By Laura Fleischmann
11/08/2026 - 9:16 GMT+2
The water level in the Danube has never been this low. The low water is exposing what has lain hidden on the riverbed for decades, including a Wehrmacht motorcycle of the DKW NZ 350-1 type from the Second World War. DKW is the abbreviation of "Dampfkraftwagen", a former German car and motorcycle brand from the Saxon motor city of Zschopau that was later taken over by Auto Union.
The motorcycle was found in the riverbed in the heart of Hungary's capital, Budapest, level with the Hungarian parliament building. For staff at the local Institute and Museum of Military History it is a genuine find of the century. According to the institute, the vehicle is almost completely intact. It was effectively preserved in the Danube's mud.
The motorcycle recovered is a model developed specifically for wartime use and built from 1944 onwards. It was powered by a two-stroke engine producing 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, a feature also present on the bike lifted from the Danube.
