THE hills surrounding Walbrzych, an old mining town in south-west Poland, have been a hive of activity since two men claimed last month to know the underground whereabouts of a train missing since the second world war. According to legend, the Nazis dispatched it laden with gold from the then-German city of Breslau (now called Wroclaw and in Poland) farther west in the final months of the war. It then apparently vanished near Walbrzych.
Locals are used to false alarms. The train has nonetheless become a national matter. Piotr Zuchowski, deputy minister of culture, says he is “over 99% certain” that the train has been found. He is less certain about its contents. They could include military equipment or archives.
The train has also stirred up memories of wartime loss and looting. The World Jewish Congress calls for any items stolen from Jews to be returned to their former owners or heirs. If none can be found, the gold should go to other Polish Holocaust survivors, who have “never been adequately compensated”, the congress says.
Russia could yet get involved. Some speculate that the train...
from The Economist: Europe http://ift.tt/1hXdVo9
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