An exceptionally well-preserved World War II DKW NZ 350-1 motorcycle, alongside the human remains of two German soldiers carrying intact identification tags and a Kuban campaign shield, has been recovered from the mud of the Danube River in Budapest, according to reports from Euronews and Svobodenglas.bg. The unprecedented drop in the Danube’s water level exposed the historical artifacts near Batthyány Square on the Buda side of the river, directly opposite the Hungarian parliament building.
Discovery of the World War Two Motorcycle and Soldiers in Budapest
The discovery began in early August when a German DKW NZ 350-1 motorcycle—a model manufactured in Saxony and developed specifically for military use starting in 1944—was found on the riverbank, according to Euronews. Volksbund exhumation specialist Gábor Kolrus subsequently recovered the human remains of two men from the exposed riverbed directly beneath or adjacent to the vehicle. According to Svobodenglas.bg, the port silt at the discovery site was heavily mixed with diesel fuel, which experts credit for preserving the motorcycle parts, identification tags, and a fuel canister in remarkable condition.
Military Identification Tags and the Search for Identity
Both soldiers carried complete, unbroken German military identification tags, a detail that contrasts sharply with standard wartime protocol, according to Euronews. During the war, tags were typically split in half, with one half remaining with the fallen soldier and the other sent to the Wehrmacht Information Bureau in Berlin to register the death and notify relatives. Because both tags found in the Danube were intact, researchers believe the men’s families likely waited in vain for official notification, leaving the soldiers officially classified as missing. One tag belonged to a soldier from the Wehrmacht while the second belonged to a member of the Waffen-SS, a branch that included many personnel and was declared a criminal organization at the Nuremberg trials, as reported by Euronews. Volksbund plans to cross-reference the tag numbers with military records, missing persons reports, and its “Gräbersuche Online” database, which contains numerous records.
Anthropological Analysis and Next Steps for Identification
Final confirmation of the men’s identities will require a complex process combining anthropological bone analysis and archival verification by the Federal Archives, according to Arne Schrader, head of the military graves and international relations department at Volksbund. Speaking to Euronews, Schrader explained that bone length, epiphyses, the sacrum, and wisdom teeth will be examined to estimate the men’s ages and heights. Additionally, amalgam dental fillings discovered during the examination suggest the possibility that at least one of the men originated from Western Europe. Investigators also recovered a wedding ring and a Kuban sleeve shield—an award established in September 1943 for soldiers who fought on the Kuban bridgehead in the southern Soviet Union. If linked definitively to one of the soldiers, the shield will confirm he served on the Eastern Front years before his death in Budapest. Once the identification process concludes, both soldiers are scheduled to be buried at the German-Hungarian military cemetery in Budaörs, which is the largest resting place for fallen soldiers in Hungary with thousands of burials, according to Euronews and Svobodenglas.bg.
Did you know?
The Battle for Budapest lasted from late October or early November 1944 until February 13, 1945, ranking among the most destructive urban sieges of World War II’s final phase in Europe, according to historical accounts cited by Euronews.
Frequently Asked Questions
How were the motorcycle and soldiers discovered in the Danube?
An unprecedented drop in the water level of the Danube River in Budapest exposed the vehicle and remains in the mud near Batthyány Square, according to Euronews and Svobodenglas.bg.
What military artifacts were found at the site?
Investigators recovered a DKW NZ 350-1 military motorcycle, complete German identification tags, a wedding ring, a Kuban campaign shield, a fuel canister, and Tellermine 35 anti-tank mines, according to Euronews and Svobodenglas.bg.
Where will the soldiers be buried?
According to Euronews and Svobodenglas.bg, the remains of both soldiers will be interred at the military cemetery in Budaörs, west of Budapest, where thousands of other World War II casualties rest.