Specialists looking for £200million of Hitler’s gold within the grounds of an 18th-century palace in Poland have stated Nazi descendants have handed over a letter written by an SS officer that might uncover one other misplaced treasure.
A crew from the Silesian Bridge Basis stated the fragment of an ageing letter, seen solely by MailOnline, might reveal the thriller behind one of many Second World Struggle’s most dear items of looted artwork.
The letter references the long-lost Sixteenth-century portray Portrait of a Younger Man by Italian artist Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino, higher often known as Raphael, which was seized by Gestapo officers following Germany’s invasion of Poland in 1939.
The Basis stated it obtained the letter from the descendants of senior Nazis who now wish to atone for the crimes dedicated by Nazi Germany throughout the battle.
The letter was written by the identical SS officer who penned a diary detailing 11 places the place the Nazis are stated to have hidden £200million of Nazi gold.
Within the letter, the SS officer mentions Raphael’s Sixteenth-century portray, which ended up within the fingers of Hitler’s henchman Hans Frank, who was head of the overall authorities in occupied Poland.
The portray, together with different priceless artworks, was hung in Krakow’s Wawel Fortress, which Frank had requisitioned as his dwelling.
This was the final place that the portray – which is at the moment valued at greater than £86million – was seen.
Now, the five-page letter written in gothic-style German by a Nazi officer named ‘Michaelis’ might clarify its disappearance.
A crew from the Silesian Bridge Basis stated the fragment of an ageing letter solely seen by MailOnline might reveal the thriller behind one of many Second World Struggle’s most dear items of looted artwork
The letter references the long-lost Sixteenth-century portray ‘Portrait of a Younger Man’ (pictured) by Italian artist Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino, higher often known as Raphael, which was seized by Gestapo officers in 1939
The SS officer writes about Raphael’s Sixteenth-century portray, which ended up within the fingers of Hitler’s henchman Hans Frank (pictured), who was head of the overall authorities in occupied Poland
The invention was made utilizing a geo radar search of an deserted conservatory at an 18th-century palace within the village of Minkowskie in southern Poland
Within the letter dated 1947 – apparently addressed to a pal – Michaelis writes that he had hidden the portray together with different valuables.
He additionally talked about somebody known as Hanke who’s considered Karl Hanke, the Gauleiter of Decrease Silesia and later the final Reichsführer SS after Heinrich Himmler was arrested in April 1944.
Within the letter Michaelis wrote: ‘Sure, Hanke was proper, the packing containers contained cultural items from Krakow.
‘Once I suppose again it was as soon as a set [belonging to] Flämming.
‘You understand, my pricey pal, I like tradition, however this was an excessive amount of for me.
‘Raphael’s Portrait of a Younger Man with previous stamps on the again, oval and sq., signed 1514.’
The Nazi officer, who the Basis say could have been utilizing a pseudonym, added: ‘The portray was rumoured to have been within the Flämming assortment at one time.
‘Rembrandt’s Autoportret, Rubens’s Portrait of a Woman and lots of extra.
‘Now I’ll have to seek out extra hiding locations as a result of my pal Otto won’t ever find out about this stuff.’
Though it’s unclear the place the SS officer hid the portray, Bart Zelaytys from the Silesian Bridge Basis stated: ‘That is the primary written doc that tells us not less than partially what occurred to the portray after it left Krakow.
‘Discovering the misplaced Raphael could be the most important sensation within the artwork world for the reason that finish of the battle.’
A bit of the letter which references ‘Raphael’s Portrait of a Younger Man with previous stamps on the again, oval and sq., signed 1514’
Courting from 1947 in what seems to be a letter to a pal, Michaelis talked about somebody known as Hanke who’s considered Karl Hanke (pictured in 1945), the Gauleiter of Decrease Silesia and later the final Reichsführer SS
He added ‘We do not know who he [Otto] is. He could also be a farmer with whom Michaelis was staying.
‘It was regular for SS officers to cover within the countryside after the battle to keep away from being recognized in massive cities and arrested by the Allies.’
Zelaytys stated solely the final web page of the letter had been revealed as a result of the Basis is now translating and analysing the opposite 4 pages.
The letter was written by the identical SS officer who saved a diary detailing 11 places the place the Nazis are stated to have hidden different looted treasure.
A type of places is an 18th century palace within the village of Minkowskie, Poland, the place the Basis is at the moment digging up an previous orangery in a small space of the 14-hectare palace park.
It’s thought treasures, stolen on the orders of SS boss Heinrich Himmler to arrange a Fourth Reich, are buried there.
The treasure was stolen on the orders of SS boss Heinrich Himmler (pictured) in the direction of the tip of WWII to arrange a Fourth Reich
The letter was written by the identical SS officer who saved a diary detailing 11 places the place the Nazis are stated to have hidden different looted treasure. A type of places is an 18th century palace (pictured) within the village of Minkowskie, Poland, the place the Basis is at the moment digging up an previous orangery in a small space of the 14-hectare palace park
The dig is happening within the grounds of the 18th century palace within the village of Minkowskie, Poland
Earlier this yr, the group uncovered a 5ft metallic canister buried 10ft under the floor.
