30 JUL--This Day in US Military History

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 30 Jul 2015 08:40:39 -0400

1916 – German saboteurs blew up a munitions pier on Black Tom Island, Jersey City, NJ., losses were estimated at $20 million and seven people were killed.

Now a section of Liberty State Park (along Morris Pesin road including the park office and Flag Plaza), Black Tom was originally a small island in New York Harbor not far from Liberty Island. Between 1860 and 1880, Black Tom was connected to the mainland by a causeway and rail lines terminating at a freight facility with docks. The area between the island and the mainland was filled in sometime between 1905 and 1916 by the Lehigh Valley Railroad as part of its Jersey City facility. By the beginning of the twentieth century, Black Tom was serving as a major munitions depot.
Before the United States entered the First World War, American businessmen would sell their supplies to any buyer. However, by 1915, the British Navy had established a blockade effectively keeping the Germans from being able to buy from the American merchants. The German government, on July 30, 1916, orchestrated the sabotage of freight cars at Black Tom, which were loaded with munitions for the Allies in Europe.
According to a recent study, the resulting explosion was the equivalent of an earthquake measuring between 5.0 and 5.5 on the Richter Scale. Windows within a 25-mile radius were broken, the outside wall of Jersey City’s City Hall was cracked and pieces of metal damaged the skirt of the Statue of Liberty (it is because of this explosion that the Lady’s torch has been closed off to visitors). Most of the immigrants on Ellis Island were temporarily evacuated.
After the war, a commission appointed to resolve American claims against Germany was established. It took years before a decision was made, finally in June of 1939, the commission ruled that the German Government had authorized the sabotage. However, World War II interrupted any chances of arranging for restitution. In 1953 the two governments finally settled on terms that the German government would pay a total of $95 million for a number of claims including Black Tom. The final payment was received in 1979.

https://thisdayinusmilhist.wordpress.com/2005/07/30/july-30/

July 30

30 July 1619 - The first representative assembly in America the House of Burgesses, became the first legislative assembly in America when it convened at Jamestown, Va. Composed of the governor and ...

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Jul 30 at 2015 8:42 AM

LTC Stephen C. — Thu, 30 Jul 2015 08:42:36 -0400

Thanks for the great story, 1SG Private RallyPoint Member. Never knew it!

Response by LTC John Shaw made Jul 30 at 2015 8:49 AM

LTC John Shaw — Thu, 30 Jul 2015 08:49:23 -0400

1SG Private RallyPoint Member Wow! I have never heard about German activity on the US mainland. Cracking the Statute of Liberty from NJ that is one POWERFUL explosion!

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 30 at 2015 9:39 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 30 Jul 2015 09:39:58 -0400

That is a great little piece of history that very few people know about. Thanks for sharing.