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Treasure Hunters Start Looking For 48 Crates Of Nazi Gold Worth Half A Billion Pounds

Treasure Hunters Start Looking For 48 Crates Of Nazi Gold Worth Half A Billion Pounds

The gold could be dug up from the grounds of an 18th century palace in Minkowskie, southern Poland

Rebecca Shepherd

Rebecca Shepherd

Treasure hunters are hoping to dig up what they believe could be 48 crates of Nazi gold, worth nearly half a billion pounds.

The team are set to start digging next week around the grounds of an 18th century palace situated in the village of Minkowskie in southern Poland.

Silesian Bridge Foundation

According to reports, the treasure is believed to have been stolen on the orders of SS boss Heinrich Himmler towards the end of World War II. Himmler is said to have used the palace as a brothel.

Roman Furmaniak is the head of the Silesian Bridge foundation leading the hunt for the treasure. In an interview with MailOnline, he said: "Several people took part in hiding the deposits in Minkowskie. One of them was an officer called von Stein.

"He used to stay in the palace because he had a lover there.

"Due to its location it was often visited by high-ranking SS officers who treated it like a brothel."

A letter has been discovered from von Stein to one of the girls who worked at the palace, called Inge, in which he wrote: "My dear Inge, I will fufill my assignment, with God's will.

"Some transports were successful. The remaining 48 heavy Reichsbank's chests and all the family chests I hereby entrust to you.

"Only you know where they are located.

"May God help you and help me fulfil my assignment."

Silesian Bridge Foundation

It appears Inge was the person appointed by von Stein to keep an eye on the hiding place.

Furmaniak went on to add: "She was in love with the handsome officer in a black SS uniform. They were like gods.

"She believed that she would have to stay there for a year, maybe two, then it would all be over.

"Nobody believed then that the region would come under the control of the Soviet Union. There was a two-month period in 1945 when she had to hide in the forest from the Russians.

"But when she got back, the area had not been disturbed.

"If they had dug a hole, they would have taken what they wanted and then left the hole. We have seen this in history many times in Poland."

According to reports, at the end of the war Inge changed her appearance and identity before going on to marry a local man.

She continued to watch over the treasure until her death 60 years later.

Featured Image Credit: Silesian Bridge Foundation

Topics: News, Interesting, History, Nazi