The ongoing heatwave in Europe has led to significantly reduced water levels in the Danube River, exposing numerous German warships scuttled by retreating Nazi forces in 1944. These vessels were intentionally sunk to prevent their capture by advancing Soviet troops and to obstruct river navigation. The wrecks, which reemerge during drought conditions, pose navigational hazards along a five-kilometre stretch of the river. An EU-supported initiative under the Western Balkans Investment Framework aims to remove 21 of the most hazardous wrecks, with salvage operations commencing in 2024 and projected to continue until 2028. Prior to these efforts, estimates indicated approximately 200 submerged vessels in the region. This incident underscores the broader implications of extreme weather patterns affecting Europe, with June 2026 recorded as the second-warmest June in history for the continent.