On the opposite side of the Atlantic , Imperial German plans for the invasion of the United States were maintained from 1897 to 1906 , but were not seriously considered because the German Empire had insufficient resources to carry them out successfully . Early versions planned to engage the United States Atlantic Fleet off Norfolk , Virginia , followed by shore bombardment of eastern cities . Later versions envisioned a land invasion of New York City and Boston . The foreign policy of Kaiser Wilhelm II , sought to limit the United States ' ability to interfere in European affairs , rather than as a territorial conquest . Until April 6 , 1917 , while the U.S. was neutral during World War I , German agents were dispatched to the country to prevent supplies from being sold to the Allied Powers , culminating in sabotage operations like Black Tom ( July 30 , 1916 ) and Kingsland ( January 11 , 1917 )
Black Tom
Black Tom explosion
Invasion of the United States