Danube: Wehrmacht soldiers and WWII motorbike recovered after 80 years

In the harbour you would normally see boats moored, but in Budapest a motorbike from the Second World War has now been recovered from the middle of the Danube. On the riverbed at the level of Budapest there are more relics: two soldiers have also been exhumed from the muddy riverbed, according to the Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge (German War Graves Commission). According to its own account, the Volksbund sent a reburial specialist to Budapest, who carried out the exhumation with the help of Hungarian colleagues. Alongside the soldiers’ remains, which were preserved by the mud, numerous German Tellermine 35 anti-tank mines were also found. These were used against tanks during the Second World War. Because the harbour mud on the bed of the Danube at Batthyány Square is mixed with gas oil, it has created ideal conditions for preserving wrecks and human remains. The reburial specialist said, according to the Volksbund, that it was thanks to this petroleum product that the mud had also preserved the identity discs exceptionally well, so that letters and numbers are still clearly legible.

What is known about the soldiers from the Danube

The identity discs served as the soldiers’ ID at the time. Each soldier carried a disc in duplicate. In the event of death, one half was sent to the Wehrmacht information office, which could then inform family members. In the case of the soldiers recovered from the Danube, their identity discs are still fully legible, according to the Volksbund. Both halves are still together, which means the report of their death never reached the information office in Berlin. After examination, the soldiers are to be buried at the Budaörs war cemetery on the outskirts of Budapest. The motorbike was recovered by staff from the Institute and Museum of Military History. They believe it is a DKW NZ 350-1 model, which at the time was regarded as particularly robust and reliable, according to the Volksbund. A military decoration from the Second World War and a petrol can were also recovered. The remains had been lying on the bed of the Danube for around 80 years.

More recoveries possible if low water persists

Because water levels are extremely low, the Volksbund expects shipwrecks to emerge from which war dead could be recovered. Hungary would initially be responsible, but if there is evidence of possible German war dead, the Volksbund will be notified and may be involved.