Nazi Warships Emerge From Danube As Drought Hits Serbia-romania Border

Other vessels were partly submerged, some still believed to be laden with weapons. Unexploded ordnance and a military motorcycle were also recovered following record heat and drought conditions. The ships were part of Adolf Hitler's Black Sea fleet that the German military deliberately sank towards the end of the war to slow down the Soviet advance.

Historians say up to 200 German warships were scuttled in this way in September 1944. But Nazi Germany did not surrender until May 1945. The ships have been revealed during previous droughts only to disappear again as water levels rose along the second-longest river in Europe. The Serbian government has tried in the past to remove the wrecks, but most remain in place owing to the explosives they carried. Other World War II remnants have been found in other parts of the river, including a German military motorcycle in Budapest, Hungary. In Slovakia, police recovered an unexploded British 1,543lb (700kg) bomb.