16 Photos From Inside Germany’s Sabotage Operation On American Soil During World War I

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16 Photos From Inside Germany’s Sabotage Operation On American Soil During World War I

See the aftermath of the German sabotage that was shrouded in secrecy.

Published 6 months ago

While World War I raged on in Europe, some of the violence made its way to the United States.

While the U.S. was neutral through most of the war, it was highly sympathetic to the Allies and provided ammunition, weaponry and financial support.

The German Empire and German immigrants living in the States were enraged by it and carried out several attacks on American soil. The massive Black Tom explosion, the bombing of Mare Island in California, and even the attempted assassination of J.P. Morgan Jr. were German plots and sabotage happening within U.S. borders.

Take a look at the nearly forgotten attacks endured and the men who carried them out in secret.

1
Erich Muenter
Erich Muenter was a German sympathizer living in the U.S. during World War I, who bombed the capitol, set a ship on fire and shot J.P. Morgan Jr.

2
1915 Capitol Attack
The aftermath of the Senate reception room explosion by Erich Muenter

3
The SS Minnehaha
Bombed and set fire by Erich Muenter, soon after bombing the capitol

4
Newspaper clipping of the assassination attempt on JP Morgan Jr. by Erich Muenter
Morgan was a prominent financier of the Allies during World War I and was considered a prime target

5
Franz Von Rintelen
Leader of the NYC German Spy Ring, his group funneled money and explosives to agents who attacked American factories, ports, and even spread anthrax and glanders to horses and mules being shipped overseas.

6
Cigar bomb
Explosive device developed by Franz von Rintelen

7
Mare Island Explosion, 1917
A Navy Ammunition Depot in California was blown up in 1917, with German saboteurs suspected but never officially arrested

8
Aftermath of the Mare Island Explosion
California, 1917

9
Black Tom explosion, 1916
An act of arson by field agents of the Office of Naval Intelligence of the German Empire, to destroy U.S.-made munitions that were about to be shipped to the Allies during World War I

10
Black Tom Island in Jersey City, N.J, 1916
Aftermath of the explosion

11
Headline of the Black Tom explosion
Newspaper clipping of the Boston Daily Globe, 1916

12
Burning barges cut loose from the docks at Black Tom, NJ following the 1916 explosion
The incident killed seven people in total

13
Ruins of Black Tom Island
1916

14
Factory devastated by the Black Tom explosion
Black Tom Island, 1916

15
Kingsland Explosion, 1917
On January 11, 1917, a massive fire and explosion destroyed the Canadian Car and Foundry munitions plant in Kingsland, New Jersey. Though German involvement couldn’t be proved, Germany later paid 50 million in reparations for the incident.