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German U-boat, Hastings Beach BB88_07120
HASTINGS, EAST SUSSEX. People in rowing boats and on the beach, looking up at the German U-boat submarine, U-118, which ran aground on Hastings beach in February 1919. U-118 served in the Imperial German Navy during the First World War. Howarth-Loomes Collection. Historic England is the public body that champions and protects England's historic places. © Historic England
Media ID 11446409
Filename: bb88_07120.jpg
Size: 4380 x 4312 (11.4MB)
Date: 25th November 2015
Source: Historic England
Credit: Historic England Archive
Copyright Status: Copyrighted Work
Source: Historic England Images
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> England at War > England at War 1914-1918
> Historic Images > Historic Images 1920s to 1940s > Photos from the Great War
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative photograph captures a moment of intrigue and curiosity as the people of Hastings, East Sussex, gather at the coast to witness the sight of a German U-boat, U-118, which had run aground on the shore in February 1919. The First World War had ended just a few months prior, and the sight of this formidable naval vessel was a stark reminder of the recent global conflict. U-118, a German Type UB III submarine, served in the Imperial German Navy during the war, and was one of over 1,100 U-boats deployed by Germany in its submarine warfare campaign against Allied shipping. The submarine's presence in the English Channel was a common occurrence during the war, as Germany sought to disrupt Allied supply lines and weaken the British economy. However, the end of the war saw many U-boats scrambling to return to Germany, and U-118 was among those that failed to make it back. The vessel ran aground on Hastings beach, becoming a tourist attraction and a symbol of the end of the war. The photograph shows a crowd of people, some in rowing boats, gathered on the beach to get a closer look at the submarine. Their expressions of awe and fascination are palpable, as they take in the sight of this formidable war machine, now a relic of a bygone era. The image offers a glimpse into the collective memory of a community, and the complex emotions that came with the end of a long and devastating conflict.
