Download In 1917, the British intercepted one of the most

In 1917, the British intercepted one of the most significant letters in military history. It was
a coded, German message that would change the course of history and the course of the First
World War. While the European nations prepared for the front lines, the United States
announced their stance of neutrality. Unfortunately, neutrality did not prevail and the United
States joined the war on the side of the Allied Powers in 1917. The war was sparked by a long-time
hatred between Austria-Hungary and Serbia. Their animosity towards each other derived from
Serbian nationalism and the commonality for expansion. By 1917, two years into the war,
Germany was looking for further military assistance when they sent out the Zimmermann
Telegram. This telegram, deciphered by the British, was a plea from Germany to Mexico asking
for their aid in winning the war. The interception of this telegram and the decoded message it
presented, brought the United States to the front lines of World War I.
Russia and Serbia, allied throughout the war, had maintained diplomatic relations since
1893. However, the relationship between the Slavic people and Austria-Hungary was pure
loathing. In 1878, Serbia declared itself an independent nation, making Austria-Hungary weary of
their new found nationhood or Pan-Slavism. After many crises, sabotage and revenge, hatred ran
deep on both sides. It was not long until a Serbian nationalist by the name of Gavrillo Princip
assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire. War was not
declared on behalf of Austria-Hungary right away. Knowing that Russia would support Serbia in
this inevitable calamity, Austria-Hungary waited for a guaranteed response from Kaiser Wilhelm II
stating that Germany would aid Austria-Hungary in the wake of Russian involvement. One month
after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia.
Within one week, peace was broken among the European super powers. Russia, France, Great
Britain, Belgium and Serbia were at war against Austria-Hungary and Germany.
Arthur Zimmermann, the Foreign Minister of Germany had devised a fool-proof plan
which entailed a new alliance and keeping the United States from crossing the Atlantic Ocean.
Zimmermann believed that if Germany and Mexico established an alliance, Mexico would begin
an at home war front distracting the United States from the aggressive submarine warfare that
Germany was again, preparing for. Admiral von Holtzendorff had told Kaiser Wilhelm II, “I
guarantee that the U-boat will lead to victory ... I guarantee on my word as a naval officer that no
American will set foot on the Continent.”1 Germany had every intention of keeping the United
States neutral throughout the war. There was no sign of German defeat but the Central Powers
were up against strong European countries; they did not need another allied power intervening in a
war they intended on winning. David Nicholas, author of Lucky Break, believed the Germans truly
needed to distract the United States in order to be victorious.
We intend to begin on the 1st of February unrestricted submarine warfare. We
shall endeavor in spite of this to keep the United States of America neutral. In the event
of this not succeeding, we make Mexico a proposal of alliance on the following basis:
make war together, make peace together, generous financial support and an
understanding on our part that Mexico is to reconquer the lost territory in Texas, New
Mexico and Arizona. The settlement in detail is left to you. You will inform the President
of the above most secretly as soon as the outbreak of war with the United States of
America is certain and add the suggestion that he should, on his own initiative, invite
Japan to immediate adherence and at the same time mediate between Japan and
ourselves. Please call the President's attention to the fact that the ruthless employment
of our submarines now offers the prospect of compelling England in a few months to
make peace. Signed, Zimmermann.2
______________________________________________________________________________________
1
Nicholas, David. "Lucky break: David Nicholas reveals the skill and good fortune behind Britain's First World War
intelligence operation, and the coup by which the Zimmerman Telegram was cracked, tipping the balance in getting
the US to join the Allied war effort." History Today 57.9 (2007): 56+. World History In Context. Web. 7 Nov. 2013.
2
Zimmermann Telegram-Decoded Message. The U.S National Archives and Records Administration,
http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/zimmermann/ (accessed November 7, 2013)
The newly evolved science of deciphering enemy radio signals began its most important
use under Great Britain’s Navy. Room 40, as it was called, was a small room that the British used
in decoding German messages throughout World War I. Room 40 deciphered about 20,000
German throughout the duration of The Great War. Due to British soldiers cutting numerous
communication cables, Germans relied on coded messages like the Zimmerman Telegram. The
technology that was available for the British to decode these German messages is what ultimately
led the United States into the war and the Allied Powers to victory. At the start of the war,
Germans had a few military codes they would use for communication. It took the British only
months to intelligibly learn all of them.
