Salvage scandal: U-boat U16 breaks up – experts outraged!

Salvage scandal: U-boat U16 breaks up – experts outraged!

A piece of history has emerged from the depths of the water: the submarine U16, which sank off Scharhörn in 1919. However, this salvage, which took place in September 2025 by the Waterways and Shipping Authority (WSA), caused a lot of excitement at various levels. The wreck broke during recovery, which led to sharp criticism from the archaeological community.

A press conference in Cuxhaven provided insight into the planned exhibitions of the rescued parts of the submarine. Around a quarter of the wreck will be shown in various museums. The planned locations include:

• Der mittlere Rumpfteil mit Turm im Fahrzeug- und Technikmuseum Benneckenstein in Sachsen-Anhalt.
• Die Bewaffnung im Militärhistorischen Museum der Bundeswehr in Dresden.
• Ein großes Segment aus der Oberseite des Achterschiffs im „Aeronauticum“ in Nordholz.
• Ankerkette und Kleinteile im Cuxhavener Wrack- und Fischereimuseum „Windstärke 10“.
• Einige kleinere Teile werden im Deutschen Marinemuseum Wilhelmshaven, im Internationalen Maritimen Museum Hamburg und im Hamburger Museum für Archäologie ausgestellt.

Dispute over recovery methods

The salvage operation was not only technically demanding, but also legally questionable: the WSA carried out the work without obtaining the necessary approval from the Federal Real Estate Agency (BIMA). There are concerns among experts that archaeological support would have been essential during the recovery. Experts fear that the abruptly stopped condition of the wreck led to oxidation and decay.

“The lack of proper planning leaves us wondering what will happen to the future of such a historic object,” said concerned archaeologists. Since the salvage is ultimately deemed inadequate, it remains uncertain whether the remainder of the wreck will actually be made available for research purposes or simply scrapped. Complete conservation and thus a comprehensive exhibition are rather unrealistic due to the costs for the experts.

Background information on the submarine U16

The submarine U16 was originally built in 1911 and was part of the Imperial Navy. According to legal regulations, such wrecks belong to the Federal Republic of Germany, which clearly regulates the ownership structure. The collision of these historical relics with modern challenges represents an interesting but delicate exercise.

The discussion about this recovery will continue for a while, because the topic not only affects factors of monument preservation, but also emotional aspects of remembrance work. It remains to be seen how the situation surrounding the U16 will develop and whether it will be possible to present this historic object with better legal and professional protection.

For more information about the recovery operation and the response to it, visit the reports at NDR and Mirror.