Danube’s Low Waters Bring WWII Soldiers to Light
Scientists and investigators found the remains of two World War II German soldiers submerged in the Danube during a sudden drop in water levels caused by a severe drought.
Alongside the bodies were a largely intact DKW NZ 350‑1 motorcycle, a wedding ring, and a Kuban combat badge, all remarkably preserved by the river’s silty, oily bed.
The German War Graves Commission is working to determine the soldiers’ identities—one tag belonging to a Wehrmacht man and the other to a Waffen‑SS member—using the badges, DNA testing and database cross‑checks.
A temporary closure of the riverbank was necessary to evacuate anti‑tank mines uncovered during the salvage operation.
Once identified, the soldiers will be accorded a dignified burial at the German cemetery in Budaörs, near Budapest, bringing closure to families who have waited decades for confirmation of their loved ones’ fates.
The Danube’s low‑water drama has previously highlighted relics such as a broken ship hull found near Prahovo in Serbia, underscoring the river’s role as a silent time‑capsule for wartime history.
