Baltic 2015: The permit request for Graf Zeppelin is about to be submitted, and is likely to be granted. I am however having a rethink as to what other targets we can do on this as the German Federal government has request our application to dive the Wilhelm Gustloff, Goya and Steuben, which is a bit of a blow. The plan thus far is to dive the Kriegsmarine supply Ship Franken 1st. This was sunk by torpedo bombers in 1945 during the evacuation of the Eastern front. It lies not for from Gdansk (day boats go there), but it is impressive at around 200m long, with some heavy armaments on board (and an armoury with Mauser rifles chained to the wall - or so I am reliably informed). Ive dived this once, and to be honest, could have carried out multiple dives on here. - youtube/watch?v=DTXWHZPFryY Then of course we have Graf Zeppelin, and this is itself at least 2 days diving I would say - Id happily spend all week here. But that leaves us with maybe 3 of 4 days diving to fill. So ideally, we are looking for maybe just 2 larger wrecks in the area? Im obviously going to carry out more research, but, does anyone have any suggestions of sites or contacts in the area? My local guy has disappeared and hasnt replied to emails for a month now. Here is my rejection from the Federal Government - I am fairly certain it will be a condition of the Polish government for me to have German permission, so these three now seem unlikely. The trip is still going to be awesome though! Dear Mr. Burke, Your email requesting authorisation of dives on the wrecks of the merchant vessels Wilhelm Gustloff, Goya and Steuben lying off the Polish Baltic coast has been forwarded to me. The competent authority for your request is the local Polish Maritime Office. As you rightly mention, these wrecks are the last resting place of thousands of German war dead, and are therefore war graves. The position of the Federal Republic of Germany with respect to such maritime war graves, which are to be found almost all over the world, is that in principle it does not grant consent for dives on such wrecks, in order to preserve the peace of the dead at these places. Remembrance of the victims is also possible without dives. I have no doubt that you and your intended companions on the dives you are proposing fully understand the significance and dignity of these places. However, the criteria for a possible exception, namely the involvement of survivors or their relatives, do not appear to apply in this case. Nor can I find any justification for these dives from the point of view of safety of shipping or necessary research. I therefore regret to inform you that so far as the consent of the Federal Republic of Germany is required for your project, I am afraid this cannot be granted. I am sorry to disappoint you, but hope you will understand the German position. Yours sincerely, Tilman Hochmüller Counsellor Head of Legal and Consular Affairs
Posted on: Mon, 01 Dec 2014 13:22:52 +0000
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