P1, Q2 - Style Response

Question: Compare and contrast the views expressed about submarine warfare in source A and source B.
Source A: Von Speigel's Account
Source B: Zimmerman Telegram

Both Von Spiegel's account and the Zimmerman Telegram show that in regards to U-boat warfare, the Germans wanted to inflict the least amount of damage possible, and only engaged in it because they had no choice. When seeing an enemy ship, Von Spiegel expressed regret about having to blow it up, saying, "What a pity... but it cannot be helped, war is war, and every horse the fewer on the Western front is a reduction of England's fighting power." The Zimmerman Telegram expressed a similar sentiment, stating "the ruthless employment of our submarines now offers the prospect of compelling England in a few months to make peace."

In the Zimmerman Telegram, alot of the content focused on how submarine warfare affected the US. Germany needed to utilize submarine warfare to prevent supplies from reaching British troops. The telegram stated that "We shall endeavor in spite of this to keep the United States of America neutral" and continued with a proposal to Mexico that would be detrimental to the US if they were to join the war. However, Von Spiegel's account makes no mention of the US whatsoever, and instead only mentions the British very briefly.

Von Spiegel's account is very detailed and personal; he writes about his own opinions and observations, such as his view about the horses on board the enemy ship; "Oh heavens, horses! What a pity, those lovely beasts!" He also describes the actual battle that takes place, writing about the explosion as well as the enemy crew members he could see that "rushed, ran, screamed for boats..." The Zimmerman Telegram however, is written in a formal, detached way. It speaks plainly about "reconquer(ing) the lost territory in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona" with the Mexicans, which is something that if carried out, would have inevitably caused a lot of conflict and bloodshed. Compared to Von Spiegel's account, the Zimmerman Telegram comes off as cold and calculating.