List of German-sponsored acts of sabotage in World War I

During World War I Imperial Germany funded or inspired a number of sabotage acts in America and abroad. It was hoped that these attacks would harm the war efforts of the Allies or Entente Powers. Spy heads like the American-based German Military Attaché Franz von Papen received money to fund these sabotage activities and distributed them to local actors or German agents. In 1917 The New York Times reported that there were 10,000 German, Austro-Hungarian, Bulgarian, and Ottoman agents in America. While most of the attacks were amateurish and foiled by local law enforcement, some like the Black Tom explosion caused immense devastation.

List of state-sponsored attacks +DateNameLocationStatusNotesReferencesWelland Canal PlotWelland Canal, Canada Attack was abandoned when its main plotter saw Canadian defences. Pencil bomb attacks Allied shipping The incendiary device ignited cargos when ships were far at sea. It was estimated that the pencil bombs destroyed $10 million (US$ million in ) worth of cargo on 36 ships. 1915 Vancouver bridge arson attackGranville Street Bridge, VancouverBridge is set on fire, with zero fatalities. Fay Bombing PlotNew York CitySpy ring arrested before implementationVanceboro international bridge bombingSaint Croix–Vanceboro Railway BridgeRailway officials inspected the bridge following the bombing and discovered the damage was relatively minor, resulting in the bridge being out of service for only several days.Muenter attacks Senate reception room in the United States Capitol, Washington, D.C. J. P. Morgan's house at East Island, Glen Cove, New York In 1915, an agent planted a bomb that exploded in the US Capitol, shot Jack Morgan, and predicted the bombing of a steamship bound for England before committing suicide while in police custody. Harbor Island Bombing Harbor Island, Seattle Imperial German agents blew up a barge carrying 15 tons of refined gunpowder just off of Harbor Island, Seattle. German biological warfare sabotage program American cattle industry While the program was successful, it is unknown if any cattle were harmed. Black Tom explosion New York City Killed 7 people and destroyed some $20,000,000 ($ million in ) worth of military goods. Kingsland explosion Lyndhurst, New Jersey In 4 hours, probably 500,000 pieces of 76 mm (3") high explosive shells were discharged.

Lone Wolf attacks DateNameLocationStatusNotesReferencesRochambeau bomb plotSS RochambeauSpy ring arrested before implementation Bomb attack of various Ontario targets by Detroit-based Charles Respa and Albert Kaltschmidt Successful bombing of the Peabody Overall Co factory in Walkerville, Ontario. Factory bombed, but a bomb placed at the Windsor Armoury failed to explode, saving the lives of 200 soldiers who were stationed there. On March 7, 1916, Respa was sentenced to life imprisonment. In 1917, ring leader and president of the Marine City Salt company, Albert Kaltschmidt, faced charges in America for attempting to bomb the Detroit Screw Works. Others charged were William M. Jarosh, Richard Herman, and Fritz A. Neef, general manager of the Eismann Magneto company.

List of German-sponsored acts of sabotage in World War I

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