Arne Schrader confirms the discovery of two World War II German soldiers' remains in the Danube River
Arne Schrader, representing the German War Graves Commission, confirmed that the remains of two German soldiers from World War II were discovered in the Danube River near Budapest. The discovery was made possible by record-low water levels caused by an intense drought. The remains were found alongside a well-preserved DKW NZ 350-1 motorcycle, a wedding ring, and a Kuban shield. Because the soldiers' identity discs were found intact, it suggests their families likely never received official notification of their deaths. The commission is currently conducting an anthropological analysis of the bones to determine the soldiers' ages and heights. One of the identity discs belonged to a member of the Wehrmacht, while the other belonged to a member of the Waffen-SS. Once identities are confirmed, the soldiers will be laid to rest at the German-Hungarian war cemetery in Budaörs. The discovery highlights how many historical artifacts remain hidden in the river, which served as a major transport route during the war.
Sources
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The Nazi Relics Emerging From Drought-Stricken Danube
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
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Danube river's low water levels reveal remains of WWII German soldiers in Hungary
BBC
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Remains of two Wehrmacht soldiers found in Danube: one served in Waffen-SS
Euronews.com
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Why are Nazi warships resurfacing in the Danube River?
CBC
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Record low Danube levels reveal sunken World War Two warship wrecks
Reuters