A newly released map is believed to point to where Nazi soldiers hid potentially millions of dollars’ worth of gold and jewelry treasures. The WWII-era document was recently made public by the National Archives in the Netherlands as part of their annual Open Access Days.
The map shows the treasure buried in the ground near the small Dutch village of Ommeren. The loot is thought to have consisted of four large boxes filled with diamonds, rubies, gold, silver and jewels stolen by Nazi soldiers in an explosion at a bank in the city of Arnhem in August 1944.
In April 1945, the Allied forces came very close to liberating Arnhem from German occupation, and it is said that German soldiers quickly buried their spoils near Ommeren. The Dutch state even brought a former Nazi soldier back to the Netherlands after the war to uncover stolen objects, but these treasures were never found.
Annet Waalkens of the National Archives told Omroep Gelderland that the treasure was “worth several million.” Historian Joost Rosendaal said, “Of course it sparks the imagination,” and added: “It’s highly unlikely. It’s special to have such a specific map.”
Treasure hunters raided the village
Although there is little chance that the valuables are still there, amateur treasure hunters reportedly wasted no time flocking to the area to find the loot. The situation has become so depressing for the village that the Municipality of Buren has issued a statement explaining that people are not allowed to search for treasure using metal detectors without special permission. In addition, all archaeological discoveries must be declared and those who find it will not be allowed to take this treasure.
The Netherlands was one of many countries in Europe that fell under German occupation during the Second World War. As part of the behavior practiced in these lands, the Nazis pursued a policy of plundering their victims’ assets to help finance the war effort. Gold, silver, and money were often looted, but they were also known to steal objects of cultural importance, such as artwork, ceramics, books, and religious treasures.
Described as “Nazi gold”, these treasures have attracted great interest since World War II, as some of the stolen objects have still not been found. One of the most mysterious stories tells of a Nazi gold train, or Wałbrzych gold train, hidden inside a tunnel somewhere in Poland. This armed train car is said to be filled with gold and other valuable relics.
In recent years, interest in the Nazi gold train has reignited when underground radar revealed a promising discovery near Walbrzych in southwestern Poland. Despite excavations, nothing was found. Many still hope that the train carriage will one day appear, but others believe the story is nothing more than wartime rumor and urban legend.
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