This letter alone can show the public of the 20th century and the 21st century so many
amazing things about what was happening then and how it impacted the war and the course of
history. Releasing the Zimmermann Telegram to the public had such a profound impact on
American opinion that, according to David Kahn, author of The Codebreakers, "No other single
cryptanalysis has had such enormous consequences."3 Kahn also stated that "never before or since
3
has so much turned upon the solution of a secret message." Germany was coming up with a
contingency plan incase their submarine warfare did not prove victorious. They did expect to win
the war through such militaristic strategy but if their tactics failed they had Mexico as their ally.
Germany needed Mexico to distract the United States long enough for Germany to win the war
before they could step foot on the European continent. The Germans also knew once American
troops stepped down onto European soil, they would lose and face enormous repercussions. This
evidence of a contingency plan, bribery and reliance on another country if Germany did not
prevail is written right in the Zimmermann Telegram.
3
Zimmermann Telegram, 1917; Decimal File, 1910-1929, 862.20212/82A (1910-1929), and Decoded Zimmermann
Telegram, 1917; Decimal File, 1910-1929, 862.20212/69, General Records of the Department of State; Record
Group 59; National Archives.
The consequences of the Zimmermann Telegram were the same across the United States.
Vale Fitzpatrick, author of Failed Diplomacy; the Zimmermann Telegram, explains the reaction of
Texas natives. Vale describes that there was concern about the war but Texans believed the conflict
had to do with Europe and not the United States. Once Americans had learned about trench
warfare, which was a defensive tactic being used on both sides, it only bolstered their opinion of
neutrality and isolation. The sinking of the Lusitania and the Zimmermann Telegram again turned
Texans and other American opinions towards war intervention. “Once released to the public it
caused a storm of outrage. Nowhere was that anger more focused than in Texas.”3 Vale expresses
exactly why Texans were so enraged, “Texans were already angry with Mexico due to Pancho
Villa’s attacks and the continuing unrest along the border. The telegram with its call for a secret
alliance and encouragement for Mexico to attack the United States brought many Texans to
support U.S. entry into the “European conflict.””4
The Zimmermann Telegram can be analyzed, practiced, experimented on and explored
through a wide variety of methods. The radio technology that had advanced and evolved just
enough for the British to capture this encryption is something in itself amazing and worth
exploring. The preservation of the letter, the words that are in the letter and the impact of its
presentation to Mexico is also, in itself amazing and historically invaluable. Looking at a variety of
documents whether they are articles, journals or government documents show the commonalities
and differences between each. The National Archive was most helpful in finding background
information about the telegram and the telegram itself, coded and decoded. Each source, primary
or secondary, that I explored still makes this telegram one of the most significant messages to ever
change the course of history.
_________________________________________________________________
4
Fitzpatrick, Vale. Failed Diplomacy; the Zimmermann Telegram, Portal of Texas History, "Resources 4
Educators." (Accessed November 6, 2013)
Bibliography
1.) Zimmermann Telegram, 1917; Decimal File, 1910-1929, 862.20212/82A (1910-1929),
and Decoded Zimmermann Telegram, 1917; Decimal File, 1910-1929, 862.20212/69,
General Records of the Department of State; Record Group 59; National Archives.
2.) Nicholas, David. "Lucky break: David Nicholas reveals the skill and good fortune
behind Britain's First World War intelligence operation, and the coup by which the
Zimmerman Telegram was cracked, tipping the balance in getting the US to join the
Allied war effort." History Today 57.9 (2007): 56+. World History In Context. Web. 7
Nov. 2013
3.) Fitzpatrick, Vale. Failed Diplomacy; the Zimmermann Telegram, Portal of Texas
History, "Resources 4 Educators." (Accessed November 6, 2013)
Jillian Orcutt
The Zimmermann Telegram
Professor Hangen
Historians Craft