The remains of two German soldiers from the Second World War have been discovered in Budapest’s Danube after record-low water levels caused by an intense drought exposed part of the riverbed.
Motorcycle and military items discovered
The German War Graves Commission said the remains were found alongside identification tags, a largely intact German Wehrmacht motorcycle, a wedding ring and a Kuban Shield, a Wehrmacht combat decoration.
The wreck was reportedly discovered on 2 August, when a passer-by spotted part of the motorcycle protruding from rocks along the riverbank in central Budapest.
The team also discovered anti-tank mines, prompting the temporary closure of the riverbank while a bomb disposal unit dealt with the explosives.
Some of the items, including the identification tags and motorcycle, were remarkably well preserved because of the mixture of harbour sludge and oil on the riverbed.
The motorcycle is believed to be a DKW NZ 350-1, a model produced specifically for wartime use from 1944.
Identities could help families
The German War Graves Commission has begun investigating the identities of the two soldiers.
One identification tag belonged to a Wehrmacht soldier, while the other was linked to a member of the Waffen-SS, which was declared a criminal organisation responsible for war crimes at the Nuremberg Trials.
During the Second World War, German military identification tags were designed to be split into two. One half remained with the soldier, while the other was sent to military authorities to help track casualties and notify relatives.
The commission said the families of the two soldiers may have “waited in vain” for official notification of their deaths.
Arne Schrader of the commission told German newspaper Bild that investigators now face a “puzzle” as they try to establish the men’s identities.
Although the names associated with the tags may be identified quickly, investigators must determine whether the tags and other objects actually belonged to the two soldiers. Bone analysis will also play an important role.
Remains to receive a military burial
The soldiers will be buried at the German war cemetery in Budaörs, near Budapest.
The commission said relatives who believe they may have a missing family member can search its online database.
Budapest was the scene of fierce fighting between Soviet Red Army forces and the German Wehrmacht towards the end of the Second World War.
Other Second World War remains have also recently emerged from the Danube as water levels have fallen, including part of a wreck near Prahovo in Serbia.
Also read: France wildfires reveal hundreds of WW2 shells
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