Khukri
Well-known member
"Der Wettinerschatz"
-"The Wettin Treasure"; belonging to the House of Wettin, was buried in the woods surrounding Moritzburg Castle in Saxony by Prince Ernst Heinrich of Saxon, his sons and the Forest Ranger in February 1945 to protect it from Soviet troops. Some 43 crates. Three crates; holding the most valuable items were buried not far from the main part.
-note: Still Nazi Germany then!!!
-After the German capitulation: under Soviet occupation: 1947-After torturing the Forest Ranger the Soviets did discover and seized the main part of the treasure, a portion of it, including silver tableware, was unearthed by metal detectorists in 1996.
-these detectorists returned in 1998... and found another part of the treasure....amongst the items in this part of the treasure: [500 items].
The torso of a Marschallstab; Fieldmarschall baton. But...both endpieces were missing*...
Reference: The book "Mythos Marschallstab" page 42-46 mentions this baton as the Pattern 1871. With the highest probability this torso was the Jubiläumstab of *König Albert von Sachsen-1893-as the endpieces with their precious stones and pearls were significantly more valuable than Prince Georg von Sachsen's baton.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
Burial:
In 1945, as Soviet troops approached, Prince Ernst Heinrich of Saxony ordered his sons, Dedo and Gero, to bury the family's most valuable treasures, including the silver baptismal font of August the Strong, in the woods near Moritzburg Castle.
Soviet Seizure: -1947-
The Soviets discovered the burial site after torturing the Forest Ranger and took much of the treasure, including silver pieces, to Moscow; 1951 to St. Petersburg.
Rediscovery:
1. In 1996, metal detectorists found several boxes containing jewels and gold ornaments, identified as part of the buried Wettin treasure.
2. 1998...the same people returned...finding another 500 items...*
Display:
Some of the recovered treasure, including silver tableware, was displayed in an exhibition at Moritzburg Castle in January 2016, accompanied by a documentary telling the story of its disappearance and rediscovery.
Pictures:
-König Friedrich August III von Sachsen [reign: 1904-1918]
With Pickelhaube:
-*König Albert von Sachsen [reign: 1873-1902]
Some interesting documentaries on the treasure hunt can be seen on YouTube.
-"The Wettin Treasure"; belonging to the House of Wettin, was buried in the woods surrounding Moritzburg Castle in Saxony by Prince Ernst Heinrich of Saxon, his sons and the Forest Ranger in February 1945 to protect it from Soviet troops. Some 43 crates. Three crates; holding the most valuable items were buried not far from the main part.
-note: Still Nazi Germany then!!!
-After the German capitulation: under Soviet occupation: 1947-After torturing the Forest Ranger the Soviets did discover and seized the main part of the treasure, a portion of it, including silver tableware, was unearthed by metal detectorists in 1996.
-these detectorists returned in 1998... and found another part of the treasure....amongst the items in this part of the treasure: [500 items].
The torso of a Marschallstab; Fieldmarschall baton. But...both endpieces were missing*...
Reference: The book "Mythos Marschallstab" page 42-46 mentions this baton as the Pattern 1871. With the highest probability this torso was the Jubiläumstab of *König Albert von Sachsen-1893-as the endpieces with their precious stones and pearls were significantly more valuable than Prince Georg von Sachsen's baton.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
Burial:
In 1945, as Soviet troops approached, Prince Ernst Heinrich of Saxony ordered his sons, Dedo and Gero, to bury the family's most valuable treasures, including the silver baptismal font of August the Strong, in the woods near Moritzburg Castle.
Soviet Seizure: -1947-
The Soviets discovered the burial site after torturing the Forest Ranger and took much of the treasure, including silver pieces, to Moscow; 1951 to St. Petersburg.
Rediscovery:
1. In 1996, metal detectorists found several boxes containing jewels and gold ornaments, identified as part of the buried Wettin treasure.
2. 1998...the same people returned...finding another 500 items...*
Display:
Some of the recovered treasure, including silver tableware, was displayed in an exhibition at Moritzburg Castle in January 2016, accompanied by a documentary telling the story of its disappearance and rediscovery.
Pictures:
-König Friedrich August III von Sachsen [reign: 1904-1918]
With Pickelhaube:
-*König Albert von Sachsen [reign: 1873-1902]
Some interesting documentaries on the treasure hunt can be seen on YouTube.
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