Why did the US Enter WW1? (Documentary)

Support us and get 40% off Nebula: https://go.nebula.tv/the-great-war What Rhineland 45: https://nebula.tv/videos/real-time-history-1-come-hell-or-high-water-i-rhineland-45?ref=the-great-war&utm_content=the-great-war In early 1917, the United States was still neutral in the First World War. Meanwhile, German leaders were getting desperate – if they couldn’t find a way to break the war of attrition on the Western Front, the Allies would probably defeat them. The result was multiple gambles that staked everything on a quick victory with the risk of drawing the US into the war. » SUPPORT THE CHANNEL Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/realtimehistory Nebula: https://nebula.tv/the-great-war » THANKS TO OUR CO-PRODUCERS Rose Flaglor, Reed Spilmann, Erik Ritter, Cardboard, Ken Brownfield, David Garfinkle, Raymond Martin, Konstantin Bredyuk, Lisa Anderson, Brad Durbin, Jeremy K Jones, Murray Godfrey, John Ozment, Stephen Parker, Mavrides, Kristina Colburn, Stefan Jackowski, Cardboard, William Kincade, William Wallace, Daniel L Garza, Chris Daley, Malcolm Swan, Christoph Wolf, Simen Røste, Jim F Barlow, Taylor Allen, Adam Smith, James Giliberto, Albert B. Knapp MD, Tobias Wildenblanck, Richard L Benkin, Marco Kuhnert, Matt Barnes, Ramon Rijkhoek, Jan, Scott Deederly, gsporie, Kekoa, Bruce G. Hearns, Hans Broberg, Fogeltje » SOURCES Abbatiello, John. “Atlantic U-boat Campaign,” International Encyclopedia of the First World War, 2016. https://encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net/article/atlantic-u-boat-campaign/ Halpern, Paul G.. “Naval Warfare (USA),” International Encyclopedia of the First World War, 2014. https://encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net/article/naval-warfare-usa/ Keene, Jennifer D. “United States of America,” International Encyclopedia of the First World War, 2014. https://encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net/article/united-states-of-america/ Kennedy, Ross. “Governments, Parliaments and Parties (USA),” International Encyclopedia of the First World War, 2017. https://encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net/article/governments-parliaments-and-parties-usa/ Lloyd, Nick. The Western Front. Penguin, 2021. Medlock, Chelsea Autumn. “Lusitania, Sinking of,” International Encyclopedia of the First World War, 2019. https://encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net/article/lusitania-sinking-of-1-1/ Neiberg, Michael S. The Path to War : How the First World War Created Modern America. Oxford University Press, 2016. President Woodrow Wilson’s Message on Neutrality, August 19, 1914. https://millercenter.org/the-presidency/presidential-speeches/august-19-1914-message-neutrality President Woodrow Wilson's address to Congress, April 2, 1917. Proclamation of the President, April 6, 1917. https://archive.org/details/presidentwoodrow00unit/mode/2up Rinke, Stefan. “Zimmermann Telegram,” International Encyclopedia of the First World War, 2014. https://encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net/article/zimmermann-telegram/ U.S. Army War College, “Michael S. Neiberg – Why the US Entered the First World War and Why it Matters,” YouTube, 2018. https://youtu.be/-F7OAIRlKN0?si=ubRXX1L-wvgCaBBX Watson, Alexander. Ring of Steel. Germany and Austria-Hungary at War, 1914-1918. Penguin, 2014. Yockelson, Mitchell. “Pre-war Military Planning (USA),” International Encyclopedia of the First World War, 2014. https://encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net/article/pre-war-military-planning-usa/ N.N. “The Zimmermann Telegram.” In Cryptologic Quarterly. https://www.nsa.gov/portals/75/documents/news-features/declassified-documents/cryptologic-quarterly/the_zimmermann_telegram.pdf » OUR SISTER CHANNEL https://youtube.com/realtimehistory »CREDITS Presented by: Jesse Alexander Written by: Jesse Alexander Director: Toni Steller Editing: Philipp Appelt Motion Design: Philipp Appelt Mixing, Mastering & Sound Design: http://above-zero.com Research by: Jesse Alexander, Sophie Soulière Fact checking: Florian Wittig Executive Producer: Florian Wittig Channel Design: Yves Thimian Contains licensed material by getty images, picture alliance and Reuters Maps: MapTiler/OpenStreetMap Contributors & GEOlayers3 All photos and film in our documentaries are authentic historical footage. We do not use generative AI to create new assets. However, we may use AI tools to upscale or clean up certain assets without distorting or compromising the original image. All rights reserved - Real Time History GmbH 2025