West Germany, July 12, 1954: Although they might resemble Huck, Tom and Becky on a raft excursion on the Mississippi, the sign in the background indicates that these three Bavarian children are caught in the middle of something much less idyllic. Floodwaters, rising to the second story of buildings in this town, left more than 50,000 people homeless along the Danube, Isar and Inn rivers.

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