- The eagle's swastika was hidden as a mark of
consideration
Slide Show of Salvaging Process
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- Divers have salvaged a 2m (6ft) bronze
imperial eagle from the German World War II battleship Graf Spee that was
scuttled in the River Plate.
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- Three divers had to loosen 145 bolts
securing the 300kg (661lb) eagle to the stern of the craft in the muddy
waters off Uruguay's capital, Montevideo.
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- "When it emerged from the water
held by steel cables by the crane, it was just spectacular, something unreal,"
said team leader Hector Bado. "The eagle is really impressive... it's
all virtually intact."
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- The ship was scuttled in December 1939
to stop it falling into enemy hands.
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- Mr Bado told Associated Press news agency
the eagle had a wingspan of 2.8m (9ft) and a special barge with a crane
was needed to raise it from the river.
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 The
barge brought the eagle back to port on Friday with a yellow tarpaulin
covering the swastika at its base - out of consideration for those who
still hold strong feelings against the symbol of Nazi Germany, Mr Bado
said.
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- When it emerged from the water held by
steel cables by the crane, it was just spectacular, something unreal.
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- The eagle was taken to a customs warehouse,
but not before curious cruise ship guests had had a chance to disembark
and get some snapshots.
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- The ship has lain in waters only 10m
deep since its scuttling - until a project financed by private investors
from the US and Europe with the backing of the Uruguayan government sought
to salvage it.
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- The operation has now been going two
years. Previous items raised included a 27-tonne section of the battleship's
command tower and a range-finding device for gunners.
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- It is hoped the vessel will become a
tourist attraction in Montevideo.
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- The Graf Spee was once a symbol of German
naval might. In the early days of World War II it roamed the South Atlantic,
sinking as many as nine Allied merchant ships.
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- But during the Battle of the River Plate
it received several direct hits and took refuge in Montevideo harbour.
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- Uruguay, under diplomatic pressure from
Britain, ordered the Graf Spee out to sea. And there she was scuttled by
her captain, Hans Langsdorff.
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- Capt Langsdorff committed suicide in
a Buenos Aires naval camp three days later.
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- http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4702832.stm#text
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