A French submarine from the first world war was uncovered in Tunisia’s north-eastern waters, a mark of the country’s unique colonial-era role in the global conflict.
The rare vessel was spotted by divers in Tunisia’s coastal town of Cap Bon as they explored new sites to lead expeditions on. After consulting history experts, they identified it as the Ariane, a Bizerte-based submarine that was sunk by the Germans in 1917.
“This is the third submarine found in Tunisia, and the only one from the First World War. It’s exciting, as if a history book has come to life,” said Selim Baccar, the diving director of the Ras Adar club that discovered the craft.
“We came across military reports detailing minute by minute everything that was happening in the Mediterranean. And when we go back to that situation, I say to myself that I’m glad I didn’t experience a war.”
Experts say the cramped attack vessel, which is now covered in algae and inundated with sea life, is a rare find in the Mediterranean.
“It is not common to find wrecks of submarines, especially from the First World War, because we don’t know exactly where they sank,” said Admiral Dominique Salles, president of the French submarine operator association AGASM, which noted that the Ariane was sunk by a German U-Boat, killing the majority of its 29 crew members.
Such submarine attacks were a critical part of the Germans’ strategy during the first world war to deprive Allied powers of reinforcements and stock from French colonies, Tunisian historian Ali Ait Mihoub told Agence France-Presse. Sparsely equipped, the craft would dive underwater for attacks for only hour-long intervals, during which the crew was forced to shoulder together in the engine room.
Strategically located at the tip of Africa near Europe, Tunisia was crucial territory during the 20th century world wars. Some 80,000 Tunisians fought or worked in French factories during the first world war, Mihoub noted, but the country played an even more prominent role in World War II, where it was the site of numerous battles between Allies and Axis powers during what is known as the North Africa campaign.
After Axis soldiers were forced from one of their last footholds in the North African country, Tunisia served as a crucial launching point for Western Allied powers to move into southern Italy.
This article has been adapted from its original source.
