Death lurks in grey seas: Experiences of the maritime crossing between Argentina and Europe during the First World War

Abstract

In recent years, the repercussions of the First World War in Latin America have received increasing attention in the academic literature. However, the impact of the war at sea on the continent has not been exhaustively investigated. With the belligerents fighting for control of overseas communication and trade routes, passengers and sailors embarked on ocean liners and cargo ships to travel between South America and Europe. This article explores and analyses the experiences of those who crossed the Atlantic to and from the Argentine Republic. In so doing, it adds a Latin American dimension to the knowledge and understanding of the 1914–18 naval war.