The Danube’s fall to record-low levels has revealed traces of Europe’s Nazi past. Dozens of German ships from World War II, which had remained on the riverbed for decades, have now emerged.
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The severe drought has exposed the wreckage of several ships near Prahovo, a Serbian town on the border with Romania. A heavily damaged warship can be seen on a sandbar that is normally covered by water. Several other vessels remain partially submerged, while weapons and munitions are still believed to be aboard them.
These ships were part of Germany’s Black Sea fleet. At the end of World War II, Nazi forces deliberately sank them to impede the Soviet army’s advance. Historians say that as many as 200 German warships met this fate in September 1944. Nazi Germany continued fighting until its final surrender in May 1945.
The remains of the fleet have also become visible during previous droughts, only to be covered again later by the waters of the Danube. However, the unusually low river level this time has exposed a large number of wrecks.
In the past, the Serbian government has made efforts to remove some of them from the river. The process has been complicated by explosives and munitions that may still be inside the ships. As a result, many of the wrecks have not been moved and continue to pose a risk to safety and navigation.
World War II-related objects have also been found at other points along the Danube. A German military motorcycle was discovered in Budapest, Hungary, and has now been placed on display at the Ministry of Defense museum.
Meanwhile, in Slovakia, authorities discovered an unexploded British bomb weighing around 700 kilograms. Experts transported it in a special vehicle and took it to a pit about five meters deep, where they carried out a controlled detonation.
During 1944, Britain’s Royal Air Force also laid mines in the Danube to obstruct the movement of German troops and vehicles.
The Danube is facing critically low water levels
Navigation conditions on the Danube are becoming increasingly difficult because of the exceptionally low water level. Europe’s second-longest river flows through 10 countries.
Record temperatures and a prolonged lack of rainfall have affected Europe’s major rivers, whose levels are far below normal for this time of year. The consequences have been felt not only in transport and navigation but also in the energy sector, as some thermal power plants use river water in their cooling systems.
The powerful heat wave in Central and Eastern Europe has further exacerbated the extreme weather conditions. Temperatures have reached record levels in several countries, while drought and wildfires continue to cause major difficulties.
This week, Slovakia, Austria and Hungary recorded unusually high temperatures. Slovak meteorological authorities announced on Thursday that a new national record of 42 degrees Celsius had been recorded in the village of Dolné Plachtince.
Beyond the direct damage caused by drought and extreme heat, the falling Danube is also bringing a dark chapter of European history back to light. Ships, military equipment and munitions hidden underwater for more than eight decades are once again emerging.
