They once belonged to one of the world's most despised figures.

So it is perhaps no surprise that this collection of paintings was hidden away from public view.

However this extraordinary group of seven paintings that once belonged to Adolf Hitler was recently discovered in a convent in the Czech Republic.

Czech historian Jiri Kuchar found them in the convent in the town of Doskany, north of Prague, according to the Daily Telegraph.

The historical value of the collection could see them fetch £1.7million at auction.

One of the paintings is called Memories of Stalingrad and shows wounded German soldiers sheltering in a trench during a battle....