Štechovice Treasure
Encyclopedia
The legend of the Štěchovice treasure in the Czech Republic
is based on the novel The Prague Connection.
The story says that Emil Klein, a Nazi general, buried war booty in tunnels in Hradistko near Štěchovice
. The booty included gold, diamonds, jewelry and pieces of art as well as secret files and scientific documents from the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute
. Based on documents found in 1993 in the Weimar
area, some experts believe that the Nazis hid the stolen goods and the missing Russian "Amber Room
" in these tunnels.
Only one person, former German (Sudeten German) Helmut Gaensel, claims that he possesses the original documents about the contents and has exact knowledge of the location where this alleged treasure is hidden. He says that he received these documents, additional information and a specific area map from Emil Klein, the former SS general in command. Mr. Gaensel worked for the Czech and other secret services and was involved in matters connected with this treasure. In 1964, he arranged the release of Klein from the KZ Valdice prison in Czechoslovakia
. During the 1970s, and as late as 1989, there were some attempts to recover the Štěchovice treasure under the control of the Ministries of Interior and Defence. The last efforts were carried out before the revolution by the foreign trade company Omnipol, which traded mainly in weapons. In 1992, Gaensel bought the relevant property and signed an exclusive agreement with the Czech authorities to obtain the sole rights to unveil the treasure.
In 2007, a dentist in the region claimed to have found the location. The treasure is reportedly hidden by 5 m (16 ft) of debris in the entrance of a nearby cave. It might contain the Belgian
gold loaned to France
during World War II.
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
is based on the novel The Prague Connection.
The story says that Emil Klein, a Nazi general, buried war booty in tunnels in Hradistko near Štěchovice
Štěchovice
Štěchovice is a market town and municipality in Prague-West District in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. -Notes:*This article was initially translated from the Czech Wikipedia....
. The booty included gold, diamonds, jewelry and pieces of art as well as secret files and scientific documents from the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute
Kaiser Wilhelm Institute
The Kaiser Wilhelm Society for the Advancement of Science was a German scientific institution established in 1911. It was implicated in Nazi science, and after the Second World War was wound up and its functions replaced by the Max Planck Society...
. Based on documents found in 1993 in the Weimar
Weimar
Weimar is a city in Germany famous for its cultural heritage. It is located in the federal state of Thuringia , north of the Thüringer Wald, east of Erfurt, and southwest of Halle and Leipzig. Its current population is approximately 65,000. The oldest record of the city dates from the year 899...
area, some experts believe that the Nazis hid the stolen goods and the missing Russian "Amber Room
Amber Room
The Amber Room in the Catherine Palace of Tsarskoye Selo near Saint Petersburg is a complete chamber decoration of amber panels backed with gold leaf and mirrors...
" in these tunnels.
Only one person, former German (Sudeten German) Helmut Gaensel, claims that he possesses the original documents about the contents and has exact knowledge of the location where this alleged treasure is hidden. He says that he received these documents, additional information and a specific area map from Emil Klein, the former SS general in command. Mr. Gaensel worked for the Czech and other secret services and was involved in matters connected with this treasure. In 1964, he arranged the release of Klein from the KZ Valdice prison in Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
. During the 1970s, and as late as 1989, there were some attempts to recover the Štěchovice treasure under the control of the Ministries of Interior and Defence. The last efforts were carried out before the revolution by the foreign trade company Omnipol, which traded mainly in weapons. In 1992, Gaensel bought the relevant property and signed an exclusive agreement with the Czech authorities to obtain the sole rights to unveil the treasure.
In 2007, a dentist in the region claimed to have found the location. The treasure is reportedly hidden by 5 m (16 ft) of debris in the entrance of a nearby cave. It might contain the Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
gold loaned to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
during World War II.