A hoard of 200 kilograms (440.92 pounds) of gold and jewelry, estimated at $300,000, has been discovered by the French Security Service. It was in six boxes which were hidden in mountain caverns near Landeck, the Tyrol. The contents have been identified as mainly the property of Jews who were murdered in concentration camps.
An inspection of the boxes revealed thousands of wedding rings which were engraved with Jewish names. Some showed brown spots, indicating that fingers had been chopped off to get the rings. Another shocking detail was the great heap of gold fillings, obviously pried out of teeth. There were also gold watch chains, necklaces, family heirlooms engraved with Jewish names, cigarette cases and diamonds, emeralds and rubies.
The treasure, hidden under rocks 6,000 feet up a mountain, was found after French police arrested a man driving a car without proper papers. They searched his house and found a quantity of jewelry. The man alleged that he found the treasure abandoned in a field at the time of the German collapse.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
