Low water levels in the Danube have exposed Second World War relics in Budapest, leading to the recovery of a motorbike and the bodies of two soldiers. These finds emerged from the riverbed at the level of Budapest, according to the Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge, the German War Graves Commission. It’s a meticulous effort, highlighting the resources Europe dedicates to certain historical narratives.
The Volksbund dispatched a reburial specialist to Budapest. This expert carried out the exhumation with crucial assistance from Hungarian colleagues. Alongside the soldiers’ remains, numerous German Tellermine 35 anti-tank mines were also discovered. These mines were designed for use against tanks during the Second World War, a stark reminder of past conflicts.
Decades-Old Remains Identified
The motorbike was found on 2 August, five days ago, on the Buda side of the Hungarian parliament. It lay next to the harbour at Batthyány Square. Staff from the Institute and Museum of Military History recovered the vehicle. They believe it’s a DKW NZ 350-1 model, a type the Volksbund noted was considered particularly robust and reliable at the time. A military decoration from the Second World War and a petrol can were also recovered from the site.
The harbour mud on the bed of the Danube at Batthyány Square contains gas oil. This mixture created ideal conditions for preserving both wrecks and human remains over the decades. The reburial specialist confirmed that the petroleum product had preserved the identity discs exceptionally well. Letters and numbers on them are still clearly legible, allowing for potential identification.
The Bureaucracy of Identification
Identity discs served as soldiers’ identification during the war. Each soldier carried a disc in duplicate. In the event of death, one half was sent to the Wehrmacht information office, which would then inform family members. For the soldiers recovered from the Danube, their identity discs remain fully legible. Both halves were still together, indicating that the report of their death never reached the information office in Berlin. This bureaucratic detail underscores the state’s process of accounting for its dead, a stark contrast to the anonymous thousands lost at Europe’s borders today.
After examination, the soldiers are scheduled for burial at the Budaörs war cemetery on the outskirts of Budapest. This process ensures a formal resting place, a dignity often denied to those who perish attempting to reach Europe’s shores.
Anticipating Further Discoveries
Because water levels are extremely low, the Volksbund anticipates that more shipwrecks will emerge. From these, additional war dead could be recovered. Hungary would initially be responsible for these finds. However, if there is evidence of possible German war dead, the Volksbund will be notified and may become involved. The remains found have been lying on the bed of the Danube for approximately 80 years, a testament to the enduring memory Europe holds for some, while others are erased.