Nazi gold train
{{short description|Urban legend}}
{{Infobox military operation
| name = Nazi Gold Train
| partof =
| image = Komplex Osówka in 2014 (15).JPG
| caption = A partially completed tunnel in Project Riese {{circa|2014}}
| location = Wałbrzych, Central Sudetes, southwest Poland
| planned_by = {{flagcountry|Nazi Germany}}
| commanded_by =
| objective = conceal an armored train loaded with valuables and treasure from the Allies
| time-begin = 1945
| time-end = present
| outcome = unresolved; historians consider the story to be false
| coordinates = {{coord|50|49|20|N|16|18|24|E|display=inline,title|name=Location of the Nazi Gold Train excavations in Wałbrzych}}
}}
The Nazi gold train or Wałbrzych gold train is an urban legend about a train laden with gold and treasure that was hidden by the Nazis in southwest Poland during the last days of World War II. The apocryphal tale claims the train full of valuables, including artwork, was concealed in a sealed-up rail tunnel or mine in the Central Sudetes by retreating Nazis. Despite numerous searches since 1945, including by the Polish Army during the Cold War, no evidence of the train, its tracks or treasure have ever been found. Historians believe the train never existed. However, some people still believe it exists.
Between 2015 and 2018, the train received renewed global media interest when two Polish men claimed to have discovered it using ground-penetrating radar. The search culminated in a dig involving the Polish military, state officials, and privately funded individuals. However, excavations were halted when the detected anomaly was found to be natural geology. Interest in the train led a group of enthusiasts to construct a full-size replica of a Nazi armored train with the hope of it becoming a tourist attraction.{{cite web |url=https://www.msn.com/en-gb/travel/news/nazi-gold-train-replica-being-built-in-poland/ar-BBwYE7L?li=BBoPU0T |title=Nazi gold train replica being built in Poland |work=AOL Money UK |author-first=Rosie |author-last=Care |date=October 5, 2016 |access-date=2016-10-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161107155020/https://www.msn.com/en-gb/travel/news/nazi-gold-train-replica-being-built-in-poland/ar-BBwYE7L?li=BBoPU0T |archive-date=November 7, 2016 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/video-news/video-legendary-nazi-gold-train-replica-being-built-in-poland-35099894.html |title=Video: Legendary Nazi gold train replica being built in Poland |work=Belfast Telegraph |author=Lydia Batham |date=October 3, 2016 |access-date=2016-10-25}}
Background
File:Komplex Osówka in 2014 (9).JPG in the Owl Mountains, Lower Silesia]]
According to the apocryphal story, in the last months of World War II, a Nazi armoured train laden with gold and other treasures left Breslau (now Wrocław), arrived at the station Freiburg in Schlesien (Świebodzice), but did not reach the next station in Waldenburg in Schlesien (Wałbrzych).{{Cite news|date=2015-09-04|title=Legend realized? Discovery of lost Nazi 'gold train' invigorates Polish town|work=Christian Science Monitor|url=https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Europe/2015/0904/Legend-realized-Discovery-of-lost-Nazi-gold-train-invigorates-Polish-town|access-date=2021-05-23|issn=0882-7729}} The train is suspected to have entered an abandoned coal mine{{Cite web |title=Has A Long-Lost Nazi Train Packed With Gold Been Found In Poland? |url=https://www.wbur.org/npr/435416088/has-a-long-lost-nazi-train-packed-with-gold-been-found-in-poland |access-date=2022-09-11 |website=www.wbur.org |date=28 August 2015 |language=en}} or tunnel system under Książ Castle, which is part of the unfinished, top secret Nazi construction project Project Riese in the Owl Mountains.{{cite news |url= https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2015/08/20/nazi-train-treasure-claimed-found-poland/32050431/ |title=Men claim to find Nazi train loaded with treasure in Poland |agency=Associated Press |newspaper=USA Today |publisher=Gannett Company |date=August 20, 2015 |access-date=2015-08-29}} Onboard the train was supposed to be more than {{convert|300|tonne|abbr=on}} of gold, jewels, weapons, and artistic masterpieces.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/28/nazi-gold-train-deathbed-confession-may-have-revealed-location |title=Deathbed confession may have revealed location of 'Nazi gold train' |author-last=Elgot |author-first=Jessica |newspaper=The Guardian |date=August 28, 2015 |access-date=2015-09-07}}{{cite news |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-34090165 |title=Poland radar image 'almost certainly Nazi train' |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |date=August 28, 2015 |access-date=2015-09-07}}
