WWII Motorcycle and Remains of Two German Soldiers Emerge from Low Danube Waters in Budapest

An exceptionally low Danube River in Budapest has led to a grim discovery from World War II: the remains of two German soldiers and a remarkably preserved military motorcycle.

The find occurred on the Buda side of the river at Batthyány Square, near the Hungarian Parliament building. Passersby first spotted a motorcycle fork emerging from the rocks on the riverbank. Experts from the Institute and Museum of Military History, in collaboration with the German organization Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge, investigated the site.

They uncovered a DKW NZ 350-1 model motorcycle, a robust model produced for wartime use from 1944. The motorcycle, along with the human remains, lay submerged in mud mixed with fuel oil, which contributed to its exceptional preservation. Two surprisingly intact identification tags (Erkennungsmarken) were also found, with legible numbers and letters that may allow for the identification of the soldiers.

Adding to the danger, the site also contained unexploded ordnance, including German TMi-35 anti-tank mines, grenade fragments, artillery shell remnants, and ammunition. Hungarian armed forces secured the area and conducted an operation to remove the explosives before the exhumation could be completed. The remains will be interred at the German war cemetery in Budaörs, near Budapest, though identification is still pending.

This discovery is one of several unearthed due to the ongoing drought and low water levels. Experts warn that more wartime artifacts may surface if the low water conditions persist.

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Experts warn that more wartime artifacts may surface if the low water conditions persist.