Submarine Retrieval Sparks Outrage Among Archaeologists
The German U-boat U16, which sank off the coast of ScharhΓΆrn in 1919, was salvaged on Monday night, sparking a wave of criticism from archaeologists. The operation, carried out by the Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration (General Directorate of Waterways and Shipping), has been described as "haphazard" and "illegal rushed" by Hamburg's state archaeologist, Rainer-Maria Weiss.
Weiss, along with Jens Auer, spokesman for the Commission for Underwater and Wetland Archaeology, expressed outrage at the lack of documentation, archaeological supervision, professional guidance, and prior research during the salvage operation. Auer referred to a set of established rules in Germany for construction projects or salvage operations, which this action contradicts.
Under normal conditions, the boat would not have broken during a professional supervised salvage operation, according to Weiss. The U-boat broke into two pieces during the operation, with one part potentially able to be lifted if the other side had tilted. The Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) justified the salvage as necessary due to the U-boat becoming relevant for the safety of shipping and fairway maintenance after the fairway adaptation of the Elbe.
Despite the controversy, the state of preservation of U-16 appears excellent, according to Weiss, who notes the thick-walled steel, intact supply lines, and lack of defects or rust holes. The BSH also reported that water-filled depressions were seen on the images of an echo sounder, one of the reasons for the frequent investigations of the wreck, most recently in 2023.
The WSA Elbe-Nordsee is the legal owner of the wreck of U-16, as it is part of the federal waterway Elbe. However, the Federal Institute for Real Estate Tasks is neither responsible nor the owner of the wreck. Museums have already inquired about exhibits for the salvaged wreck, according to the WSA.
Auer, Weiss, and Huber, another underwater archaeologist, have all called the salvage of U-16 an "illegal action" and a "fatal step," arguing that it should not be scrapped but preserved due to its historical significance. Auer, in particular, doubts that U-16 is a sea grave, emphasizing the need for consultation with the German War Graves Commission and careful handling.
Weiss only found out about the action from the newspaper and spoke of a "gross disregard for any regulations". The WSA has not yet commented on these criticisms. The salvaged wreck will not rust away within a few days, according to Weiss, but the future of this controversial artifact remains uncertain.
