Item number: M282

Year: AD 1915

Material: Iron

Size: 55.5 x 55.5 x 4.6 mm

Weight: 77.85 g

Provenance: Spink 2024

This is an iron medallion designed by the renowned German sculptor Karl Goetz during World War I, based on the infamous sinking of the R.M.S Lusitania.

The medallion is circular in shape. On the obverse side, it depicts the R.M.S Lusitania and its cargo being struck by a torpedo from a German U-boat, sinking into the waves. At the top, a German inscription reads “KEINE BANN WARE” (No contraband), emphasising the alleged legitimacy of the attack. The lower half features a five-line inscription: “DER GROßDAMPFER LUSITANIA DURCH EIN DEUTSCHES TAUCHBOOT VERSENKT 5 MAI 1915” (The great steamer Lusitania sunk by a German submarine on May 5, AD 1915).

The reverse side depicts a line of people waiting to purchase tickets at a booth positioned to the right. On the far left, two individuals are seen staring at a newspaper with the headline “U BOOT GEFAHR” (“Submarine Danger”). Above the crowd, the inscription “GESCHÄFT ÜBER ALLES” (“Business above all”) is engraved. The ticket booth is manned by a skeleton, symbolising Death, with the inscription “FAHRKARTEN AUSGABE” (“Ticket Issuance”) below the window. Above the window, the text “CUNA LINIE” and “CUNARD” appear, both referring to the Cunard Line, the operator of the R.M.S Lusitania. At the bottom edge of the medal, the initials “K.G.” represent the artist’s signature, Karl Goetz.

The sinking of the R.M.S Lusitania was one of the most dramatic events of World War I. During the war, Germany sought to sever Britain’s external supply lines by launching a campaign of unrestricted submarine warfare, targeting all vessels approaching British waters. At the outbreak of the war in AD 1914, the United States maintained neutrality but continued close commercial and personal exchanges with Britain. The Lusitania, operated by the Cunard Line, was among the ships converted from a luxury ocean liner into an auxiliary cruiser, transporting passengers between the U.S. and Britain. On May 7, AD 1915, German submarine U-20 spotted the Lusitania off the coast of Ireland and sank it. The attack resulted in the deaths of 198 American citizens from a neutral country, sparking anti-German sentiment in the United States. However, it was not until AD 1917 that the U.S. formally entered the war against Germany.

However, when news of the Lusitania reached Germany, the public, including Karl Goetz, received reports framing the ship as a deliberate British attempt to use American passengers as a cover for smuggling arms and strategic supplies from the U.S. In response, Goetz created this satirical medal to mock Britain’s actions. However, the medal incorrectly bore the date “May 5” instead of the actual sinking date of “May 7.” After the release of the medal, Selfridges, a British department store, quickly produced 300,000 replicas, but with a reversal of the message, turning it into a tool for condemning Germany’s inhumane conduct. The incorrect date on the medal further fuelled conspiracy theories in Britain, suggesting that the Lusitania’s sinking was part of a premeditated German plot.

物件編號: M282

年代: 公元 1915 年

材質: 鐵

尺寸: 55.5 x 55.5 x 4.6 mm

重量: 77.85 g

來源: 斯賓克拍賣行 2024

這是德國雕刻家卡爾·戈茨在第一次世界大戰期間以著名的「盧西塔尼亞號沉沒事件」為藍圖設計的鐵質紀念章。

紀念章為圓形外觀，正面雕刻「盧西塔尼亞號」和貨物挨上德軍潛艦的魚雷沉入波濤。畫面上緣鐫刻一行德文「KEINE BANN WARE」(無違禁品)，下半部有五行銘文「DER GROßDAMPFER LUSITANIA DURCH EIN DEUTSCHES TAUCHBOOT VERSENKT 5 MAI 1915」(公元1915年5月5日被德國潛水艇擊沉的大型輪船盧西塔尼亞號)。

背面是要向右側售票口購票的排隊人潮，最左側的兩個人盯著一張寫著「U BOOT GEFAHR」(潛水艇危險) 標題的報紙，人潮頂部鐫刻「GESCHÄFT ÜBER ALLES」(生意優先於一切)。售票口由象徵死神的骷髏售票，窗口下方是「FAHRKARTEN AUSGABE」(出票)。窗口上方的「CUNA LINIE」和右側的「CUNARD」字樣，皆是指盧西塔尼亞號的經營者「冠達郵輪」。獎章下緣是卡爾·戈茨的姓名縮寫「K.G」。

盧西塔尼亞號的沉沒是第一次世界大戰最為戲劇性的事件。第一次世界大戰期間，德國為了切斷作為島國的英國對外補給線，發動無差別攻擊來往英國船隻的「無限制潛艇戰」。公元1914年，第一次世界大戰爆發之際，大西洋彼岸的美國雖然保持中立，仍持續和英國有密切的人員商貿往來。英國冠達郵輪轄下的盧西塔尼亞號，正是其中一艘從郵輪改造為輔助巡洋艦來往英美的客運船隻。公元1915年5月7日，德軍U-20號潛艦在愛爾蘭外海發現盧西塔尼亞號並將其擊沉。此事件造成198名中立國的美國國民傷亡，引發美國國內的反德情緒，但直到公元1917年美國才投入對德作戰。

然而盧西塔尼亞號的消息傳回德國時，卡爾·戈茨在內的德國民眾從報紙接收的消息為這是一艘英國蓄意以美國人為掩護，藉此從美國進口軍火和戰略物資的船隻。因此卡爾·戈茨以嘲諷英國的立場製造這枚紀念章，然而獎章的日期「5月5日」有誤，而非正確的「5月7日」。這枚獎章發行之後，英國的塞爾福里奇百貨公司迅速推出30萬枚仿冒品，意涵卻翻轉為譴責德國不人道立場的宣傳工具。尤其是日期上的錯誤，在英國延伸出盧西塔尼亞號沉沒是一場德國蓄意謀劃的陰謀論。