The Zimmermann Telegram

E509631

The Zimmermann Telegram was a secret 1917 German diplomatic message proposing a military alliance with Mexico against the United States during World War I, whose interception helped draw the U.S. into the conflict.

All labels observed (4)

Label Occurrences
Zimmermann Telegram 3
The Zimmermann Telegram canonical 2
Zimmermann Note 1

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (48)

Predicate Object
instanceOf diplomatic telegram
historical document
primary source
alternativeName Zimmermann Note
archivedAt German Foreign Office archives
The National Archives (United Kingdom)
author Arthur Zimmermann
codeType German diplomatic code 13040
confirmedBy Arthur Zimmermann
context World War I
countryOfOrigin German Empire
dateIntercepted 1917-01-16
dateMadePublic 1917-03-01
dateOfRelatedEvent 1917-04-06
dateSent 1917-01-16
decryptedBy Nigel de Grey
William Montgomery
effect increased anti-German sentiment in the United States
influenced U.S. decision to enter World War I
goal to form a German-Mexican alliance if the United States entered World War I against Germany
historicalSignificance example of signals intelligence impact on diplomacy
key factor in shifting U.S. public opinion toward war
interceptedBy British intelligence
Room 40
language German
locationOfInterception British Admiralty
medium encrypted cable message
namedAfter Arthur Zimmermann
placeIntendedEffect Mexico
United States
promise support for Mexico to regain Arizona
support for Mexico to regain New Mexico
support for Mexico to regain Texas
proposedActionByGermany provide financial support to Mexico
proposedActionByMexico declare war on the United States
proposedAllianceWith Mexico
proposedCondition U.S. entry into war against Germany
proposedMilitaryActionAgainst United States
publishedIn American newspapers
recipient German ambassador to Mexico
Heinrich von Eckardt
relatedEvent United States declaration of war on Germany
revealedTo United States government
sender German Foreign Office
subjectOf books
documentaries
historical research
transmissionRoute via transatlantic cable

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (7)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

The Guns of August hasRelatedWork The Zimmermann Telegram
Room 40 notableEvent Zimmermann Telegram interception
linked to: The Zimmermann Telegram
World War I diplomacy includesEvent Zimmermann Telegram
linked to: The Zimmermann Telegram
Barbara Tuchman notableWork The Zimmermann Telegram
Arthur Zimmermann notableWork Zimmermann Telegram
linked to: The Zimmermann Telegram
Arthur Zimmermann notableEvent Zimmermann Telegram
linked to: The Zimmermann Telegram
Zimmermann Telegram alternativeName Zimmermann Note
subject linked to: The Zimmermann Telegram
linked to: The Zimmermann Telegram