Should wrecks such as the Bismarck be left as war graves or be inspected as of h

Question: Should wrecks such as the Bismarck be left as war graves or be inspected as of historical interest!?

I am thinking of the likes of Ballard who did dive down and disturb them in the name of historyWww@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

They should be inspected and photographed in the name of history!. Maybe a few artifacts raised for display nonprofit!. But the main wreckage and any bodies should be left in peace!. There is nothing wrong with photographing a war cemetery and taking artifacts from a battlefield!.!.!. But no one digs up the graves!. There is value in this because the wreckage often shows what really happened in a battle and what is myth and fact!. Keep in mind these are not just war graves they are the remains of famous battles!.!.!.!.!.Documention by eye witness, even modern times is usually faulty!. Even photographs can be misleading depending on the attitude and angle they were made at as well as how good visibility was!.!.!.!.and war dead are not always respected!. I believe the British buried their dead at Gallopi, and the Turks just threw theirs into ravines!. That may be one of the myths I am discussing!.!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

The Bismarck sank in 1941!.

It is NOT of any "archaeological" importance!.
It is a war grave, OUR war grave!.

We KNOW what was on the Bismarck, how it was made, who was on it when it sank, where it was built, etc!.
It doesn't NEED to be "inspected for historical interest"!.
Just because something was historical, doesn't make it archaeological!. There are plenty of people alive today that remembers when it sank!.

Archaeological study helps us learn a past we no longer remember!.
I have no problem with people diving down to SEE it, because it IS of great historical value, but disturbing it is like disturbing grave markers in a cemetery!.
If Archaeologists in OUR far away future, losing knowledge of us and the Bismarck, wish to do their thing, so be it!. It's nice to be remembered!.
But this is OUR time, and the Bismarck is part of OUR time!.
Have some respect!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I see no harm in inspecting them, filming them and exploring them!. I do see the harm in exploring inside them and having falling objects hit divers and kill them!. That happened off the coast of New Jersey when a German U Boat was discovered several years ago!.

It's said that the crew of the Bismark scuttled the ship themselves!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

They should be left as war graves !.We have vast amounts of records and info on these ships and no need to disturb!.The investigation of older ships is not at all the same as they are examined in a quest for lost knowledge!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I don't see much historical interest involved, as I assume her blueprints are available, and as it is known what torpedoes and bombs can do to a ship, I'd say we may as well leave her alone!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

In the case of the Bismarck there is enough documentation about the ship and it's crew for there to be no need to make dives to it!. Leave well alone in my opinion!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Could the same be asked of the graves of our Viking, Egyptian and other ancestors!? Don't the likes of Ballard behave the same as land-based archaeologists!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

They were designated war graves and should be respected!. Wonder how he'd feel if someone went to the churchyard and dug up his grandparents!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

They are the last resting places of many brave men who died doing their duty!. As such they should be left as war graves !Www@QuestionHome@Com

The dead of these conflicts should be allowed to rest in peace!. Even Saddam left war graves intact!. Well intactish!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

they should be left in peace!.Www@QuestionHome@Com