 1914 declared the North Sea to be a War Zone, with any ships entering the North Sea doing so at their own risk.The blockade was unusually restrictive in that even foodstuffs were considered "contraband of war". There were complaints about breaches of international law, however most neutral merchant vessels agreed to dock at British ports to be inspected and then escorted-less any "illegal" cargo destined for Germany-through the British minefields to their destinations. The Northern Patrol and Dover Patrol closed off access to the North Sea and the English Channel respectively. The Germans regarded this as a blatant attempt to starve the German people into submission and wanted to retaliate in kind. The blockade also had a detrimental effect on the U.S. economy. Under pressure especially from commercial interests wishing to profit from wartime trade with both sides, the U.S. government protested vigorously. Britain did not wish to antagonize the U.S., but cutting off trade to the enemy seemed a more pressing goal. Eventually, Germany's submarine campaign and the subsequent sinking of the RMS Lusitania and other civilian vessels with Americans on board did far more to antagonize U.S. opinion than the blockade had.

Français:
Quand les sous-marins Allemand terrorisait des cuirassés Britaniques dans la Mer du Nord, l'Angleterre décidait de faire une contre-attaque: un blocus de l'Europe afin de couper les transports de nourritures vers l'ennemi. Les Allemands se vengeait et torpillent des navires civiles y compris le 'Lusitania'.

Deutsch:
Wenn Deutsche U-boote die Britische schlachtschiffen auf die Nordsee anfangen zu terrorisieren, entschlossen die Britten bis ein gegenzug: ein blockade von Europa um die zufuhr von die feind ab zu schneiden. Die Deutschers nehmen rache durch bürger-schiffen zu torpedieren, worunter die Lusitania.

Nederlands:
Toen Duitse onderzeeërs de Britse slagschepen op de Noordzee begonnen te terroriseren, besloten de Britten tot een tegenzet: een blokkade van Europa om de toevoer van de vijand af te snijden. De Duitsers namen wraak door burgerschepen te torpederen, waaronder de Lusitania.