Thought to incorporate the so-called ‘Gold of Breslau’ which went lacking from police headquarters in what’s now the close by Polish metropolis of Wroclaw, the canister can be thought to incorporate jewelry and valuables from the non-public collections of rich Germans who lived within the area.
The town of Breslau – modern-day Wroclaw in Poland – was one of many wealthiest in Hitler’s Third Reich. However, the approaching arrival of the Crimson Military meant that the Germans needed to conceal tonnes of gold and valuables.
These included financial institution deposits from the Reichsbank in addition to non-public German banks, and civilian deposits because the inhabitants had been urged to deposit gold, cash and jewelry.
In accordance with legend, the treasure was collected within the constructing of the police headquarters and packed into crates.
Earlier this yr, the group uncovered a 5ft metallic canister buried 10ft under the floor. Pictured: A tube above floor exhibits the world the place they are saying the canister is buried
A visualisation of what the Silesian Bridge basis says the world could have regarded like when the Nazis had been burying the canister
It was then transported beneath an SS guard from Breslau in the direction of what was then the city of Hirschberg, immediately’s Jelenia Góra in Poland, after which the Sudeten mountains.
However, quickly after departing, the path went useless and the gold has by no means been seen or heard of since.
One of many theories is that it was stolen on Himmler’s orders to go in the direction of the creation of a Fourth Reich.
So as to defend their prized possessions from the advancing Crimson Military, the rich Germans handed their loot over to the SS.
The placement was revealed by secret paperwork, the SS officer’s diary and a map that the treasure hunters obtained from the descendants of officers belonging to a secretive lodge courting again over 1,000 years.
The identical diary, stated to have been written by the SS officer Michaelis who wrote the letter referencing Rafael’s Portrait of a Younger Man, can be stated to disclose the placement of one other palace within the area the place it’s thought 28 tonnes of treasure is buried on the backside of a properly.
Among the many bundle of paperwork is a letter from a senior SS officer known as von Stein to one of many women who labored on the palace in Minkowskie and who later turned his lover.
The pencil-written pages of the diary (left) are stated to establish 11 places throughout Decrease Silesia which earlier than and throughout the battle was German territory. Proper: Roman Furmaniak, head of the Silesian Bridge basis main the hunt for the treasure, holding the diary
Roman Furmaniak, from the Silesian Bridge Basis which is main the search
The placement was revealed by secret paperwork, a diary (pictured) and a map that the treasure hunters obtained from the descendants of SS officers belonging to a secretive lodge worshipped by Himmler and courting again over 1,000 years
He wrote: ‘My pricey Inge, I’ll fufill my project, with God’s will. Some transports had been profitable. The remaining 48 heavy Reichsbank’s chests and all of the household chests I hereby entrust to you.
‘Solely you recognize the place they’re situated. Might God provide help to and assist me, fulfil my project.’
The pencil-written pages of the diary are stated to establish 11 places throughout Decrease Silesia which earlier than and throughout the battle was German territory.
An entry from March 12, 1945, referring to the treasure on the palace in Minkowskie says: ‘A trough has been dug within the orangery, which is a protected ”dwelling” for the delivered chests and containers.’
It continues: ’48 chests from the Reichsbank, in good situation, had been hidden, very properly coated with earth and ”greened” with nonetheless dwelling crops.
‘Let windfall watch over us.’
Inge was the guardian appointed by von Stein to control the hiding place.
Roman Furmaniak who’s main the Silesian Basis dig stated: ‘She was in love with the good-looking officer in a black SS uniform. They had been like gods.
‘She believed that she must keep there for a yr, possibly two, then it might all be over.
‘No one believed then that the area would come beneath the management of the Soviet Union.
‘There was a two-month interval in 1945 when she needed to conceal within the forest from the Russians. However when she acquired again, the world had not been disturbed.
‘If that they had dug a gap, they’d have taken what they needed after which left the opening. We now have seen this in historical past many instances in Poland.’
Treasure hunters have began digging for 10 tonnes of Nazi gold at an 18th century palace in Minkowskie, southern Poland
The palace in Minkowskie (archive image) dates again to the 18th century when it was constructed by Prussian basic Friedrich Wilhelm von Seydlitz
The palace in Minkowskie dates again to the 18th century when it was constructed by Prussian basic Friedrich Wilhelm von Seydlitz.
On the finish of the battle, the area was handed over to the brand new Soviet-controlled Poland, the complete German inhabitants was expelled and Poles who had been dwelling in Western Ukraine arrived.
To mix in with the brand new inhabitants, Inge modified her look and identification – ultimately marrying a neighborhood man – and continued to observe over the treasure till her loss of life 60 years later.
Through the years the palace modified fingers a number of instances and after the battle the Crimson Military and the Polish Military had been stationed there at totally different instances.
Later it was used as a neighborhood council workplace, a kindergarten and even a cinema.
Now, in a dilapidated state and in non-public fingers, the Silesian Bridge basis has taken a long-term lease on the property.
In Might, the treasure hunters started digging for 10 tonnes of Nazi gold on the palace, with the dig initially concentrating on an previous orangery in a small space of the 14-hectare palace park.
A crew of specialists rigorously eliminated layers of earth by hand as it is usually being handled as an archaeological website to uncover the foundations of the orangery.
The Basis says it’s now hoping to complete its analysis by the tip of this yr.