A World War II motorcycle and the remains of two German soldiers have been discovered in the Danube River in central Budapest, more than 80 years after the war ended. The motorcycle, identified as a DKW NZ 350-1, was found in the summer and is largely intact, with its frame, wheels, and storage boxes still preserved despite being heavily corroded and covered in mud.
The German War Graves Commission, an organization that works to locate, recover, and identify German war dead, announced the discovery in August. According to the commission, the motorcycle model was considered particularly robust and reliable at the time. The remains of the two soldiers were found along with two well-preserved identification tags, which are still being deciphered.
Despite the discovery of the tags, the identities of the two soldiers remain unknown. Diane Tempel-Bornett, a spokesperson for the German War Graves Commission, said that the fact that the tags were found with the dead does not necessarily mean that they belonged to them, although that is quite possible. Tempel-Bornett noted that the tags were still intact, which could indicate that the soldiers were never recovered or officially accounted for after their deaths.
Identifying the soldiers can be a lengthy and painstaking process, with researchers using various clues to establish an identity. These clues can include the remains themselves, personal belongings, and military records. Tempel-Bornett said that investigators work closely with the German Federal Archives in Berlin to gather evidence and compare it with historical records.
For now, the identities of the two soldiers, and how they and the motorcycle came to rest in the Danube, remain an ongoing mystery.
NTC Report coverage is based on reporting from the original publisher.
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