The Nazi Underground

At the end of the Second World War, the U.S. military investigated a legend that much of the reserve of the Reichsbank, in Berlin, had been hidden in a salt mine in Merkers, Germany. In 1945, American soldiers discovered a room in the mine whose floor was covered with more than seven thousand marked bags containing gold coins, gold bars, and other valuables. Similar discoveries have fuelled the dreams of treasure hunters across Europe for more than half a century.

In Lower Silesia, treasure hunters are still looking for Klose’s gold and for other riches. They have formed clubs, and one of the most well known is the Lower Silesian Research Group. The members, mostly men, are amateurs who spend their weekends studying old maps, visiting historical archives, interviewing survivors of the war, and spelunking. In a region where treasure hunting is a pastime, they pride themselves on being the best.

For years, members of the Lower Silesian Research Group have been searching for a Nazi train allegedly hidden in a secret tunnel. They believe that the tunnel, now collapsed, is situated on the outskirts of the town of Wałbrzych, between an existing set of railroad tracks and a Toyota dealership. There are kilometre markers on the tracks, and the location is known simply as the 65th Kilometre.