According to historians, it has never been proven that the train ever existed. During the Polish People's Republic (1947–1989), the Polish Armed Forces carried out numerous searches for the train but found nothing.{{cite news |url=https://news.yahoo.com/deathbed-confession-reveals-location-nazi-train-might-contain-180554920.html |title=Deathbed confession reveals location of Nazi train that might contain gold |work=Yahoo! News |agency=The Christian Science Monitor |author-first=Beatrice |author-last=Gitau |date=August 28, 2015 |access-date=2015-08-29}}
Search on the "65th kilometer"
File:Złoty Pociąg, Golden Train Wałbrzych.jpg]]
File:Złoty Pociąg, (Golden Train Wałbrzych ).jpg
File:Złoty Pociąg - Golden Train Wałbrzych.jpg
In late August 2015, news stories began circulating about two unidentified men who had obtained a deathbed confession about a buried gold train. The two were later identified as Piotr Koper of Poland and Andreas Richter of Germany,{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/poland/11843875/Polish-soldiers-seal-off-Nazi-gold-train-location-as-finders-reveal-their-clear-evidence.html |title=Polish soldiers seal off 'Nazi gold train' location as finders reveal their 'clear evidence' |work=The Daily Telegraph |author-first=Matthew |author-last=Day |date=September 4, 2015 |access-date=2015-09-04}} co-owners of the mine exploration company XYZ S.C.{{cite web |url=http://xyz-spolkacywilna.pl/ |title=XYZ Spółka Cywilna |access-date=2015-09-04}} Using lawyers as an intermediary, the two men opened secret negotiations with the Polish government for a "finders' fee" of 10% of the value of the train in return for information leading to its location. They would reveal the exact location once the documents were signed.{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/04/nazi-gold-train-exists-men-tell-polish-tv |title=Men tell Polish TV they have 'irrefutable proof' Nazi gold train exists |work=The Guardian |author-first=Aisha |author-last=Gani |date=September 4, 2015 |access-date=2015-09-04}}
Koper and Richter would later claim information about their discovery was leaked by the government, resulting in a worldwide media circus.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34153858 |title=Nazi 'gold' train: Men go on TV to claim Poland find |work=BBC News |author= |date=4 September 2015 |accessdate=March 30, 2020}}
On 28 August, Polish Deputy Culture Minister {{Ill|Piotr Żuchowski|pl}} announced that ground-penetrating radar images taken by Koper and Richter confirmed with 99% probability that a train of 100 metres in length had been found.{{cite web |title=Generalny Konserwator Zabytków potwierdza istnienie ukrytego pociągu |url=http://mkidn.gov.pl/pages/posts/generalny-konserwator-zabytkow-potwierdza-istnienie-ukrytego-pociagu-5705.php |publisher= Ministerstwo Kultury i Dziedzictwa Narodowego |date=August 28, 2015 |access-date=2015-09-30}} However, on August 31, {{Ill|Tomasz Smolarz|pl}}, Governor of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship, told reporters that "There is no more proof for this alleged discovery than for other claims made over the years," saying, "It's impossible to claim that such a find actually exists at the location indicated based on the documents that have been submitted."{{cite web |url=https://news.yahoo.com/poland-backtracks-nazi-gold-train-discovery-134655267.html |title=Poland backtracks on Nazi 'gold train' discovery |publisher=Yahoo! News |agency=AFP |date=August 31, 2015 |access-date=2015-08-31}}
On 4 September, Koper and Richter went public for the first time, breaking their previous anonymity. They announced that the precise location of the train had been given to Polish authorities. They also released images they had taken with a KS-700 Ground Penetrating Radar system that appeared to show a 50-metre-deep man-made shaft with something in it.{{cite web |author-last=Day |author-first=Matthew |title=Polish soldiers seal off 'Nazi gold train' location as finders reveal their 'clear evidence' |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/poland/11843875/Polish-soldiers-seal-off-Nazi-gold-train-location-as-finders-reveal-their-clear-evidence.html |website=The Telegraph |date=September 4, 2015 |access-date=2015-09-04}} Koper and Richter believed the train was buried next to a {{convert|4|km|adj=on|abbr=off}} stretch of track on Polish State Railways' Wrocław–Wałbrzych line at kilometre 65.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/poland/11830226/Nazi-gold-train-found-live.html |author-last=Alexander |author-first=Harriet |title=Did a deathbed confession reveal the location of Nazi gold train? |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=August 28, 2015 |access-date=2015-08-29}}{{cite news |title='Nazi gold train' draws treasure hunters to south-west Poland |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/31/nazi-gold-train-draws-treasure-hunters-to-south-west-poland |access-date=2015-08-31 |work=The Guardian |agency=AFP |date=August 31, 2015}}
