The Danube River, Europe’s second-longest river, has seen water levels decrease significantly due to drought conditions. This change has revealed the hulls of numerous World War II German warships, submerged since the war’s end. While they serve as a historical curiosity, these emerging relics coincide with a heat crisis affecting Europe.
The low water levels pose considerable challenges beyond historical intrigue. Power plants across Europe face potential shutdowns, prompting governments to take electricity-saving measures. Near the Serbian port of Prahovo, a rusted hull and broken mast are now visible where Nazi flags once flew.
The ships belonged to the Black Sea fleet. German forces intentionally sank them during their retreat from Romania as Soviet forces advanced inland near the war’s end. Historians record that up to 200 German warships were deliberately scuttled in September 1944 near Prahovo in the Danube Gorge. This tactic aimed to slow the Soviet advance into the Balkans, but Germany surrendered in May 1945.
These warship remnants remind us of ongoing efforts by the Serbian government, supported by European Union funding, to address the situation. While some vessels were removed by Yugoslav communist authorities, most remain due to the explosives they carried.
Currently, authorities strive to maintain traffic on the Danube, which flows through ten countries, as diminishing water levels create hazardous conditions. Experts attribute the extreme heat to global warming, among other factors. Prahovo resident Krsta Brandic noted that low water levels have almost halted shipping traffic: “As you can see, large ships can no longer pass.”
Dusan Stojanovic contributed to this report from Belgrade.