By Laura Fleischmann
11/08/2026 - 7:20 GMT+2
The water level in the Danube has never been this low. The low water is exposing what has lain hidden on the river bed for decades, including a Wehrmacht motorcycle of the DKW NZ 350-1 type from the Second World War. DKW stands for the abbreviation of "Dampfkraftwagen", a former German car and motorcycle brand from the Saxon motor city of Zschopau, which was later taken over by Auto Union.
The motorcycle was found in the riverbed in the middle of Hungary's capital, Budapest, level with the Hungarian Parliament building. For staff at the local Institute and Museum of Military History it is truly a once-in-a-century find. According to the institute, the vehicle is almost completely intact. It was preserved in the Danube's mud.
The motorcycle discovered is a model that was developed specifically for the war and produced from 1944 onwards. It was powered by a two-stroke engine delivering 11.5 hp. Thanks to their robustness and reliability, the bikes were popular with the troops. One of the distinctive features of the DKW 350-1 is the metal pannier on the side, which is also present on the bike recovered from the Danube.
