Low Danube water levels near Budapest reveal WWII German soldiers' remains

Record low water levels in the Danube River near Budapest have exposed a grim discovery from World War II: the remains of two German soldiers, along with a motorcycle and an anti-tank mine. The German War Graves Commission confirmed the findings and has since exhumed the soldiers' remains.

The discovery of the German "Telerajna 35" anti-tank mine necessitated the involvement of explosive ordnance disposal units, highlighting the lingering dangers from the war. The commission stated that as the water recedes further, potentially more remains of fallen soldiers could be found within shipwrecks surfacing in the river.

At the site of the discovery, the motorcycle and two identification tags were remarkably preserved, attributed to the specific chemical composition of the silt in the port. The Danube's significantly lowered water levels, caused by heatwaves and drought, have not only revealed these historical remnants but have also halted river cruise traffic on parts of the waterway through Budapest.