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Between 1914 and the spring of 1917, the European nations engaged in a conflict that became known as World War I. While armies battled in Europe, the United States remained neutral. In 1916 Woodrow Wilson was elected President for a second term, largely because of the slogan "He kept us out of war." Events in early 1917 would change that hope.

In January of 1917, British cryptographers deciphered a telegram from German Foreign Minister Arthur Zimmermann to the German Minister to Mexico, von Eckhardt, offering United States territory to Mexico in return for joining the German cause. To protect their intelligence from detection and to capitalize on growing anti-German sentiment in the United States, the British waited to present the telegram to President Wilson. Meanwhile, frustration over the effective British naval blockade caused Germany to break its pledge to limit submarine warfare. In response, the United States severed diplomatic relations with Germany.

2007-04-07 16:00:13 · 6 answers · asked by Aztlantevich 2 in Arts & Humanities History

In January of 1917, British cryptographers deciphered a telegram from German Foreign Minister Arthur Zimmermann to the German Minister to Mexico, von Eckhardt, offering United States territory to Mexico in return for joining the German cause. This message helped draw the United States into the war and thus changed the course of history. The telegram had such an impact on American opinion that, according to David Kahn, author of The Codebreakers, "No other single cryptanalysis has had such enormous consequences." It is his opinion that "never before or since has so much turned upon the solution of a secret message." In an effort to protect their intelligence from detection and to capitalize on growing anti-German sentiment in the United States, the British waited until February 24 to present the telegram to Woodrow Wilson. The American press published news of the telegram on March 1. On April 6, 1917, the United States Congress formally declared war on Germany and its allies.

2007-04-07 16:02:38 · update #1

6 answers

The Zimmermann Telegram was a coded telegram dispatched by the Foreign Secretary of the German Empire, Arthur Zimmermann, on 16 January 1917, to the German ambassador in Mexico, Heinrich von Eckardt, at the height of World War I. It instructed the ambassador to approach the Mexican government with a proposal to form an alliance against the United States. It was intercepted and decoded by the British and its contents hastened the entry of the United States into World War I. — Excerpted from Zimmerman Telegram on Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

TELEGRAM RECEIVED
FROM 2nd from London # 5747.
"We intend to begin on the first 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.

2007-04-07 16:10:49 · answer #1 · answered by johnslat 7 · 1 1

Zimmerman Telegram Translation

2016-11-06 19:39:29 · answer #2 · answered by mammo 4 · 0 0

Most Secret

For Your Excellency's personal information and to be handed on to the Imperial Minister in Mexico
We intend to begin unrestricted submarine warfare on the first of February. We shall endeavor in spite of this to keep the United States neutral. In the event of this not succeeding, we make Mexico a proposal of an 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 detail is left to you.


You will inform the President [of Mexico] of the above most secretly as soon as the outbreak of war with the United States 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 unrestricted employment of our submarines now offers the prospect of compelling England to make peace within a few months. Acknowledge receipt.

2007-04-07 16:05:02 · answer #3 · answered by redunicorn 7 · 3 0

There was no Zimmerman telegram sent by the Nazis. The telegram quoted above and below is, indeed, the Zimmerman telegram, but it wasn't sent by the Nazis.

2007-04-07 16:07:40 · answer #4 · answered by yahoohoo 6 · 4 0

I don't know what it said word for word, but I can sum it up for you. In return for Mexico's help in the war, Germany promised them all the territories they lost to us (New Mexico, Arizona, Texas). Too bad they'll never get them back.

2016-04-01 02:59:02 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

Other than the fact that there were no Nazi's in 1917, I do not know.

2007-04-07 16:06:07 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 5 0

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