A symbol of friendship and reconcilation...

It’s a propeller from a U-boat that sank 100 years ago. And this week it’s been handed back from the country that sank it to the country that built it. A hundred years on from a war that raged across Europe and cost millions of lives, it’s a reminder of how far the two nations have come.
In March 1915, the U-8 was sunk in the channel.

All its crew was rescued and crowds gathered to watch them being brought ashore. The U-boat remained at the bottom of the channel but its propeller was discovered in 2
Jan Hackstein, German Naval Attache
Pic: BAE Systems
014 along with other historical items which had been illegally recovered in the Kent area.

Now the propeller is going home. And Jan Hackstein, the German Naval Attaché, who attended the handover says it’s a sign of reconciliation and friendship between the UK and Germany.

‘Although the German public is still a bit reserved about the armed forces, we see a rising historic interest. 

'The centenary of World War One pushed this interest and today it is very normal that the media is publishing stories, for example on the fate of people during the war.
‘So there will be an interest in seeing the propeller and discovering the story of the Kaiser’s U-boat and the crew behind it.

‘It will be on display at the German Naval Memorial in Laboe from the autumn. Currently we’re planning to have the official handover ceremony in November during our Remembrance Day.

‘The German Naval Memorial close to Kiel is a very poignant memorial, remembering ‘all those who died at sea and for peaceful navigation in free waters.’

His words are echoed by head of Coastal Operations at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Charles Ball: ‘As Coastguards and sailors we share common goals and an equal love and respect for all those in peril on the sea. As ever we have more in common than we have differences and this ceremony cements as mariners our continued friendship.’


The handover of the propeller from Head of Coastal Operations Charles Ball to
Christian Clausing, Commanding Officer of Karlsruhe (pictured centre, shaking hands)
Pic: BAE Systems

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