~ Death Sells Tickets

During the First World War the RMS Lusitania was sunk by a torpedo on the 7 May 1915. The loss of life that included civilian passengers had world wide repercussions contributing to the eventual decision by the United States to enter the conflict. It also sparked a medallion propaganda war. Karl Goetz the German Artist was so incensed by the idea that a passenger liner might have been used for military purposes he decided to produce a medal satirising the event. He made a mistake on the date making it 5 May - 2 days before than the event. Causing an outcry in Britain, accusing the Germans of this premeditated action. Copies of the medal were made and distributed throught Britain in protest against the Germans’ propaganda use of metallic comemorative medals to effectively celebrate this tragic event