Polish authorities sectioned off woodland in the area of kilometer 65, as well as deploying police and other guards in order to prevent access to the numerous treasure hunters who had arrived armed with detection equipment. In late September, the Polish military, acting at the request of the regional governor, began to clear the surface of trees and search for booby traps and mines.{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/30/world/europe/possible-nazi-tunnels-fuel-treasure-seekers-in-poland.html |title=Possible Nazi Tunnels Fuel Treasure Seekers in Poland |work=The New York Times |author-first=Joanna |author-last=Berendt |date=September 29, 2015 |access-date=2015-09-30}} In October the military declared the area safe.{{cite web |url=http://www.thenews.pl/1/9/Artykul/223586,Polish-military-says-site-of-alleged-Nazi-gold-train-is-safe- |title=Polish military says site of alleged Nazi gold train is safe |work=Radio Poland |date=October 4, 2015 |access-date=2015-11-01}}
In mid-November, two different teams were cleared by city authorities in Wałbrzych to make a non-invasive assessment of the site.{{cite web |url=http://www.thenews.pl/1/9/Artykul/227716,Two-teams-cleared-to-find-Nazi-gold-train-in-Poland |title=Two teams cleared to find 'Nazi gold train' in Poland |work=Radio Poland |date=November 5, 2015 |access-date=2015-11-12}} The first team was Koper and Richter. The second team consisted of mining specialists from the Kraków Mining Academy, headed by Janusz Madej. On 15 December, Madej's team announced that a survey had found no evidence of a train, though possible evidence of a collapsed tunnel.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-35104117 |title=Nazi gold train: 'No evidence' of discovery in Poland |work=BBC News |date=December 15, 2015 |access-date=2015-12-15}} Koper and Richter stood by their claim of a train to which Madej responded: "It's human to make a mistake, but it's foolish to stand by it."{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/16/world/europe/hopes-dashed-again-in-hunt-for-fabled-nazi-gold-train-in-poland.html |title=Hopes Dashed Again in Hunt for Fabled Nazi Gold Train in Poland |work=The New York Times |author-first=Joanna |author-last=Berendt |date=December 15, 2015 |access-date=2015-12-16}}
In May 2016, despite Madej's expert opinion that no train existed, Koper and Richter secured permission to begin digging at the site from the owners of the property, Polish State Railways.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/05/09/nazi-gold-train-hunters-defy-sceptics-and-begin-digging-for-trea/ |title=Nazi gold train hunters defy sceptics and begin digging for treasures |work=The Daily Telegraph |author-first=Matthew |author-last=Day |date=9 May 2016 |access-date=2016-05-12}} The excavation commenced on 15 August 2016 with a team of 64 people, including engineers, geologists, chemists, archaeologists and a specialist in military demolitions.{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/19/world/europe/poland-nazi-gold-train.html |title=Nazi Gold Train May Not Exist, but That Doesn't Stop Diggers |work=The New York Times |author-first=Joanna |author-last=Berendt |date=August 18, 2016 |access-date=2016-08-21}} The excavation reportedly cost 116,000 euros or $131,000 and was financed by private sponsors, and with the help of volunteers.{{cite web |url=http://www.dw.com/en/why-it-doesnt-matter-whether-the-long-lost-nazi-gold-train-is-ever-found/a-19493049 |title=Why it doesn't matter whether the long-lost Nazi gold train is ever found |work=Deutsche Welle |author-first=Nadine |author-last=Wojcik |date=August 23, 2016 |access-date=2016-08-23}}
The dig was halted after seven days when no tracks, tunnel or train were found.{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/25/world/europe/nazi-gold-train-poland.html |title=Hunt for Nazi Gold Train Digs Up Nothing but Dirt |work=The New York Times |author-first=Joanna |author-last=Berendt |date=August 24, 2016 |access-date=2016-08-24}} The radar images thought to have been the train were revealed to be natural ice formations. An official from the town admitted tourism was up 44% for the year and said "the publicity the town has gotten in the global media is worth roughly around $200 million. Our annual budget for promotion is $380,000, so think about that. Whether the explorers find anything or not, that the gold train has already arrived." The town mayor was considering naming a roundabout after Koper and Richter.
