Thank you for the European history lesson Hans Peter!
I am researching the English smuggler William Wallis/Wallace born 1844 in Filey but operated out of South Shields then retired and died circa 1945 in Whitby. I know he smuggled jewels from France and Whisky from Scotland amongst other things but I did not know about the Heligoland connection. This is a new area for me to research.
Regards,
Rena in England