Serbia salvage operation of German Danube Fleet from World War II has begun.

The Ministry of Construction, Transport, and Infrastructure of Serbia has announced that salvage operation of the German Danube Fleet, which was sunk during Nazi retreat in World War II, has successfully commenced in the southeast of the country.

Along Danube River in Serbia between kilometers 857 and 862, near Port of Prahovo and Djerdap 2 Hydroelectric Power Plant locks, navigable section of the river has narrowed from 180 to 90 meters due to the Nazi-sunk river fleet vessels, which hindered navigation.

During periods of low water levels, some of the over 20 wrecks have become visible, slowing down and complicating navigation. Start of the operation coincides with 80th anniversary of Serbia’s liberation in World War II.

“On August 6 process of raising first vessel, N15, was completed. It was fully recovered, lifted out of the water, and placed on a transport pontoon. The operation took around three days. Vessel is a minesweeper, 14.02 meters long and 3.05 meters wide, built in 1943 in Krems an der Donau. During the salvage operation, it was cleared of river sediment, and explosives and weapons were discovered and removed according to legal procedures,” Serbian Ministry of Transport reported.

Experts have also raised another vessel that did not belong to the German fleet.

“A cutter, T18, which was not part of the German fleet but an obstacle to navigation, was also raised as part of the project. In the first phase, preparations are underway for the salvage of vessels N12 and N16, which are expected to take place in the coming period,” the Serbian authorities clarified.

Operation involves divers, operators of various equipment, geodesists, and river workers. A base pontoon, transport pontoon, tug, crane, pumps, and construction equipment are being used to prepare a site on riverbank for recovered vessels.

Prior to operation, research was conducted using hydrolocators, side-scan sonar (SSS), and multibeam echosounders (MBES), as well as precise measurements of the surrounding atmosphere, water, and riverbed in the Danube.

Project worth 31.5 million euros, is being financed by loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB) and a grant from Western Balkans Investment Framework.

Work expected to be completed by July 2028, and a German-Serbian-Austrian consortium of companies, Mull und Partner and Millennium Team, selected through a competition to prepare and execute the project.

During Operation “Danube Elf” in September 1944, retreating German forces sank over 200 barges, patrol boats, and medical vessels of their Danube Fleet in eastern Serbia as they retreated before the Red Army.