Germany hoped that submarine warfare would lead to war.
Germany resumed unrestricted submarine warfare in 1915. The Germans declared the waters around the British Isle a war zone. The would attack any merchant ship entering that area.
On January 31, 1917, Germany notified the United States that there would be a resumption of unrestricted submarine attacks. They announced that they would sink on sight all merchant ships found in a zone around the British Isles or in the Mediterranean Sea. US President Woodrow Wilson then cut off diplomatic relations between the US and Germany.
to take out british ships so that people would starve and beg for peace
1- German submarine attacks on merchant and passenger ships carrying American citizens 2- Germany denounced it would resume unrestricted submarine warfare 3- Cultural ties between Americans and the Allies 4- The Zimmerman note in which the Germans promised that in return to Mexico's support, Germany would help them to reconquie the lost territory in New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona.
The Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist Designator, like all Navy Warfare emblems before it (Submarine Dolphins, SEAL Trident device, etc.) is worn on the left breast of the uniform above the ribbon devices, if any are authorized. However, if the member is qualified in more than one Warfare Specialty, the current warfare specialty the member is working in takes precedence for uniform requirements. For example, as a Submariner, I of course had Dolphins to wear once I became Qualified in Submarines, but we did have the occasional skimmer (surface navy guy) go insane and volunteer for the Submarine Force. If he was Qualified as an ESWS, and then subsequently became Qualified in Submarines, he would wear the Submarine Warfare badge (Dolphins) in the normal spot above the ribbon device, since he was currently serving in the Submarine Force and not the Surface Navy. The ESWS badge would then be worn underneath the ribbon device.
They expected the British would stop their attempts to free continental Europe from German control if it was difficult to receive supplies from abroad, particularly from the US.
The submarine started as an important way to isolate England from supply convoys. As a submarine could slip up on a convoy unseen and launch a torpedo it also had a similar effect as the modern day sniper, causing fear among the ships not hit. As Anti-Submarine Warfare was more and more successful the submarine lost it's value. During the Cold War its importance was to resurge as a platform to launch nuclear missiles and to hunt the large missile subs or Boomers as they were called. There are some who have gone as far as to attribute the fact that there was never a nuclear exchange between the USA and the USSR to the fact that each side knew that the submarines would launch a counter-strike.
When the Germans, declared unrestricted submarine warfare, the US issued a sharp protest to this policy, saying that it was an indefensible violation of neutral rights, and threatened to hold Germany accountable. After many German offenses in the seas, Wilson threatened to break off diplomatic relations with Germany unless it abandoned its methods of submarine warfare. Wilson won a temporary victory when the Germans said that they would visit all vessels prior to attack. However, this crisis prompted Wilson to begin preparing for war (preparedness campaign). Finally when the Germans decided to declared unlimited submarine warfare on all shipping in 1917, it was impossible for Wilson to maintain US neutrality and the freedom of the seas. Thus, Wilson broke off all diplomatic relations with Germany and called on Congress to approve the arming of US merchant ships.
When the Germans, declared unrestricted submarine warfare, the US issued a sharp protest to this policy, saying that it was an indefensible violation of neutral rights, and threatened to hold Germany accountable. After many German offenses in the seas, Wilson threatened to break off diplomatic relations with Germany unless it abandoned its methods of submarine warfare. Wilson won a temporary victory when the Germans said that they would visit all vessels prior to attack. However, this crisis prompted Wilson to begin preparing for war (preparedness campaign). Finally when the Germans decided to declared unlimited submarine warfare on all shipping in 1917, it was impossible for Wilson to maintain US neutrality and the freedom of the seas. Thus, Wilson broke off all diplomatic relations with Germany and called on Congress to approve the arming of US merchant ships.
England controlled the seas, having both the largest fleet and the easiest access to the oceans. The German fleet was large but could be easily bottled up so the German High Command saw Submarine warfare as a method of reducing the impact of the English Battleships AND of affecting morale in England by forcing rationing on the population.
It may have something to do with his interest in warfare. He also invented a kind of submarine. Both of those would give an advantage over an earthbound enemy.