At the beginning of December 2016, Koper and Richter declared their intention to create a foundation for the purpose of raising money to drill down to 20 meters in 2017.[http://www.lr-online.de/nachrichten/Tagesthemen-Schatzgraeber-Duo-plant-weitere-Goldzug-Suche-in-Walbrzych;art307853,5701262 Schatzgräber-Duo plant weitere Goldzug-Suche in Walbrzych] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161207144507/http://www.lr-online.de/nachrichten/Tagesthemen-Schatzgraeber-Duo-plant-weitere-Goldzug-Suche-in-Walbrzych;art307853,5701262 |date=2016-12-07 }}; in Online-Ausgabe of Lausitzer Rundschau, 19 November 2016[http://www.sz-online.de/nachrichten/goldzug-suche-geht-weiter-3634166.html Goldzug-Suche geht weiter], Sächsische Zeitung, 13 March 2017 During the third search in June 2017, with the assistance of a geophysical company from Warsaw, the excavation team encountered seven cavities, which were suspected to be a railway tunnel. The find made deep drilling necessary, which, according to the contractors, would cost at least 100,000 zlotys (about 23,000 euros) for the permits and the actual excavation. The dig was scheduled for the spring or summer of 2018, when sponsors would be found.[https://www.sz-online.de/nachrichten/nazigold-sucher-finden-hohlraeume-3796076.html "Nazigold-Sucher finden Hohlräume"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180929233337/https://www.sz-online.de/nachrichten/nazigold-sucher-finden-hohlraeume-3796076.html |date=2018-09-29 }}, sz-online.de, 16 October 2017
In August 2018, Richter left the excavation team. Koper announced he would continue the search.[https://www.morgenpost.de/vermischtes/article214991619/Schatzgraeber-beenden-gemeinsame-Suche-nach-Nazi-Goldzug.html "Schatzgräber beenden gemeinsame Suche nach Nazi-Goldzug"], Berliner Morgenpost, 2 August 2018 While he never found Nazi gold, in January 2019, Koper discovered a series of large and "priceless" 16th-century wall paintings hidden behind a plaster wall while doing renovation work in an old palace in the village of Struga near Wrocław.{{cite web |url=https://www.thefirstnews.com/article/gold-train-hunter-strikes-gold-with-discovery-of-priceless-500-year-old-renaissance-wall-art-4977 |title=Gold train hunter strikes GOLD with discovery of priceless 500-year-old renaissance wall art |work=The First News |author=Stuart Dowell |date=March 4, 2019 |accessdate=September 21, 2020}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.facebook.com/zlotypociagwwalbrzychu Facebook page of the dig]
- {{cite web |url= http://art-crime.blogspot.it/2015/09/everything-you-always-wanted-to-know.html |title=Everything You Always Wanted to Know about a Nazi Gold Train But were Afraid to Ask |work=Association for Research into Crimes against Art |date=2015-09-21 |publisher=Blogspot}} — includes chronological history of story with hyperlinks to original sources of information.
- {{cite web |url=http://jeziorki.blogspot.com/2015/08/gold-rush-part-ii-search-intensifies.html |title=Gold Train Rush part II: the search intensified |work=W-WA Jeziorki |date=2015-08-29 |publisher=Blogspot}} — includes maps of possible locations
{{Authority control}}
{{Urban legends}}
Category:1945 in military history
Category:1945 in rail transport
Category:January 1945 in Europe
Category:Cultural history of World War II
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Category:Culture of Lower Silesian Voivodeship
Category:History of Lower Silesian Voivodeship