The Zimmerman Telegram (or Note), named after German foreign secretary Arthur Zimmerman, was what triggered the decision for the United States to enter World War I, and on the side of the Allies. The note was a secret telegram sent from Zimmerman to Heinrich von Eckradt, the German ambassador to Mexico, with instructions stating that if the (neutral at the time) United States was to enter the war on the side of the allies, Germany would provide military and financial support for a Mexican attack on the US. Mexico would ultimately be able to annex what territory they had originally lost in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, from the US.
The telegram was decrypted by the British cryptographic office "Room 40" who decoded the secret note and showed it to the US in late Feb 1917. Americans nationwide were outraged and diplomatic relations between the US and Germany were severed in February.
The government of the US used the note as proof of aggression from Germany and entered the war on the side of the Allies on April 2, 1917, which contrasted with their previous policy of neutrality (one that President Wilson used to drive the presidential elections in his favor).
2 comments:
It is interesting how ultimately it was Germany who incentivize the US to join the war. I like how you description is very precise and thorough.
It is interesting to see how the telegram completely backfired against Germany because it was the last straw that made the US decide to join the war
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