WWII German Danube flotilla wrecks resurface in river as water levels drop

The Danube has again revealed warship wrecks from World War II. They belong to the German Danube flotilla, which was scuttled by the German army in the autumn of 1944 during its retreat from advancing Soviet forces. According to various estimates, more than 200 vessels — barges, patrol boats and hospital ships — were sunk in the riverbed at that time.

Although more than 80 years have passed since the end of the war, the wrecks still hamper navigation along one of Europe's most important inland waterways. In dry summers, when the water level drops significantly, some of them become visible above the surface.

To address this issue, the European Union is funding a project to raise the 21 most dangerous wrecks. Work began in 2024 and is scheduled for completion by 2028.

According to the European Investment Bank, the sunken ships cause annual losses of about five million euros to Serbia's economy by restricting vessel traffic and delaying cargo shipments on the Danube. In 2024, the bank provided a grant of 16 million euros for the project.

Raising the wrecks is a technically complex and hazardous task. Specialists believe that some of the ships may still contain unexploded ordnance, so divers and special equipment for removing sand and silt are involved in the operation.

Not all wrecks will be salvageable. Some of the largest vessels are too massive, so they are planned to be sunk deeper into the riverbed to minimise their interference with navigation.