Old Nazi map launched by Dutch archives sparks treasure hunt in Netherlands

A World War 2 doc revealing a stash of cash and jewels hidden by German troopers was put on-line by Dutch archivists. It has sparked a treasure hunt within the Netherlands.

National Archives of the Netherlands launched an previous Nazi map the place Germans hid hid treasure value tens of millions of euros throughout World War-II (Photo: Shutterstock)

By India Today Web Desk: An previous map believed to mark the spot the place German troopers hid treasure value tens of millions of euros throughout World War 2 has sparked the creativeness of newbie treasure hunters within the Netherlands.

The National Archives of the Netherlands, within the hope to seek out the buried treasure, launched a trove of paperwork and a map to the treasure the place X marks the spot, The Guardian reported.

The archive mentioned the map was believed to point the place Nazi troopers had hidden 4 massive packing containers stuffed with diamonds, rubies, gold, silver and all types of jewelry which they’d looted after an explosion at a financial institution in August 1944. The treasure is believed to have been value at the least 2-3 million Dutch guilder in 1945, the equal of round £15.85 million (Rs 1,58,50,000) in in the present day’s cash.

The map was obtained from a German soldier shortly after the battle by the Dutch institute that was tasked with tracing German capital within the Netherlands after the nation was free of Nazi occupation in 1945.

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“They decide to bury the treasure, because it’s just getting a bit too hot under their feet and they’re getting scared,” The Guardian quoted Annet Waalkens, an adviser on the National Archives, as saying.

“Although the existence of the treasure could never fully be confirmed, the institute undertook various failed attempts to find it in 1947. We don’t know for sure if the treasure existed. But the institute did a lot of checks and found the story reliable. But they never found it and if it existed, the treasure might very well have been dug up already,” National Archive spokeswoman Anne-Marieke Samson informed Reuters.

“A lot of researchers, journalists and amateur archaeologists are really interested and excited,” mentioned Annet Waalkens.

As per the map, the valuable cargo was buried within the roots of a poplar tree, 70-80cm deep, simply exterior the village of Ommeren, round 25 miles from Arnhem. The riches might need vanished from the historic report for ever had been it not for a chatty German soldier, Helmut S, who was not one of many unique looters however took half within the burial, reported The Guardian.

According to Helmut S, the hoard was found when an Arnhem department of the Rotterdamsche financial institution was bombed in August 1944. A secure was smashed, leaving jewels, cash and different riches scattered on the street. His comrades pocketed what they may see, later hiding the loot in zinc ammunition packing containers.

Joost Rosendaal, an assistant professor in historical past at Radboud college in Nijmegen, mentioned that looting was frequent on each side. In October 1944 at the least 5 banks in Arnhem had been looted by German troopers. After the liberation in April 1945, one other was robbed by troops in British uniforms, a gaggle that included one Dutchman serving within the South Wales Borderers.

The historian doubts the treasure will ever be discovered. The space round Ommeren was closely bombed on the evening of April 24, 1945 by the Royal Air Force. He suspects the hiding place was “destroyed by this bombardment”, permitting the treasure to be found by locals or Allied troops, or it was taken to a different location by the Germans.

The Dutch archive group is extra hopeful now because the map is on-line and accessible to view in individual on the Hague.

Published On:

Jan 8, 2023