--- title: German WWI U-Boat Found in Belgian Waters With Bodies Inside description: A World War I-era German submarine with 23 bodies inside has been discovered in waters off the coast of Belgium canonical: https://time.com/4947873/german-u-boat-world-war-i-belgium/ author: Aric Jenkins article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2017-09-19T15:39:22.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T08:04:10.767Z article:section: History og:title: Explorers Found a Sunken World War I Submarine With 23 Bodies Inside og:description: The century-old vessel was almost completely intact og:url: https://time.com/4947873/german-u-boat-world-war-i-belgium/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltf825495c29ed3b65/6988de61e76ad2153f62f361/ww11-submarine.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 2405 og:image:height: 1353 og:image:alt: Belgium WWI Submarine og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Explorers Found a Sunken World War I Submarine With 23 Bodies Inside twitter:description: The century-old vessel was almost completely intact twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltf825495c29ed3b65/6988de61e76ad2153f62f361/ww11-submarine.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Explorers Found a Sunken World War I Submarine With 23 Bodies Inside > Sponsored content. 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They are at time.com/newsletters and are separate from a paid subscription. ## Video: What to Know About Why the U.S. Entered World War I in 1 Minute [Watch (HLS stream): What to Know About Why the U.S. Entered World War I in 1 Minute](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/mttXx07O.m3u8) (1:03)  _Published 2017-04-05. It was precisely 100 years ago this week that the U.S. made a decision that would alter the course of history for the nation and the world._ by [Aric Jenkins](https://time.com/author/aric-jenkins/) ## Aric Jenkins Sep 19, 2017 3:39 PM UTC  In this undated photo people stand on the deck of a World War I German submarine type UC-97 in an unknown location. Belgian regional authorities on Sept. 19, 2017 say that an intact German World War I submarine has been found off the coast of Belgium. In this undated photo people stand on the deck of a World War I German submarine type UC-97 in an unknown location. Belgian regional authorities on Sept. 19, 2017 say that an intact German World War I submarine has been found off the coast of Belgium. AP by [Aric Jenkins](https://time.com/author/aric-jenkins/) ## Aric Jenkins Sep 19, 2017 3:39 PM UTC A [World War I-era](http://time.com/4718404/wwi-wilson-request-to-congress/) German submarine (commonly referred to as a U-boat) filled with 23 bodies was discovered in the waters off the coast of Belgium, officials said Tuesday. The intact, century-old vessel was found by researchers on the floor of the North Sea bordering the region of West Flanders, Governor Carl Decaluwe [told the Associated Press.](http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-german-wwi-u-boat-belgium-20170919-story.html) “It’s quite amazing that we found something like this,” Decaluwe said. “The impact damage was at the front, but the submarine remains closed and there are 23 people still onboard.” Damage to the front of the U-boat suggests that it struck a mine with its upper deck, according to the AP. Other than the mangled front, the only other damage to the ship that researchers found was two destroyed torpedo tubes. The 88-foot-long U-boat has collected a lining of barnacles and seaweed over the years, as well as fishing gear and nets, video obtained by the AP shows. The exact location of the sub’s discovery remains unknown as Decaluwe declined to comment until the site has been protected. For now, he has reached out to German officials so they can figure out what to do with the human remains, according to the AP. The North Sea was patrolled by a number of submarines on both the Allied and Central sides [during World War I.](http://time.com/4731533/america-great-war-book/) German U-boats would target Allied warships and cargo carriers launched from Bruges on Belgium’s coast. The latest discovery is the 11th World War I-era wreck to be found in Belgian waters, according to the AP. ## Transcript The Great War began in 1914, the US didn't join until 1917. But even though the Unites States was neutral it was still involved, for example providing supplies to the British was big business. And some Americans went off to join armies abroad. American civilians who crossed the Atlantic were Were also at risk of attack by German submarines. That's what happened in May 1915, when the Lusitania was torpedoed and more than a 100 Americans were killed. Eventually Germany promised to stop the torpedoes. The US stayed neutral. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson campaigned for reelection, with a slogan reminding Americans that he'd kept the country out of war. He won. However, he also began beefing up the military. In early 1917 German submarine warfare resumed and the British decoded a message from Germany's foreign minister to his ambassador in Mexico. The telegram offered a deal to entice Mexico to take sides against the U. S. The exact reasons why the U. S. joined the war are complicated. That message is seen as the final straw. A few weeks later, President Woodrow Wilson asked Congress for a declaration of war. On April 6th 1917 the resolution passed. And the US entered World War I. 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