German WWII U-boat and torpedo boat wrecks discovered

Three World War II German naval wrecks have been discovered in the Baltic Sea and the Ionian Sea. Two of these are U-boats located in the Polish part of the Baltic Sea, which serve as war graves for German soldiers.

On July 15, the wreck of U-583 was located at a depth of approximately 65 to 70 meters in the waters between the Danish island of Bornholm and the Polish coast. The vessel sank in November 1941 following a collision during a training mission, resulting in the deaths of 45 crew members. The wreck is reported to be in relatively good condition but is partially covered by fishing nets. The U-649 was also discovered in the Baltic Sea; it sank in February 1943 after a collision, claiming 35 lives.

A third discovery was made in the Ionian Sea near the Greek island of Lefkada. Divers identified the wreck of the German torpedo boat LS 6 at a depth of 96 meters. This vessel is noted as a rare, largely intact example of its class.

Christian Lübcke of the German War Graves Commission has warned against the potential looting of these sites. He noted that while Poland has historically been a leader in protecting such wrecks through the UNESCO Convention, recent loosening of protection regulations in the region poses a risk to these maritime graves.