Although the first submarine offenisve launched by Germany had been called off for political and diplomatic reasons, the German navy was still convinced that in the U-Boat it had a war-winning weapon. But the opposition of the rest of the High Command was inflexible - it was not worth running the risk of American intervention. However, the changing fortunes of the German field armies gradually brought about a change in the thinking of Falkenhayn, and with this new powerful ally, the navy renewed its pressure for an all-out U-Boat campaign. It declared that the U-Boats could bring the Allies to their knees before the Americans could make their weight felt. The Kaiser was finally persuaded.

This article is located in the History of the First World War Volume 5 (REF D522 .H58 1969 V.5).