Storm tide! Industrial action! Bremen cog!

What do storm surges, the industrial action at the Bremerhaven shipyards and the Bremen cog have in common? All three topics are currently being researched at the German Maritime Museum - Leibniz Institute of Maritime History. But that is not all. Depending on their interest and experience, every citizen can join us in our research! Thanks to the internet and mail, this can be done without even being on site

The basic idea behind the participatory projects is quickly explained: What we are looking for are photos 1. of flood marks, 2. of the industrial action and strikes at the Bremerhaven shipyards and 3. of artistic representations of the Bremen cog, whether as advertising motif or as architectural decoration. Anyone who wants to participate can either take the photos themselves or browse their old photo albums for suitable material.

Together with some background information and - very important - a declaration of consent for further use by the German Maritime Museum, you can send us the photos by post, by e-mail or quite simply by using our online form. Please include the corresponding keyword "storm surge, industrial action or Bremen cog". We are particularly interested in personal experiences or memories that you associate with the person depicted, so we would be pleased if you could also give us some details about them.

Your submissions will then serve as a basis for research projects in which anyone interested can get involved. We will inform you in good time on our homepage, in the social media and in the newspaper about how these further research projects will look like and which possibilities you have to participate yourself.

Commemorative stamps for storm surges and river floods can be found everywhere along the German coast and in the major river mouths. Do you also know such stamps and can give us information about their location or tell us personal stories about them? When was the stamp placed there? Is it the original location or was the stamp reinstalled at another location, e.g. after its restoration?

Requested motifs

Tide marks, e.g. storm surge stakes, to commemorate storm surges or river flooding on the German North and Baltic Sea coasts

Requirements for photos

At least 2 photos should be sent in. On the first photo the flood mark should be clearly legible. For larger storm surge poles, make sure that all marks are clearly legible. Several detailed photos may be necessary for this purpose. On another photo, the immediate surroundings of the mark should be clearly visible, e.g. the building to which it is attached.

The Bremerhaven shipyard landscape has undergone fundamental changes in recent decades. This change has repeatedly been accompanied by labour disputes and strikes. Were you yourself or other people you knew involved? Do you remember this time and would you like to tell us about it? Or do you even have accompanying material such as personal mementos from the time that you would like to show us?

Requested motifs

Strike situations, demonstrations or work stoppages at Bremerhaven shipyards

Requirements for photos

Original photos, prints or copies of photos can be sent in. We also welcome other memorabilia and personal documents such as strike posters and strike passes, leaflets or shipyard newspapers from the strike period. In this case, your personal memories are of particular interest to us.

The discovery of the cog in 1962 in the Weser was a sensation and has brought medieval cogs back into people's consciousness. But even before that, the cog was a popular motif that was inevitably associated with the trading power of the medieval German Hanseatic League. Where, when and how was and is the cog depicted? How is it perceived? And last but not least: What significance does the cog still have for us today?

Requested motifs

Images of cogs, whether as figures, architectural decorations or drawings, e.g. on promotional items or stamps

Requirements for photos

At least one photo should be sent in, on which the cog can be easily recognized. If it is a larger object or if the cog is only a small detail of a larger ensemble, please record the overall situation on a second photo. Perhaps you would not only like to photograph the object, but leave it directly to our museum? In this case too, please use the form to contact us first.