Heritage

Contentsannex ii – underwater cultural heritage from the first world war127freighter Walküre, before bombarding the town’s fortifications. The wreck of the Zéléehas become a common diving site.Battle of Coronel (began 1 November 1914)This battle took place off the coast of Coronel, Chile, between British and Germanforces. The British ships Monmouth and Good Hope were destroyed and both sank.There were no survivors from either ship. The German forces suffered little damage.Battle of the Falkland Islands (8 December 1914)On 8 December 1914, German Admiral von Spee attacked a British radio station andcoaling depot on the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic. The British waited forhim with a well-armed squadron. Four German cruisers, the Scharnhorst, Gneisenau,Nürnberg and Leipzig, as well as the fleet’s colliers, Santa Isabel and Baden, were sunk.Another ship, SMS Dresden, was sunk shortly afterwards. In total, 2,200 soldiers werekilled. The Dresden’s 115 kg bell, decorated with the Imperial Eagle, was recoveredfrom the wreck in 2006 from a depth of 70 m and is now in Germany.Battle of Dogger Bank (began 24 January 1915)On 24 January 1915, German forces attacked three northern British coastal towns.The British intercepted the German fleet and sank the Blücher. The rest of the Germansquadron managed to flee. The Blücher remains at Dogger Bank, at a depth of 60 m.The SMSBlücher, lastarmored cruiserto be built bythe GermanImperial Navy(KaiserlicheMarine), sunkat the Battle ofDogger Bank,24 January1915.Courtesy of theImperial WarMuseum.