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Danube drought reveals hidden part of WWII history

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Europe’s worst drought in decades not only scorched farmland and hampered river traffic, it also exposed a nearly forgotten piece of World War II history: The hulls of dozens of German battleships from World War II emerged from the Danube and their water levels dropped.

In the middle of the big river that separates Serbia and Romania near the port of Prahovo, Serbia, the rusted hull, the broken mast that once flew the swastika, the upper deck of what used to be the command bridge, possibly holding fuel — or even explosives — — Leaning on a cobblestone dune emerging from the water. The ships, some still laden with ammunition, belonged to Nazi Germany’s Black Sea Fleet, which was deliberately sunk by the Germans as they retreated from Romania as Soviet troops advanced.

Historians say that in September 1944, as many as 200 German warships sank near Prahovo in the Danube Gorge known as the Iron Gate, under the orders of the fleet commander under heavy Soviet artillery fire. The idea behind the deliberate sinking was to at least slow the Soviet advance in the Balkans. But that didn’t help Nazi Germany surrender a few months later in May 1945.

Scientists have linked the unusually hot weather in Europe this summer to global warming and other factors. Falling water levels have created dangerous conditions for shipping on many of the continent’s rivers, including the Danube, Europe’s second longest river, which flows through 10 countries. Serbian authorities use dredging to keep ships moving.

The wrecks emerging from the depths are impressive, but they have caused problems for river users for decades, and now, with the support of the European Union, the Serbian government is planning to do something about them.

After the war, communist Yugoslav authorities removed some of the debris from the river. But most of them remain, hindering shipping, especially during the summer months when water levels are low. The removal of the boats from the muddy waters had been planned for years, but the operation was deemed too risky because of the explosives they were carrying, and it was only recently carried out.

Now, the European Union and the European Investment Bank have agreed to provide loans and grants to finance the dismantling of some boats near Prakhovo to improve the Danube’s capacity. The total cost of operations is estimated at 30 million euros ($30 million), of which about 16 million are grants.

“The ships have sunk and they have been lying on the river bed ever since,” said Emanuele Giaufret, the European Union’s ambassador to Serbia, during a recent visit to the wreck site. “It’s a problem. It’s a problem for traffic on the Danube, it limits mobility, it’s a danger because some ships still have unexploded ordnance.”

Giaufret was accompanied by Alessandro Bragonzi, head of the European Investment Bank in the Western Balkans. He said the project included the removal of 21 wrecks. “It is estimated that more ships are underwater, as many as 40, but there are currently 21 ships that are hindering the Danube channel conditions, especially during low water levels,” Bragonzi said.

Experts say the salvage operation will involve removing explosives from the wreck and then destroying the wreckage, rather than dragging the boat out of the river.



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