Video: Europe floods: Southern Germany suffers highest floodwaters in 70 years But with water from the Danube, Inn and Ilz rivers relentlessly pouring into the city, water was advancing into previously dry streets, in one case going from dry to ankle-deep within half an hour. Markers set in 1954, when the city suffered its worst flooding in living memory, have disappeared beneath the rising water. One woman affected by the floods in Bennewitz said she felt "helpless." We want to help, to do something, but there is no way, the water just keeps coming. The German army said it has sent 1,760 soldiers to help local authorities and volunteers reinforce flood defences particularly in the south and east of the country. Chancellor Angela Merkel planned to visit flood-hit areas on Tuesday, her spokesman said.