The wreck of a century-old riverboat, known as the Slovenian, has recently become more fully visible along a riverbank, drawing significant attention from local residents and historians. According to Andrija Popovic, head of the town museum, while parts of the vessel have surfaced before, it has not been seen in such an exposed state for several years, sparking renewed interest.

The Slovenian was built in 1913 at a shipyard in Budapest, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Originally named Vag, after the Vah River—the longest river in Slovakia—the boat measured approximately 54 meters (177 feet) in length. Powered by a steam engine, it was primarily used to transport heavy cargo between Budapest and other towns along the Danube River.

Operations of the vessel largely ceased during the Second World War, Popovic noted. Following the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the end of World War I, ownership of the boat transferred to the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenians, which later became Yugoslavia, as part of war reparations. During the Second World War, the Slovenian fell under Nazi German control.

In 1944, after Yugoslav anti-fascist forces liberated Belgrade, the vessel was repurposed to assist their military efforts. It was used to transport wounded personnel and equipment while the forces advanced westward, pushing back German troops.

The recent emergence of the Slovenian’s wreck offers a tangible connection to its varied history, spanning multiple geopolitical shifts and conflicts in Central and Southeastern Europe. Historians like Popovic view the remains as a rare glimpse into the region’s maritime past and wartime experiences.