Nazi volcano tunnels could be hiding top secret Gestapo documents, Polish historical researchers believe

  • A research group say they discovered a blueprint document in a local archive
  • Several attempts have been made to explore the tunnels in Luban. south Poland
  • However, many of the tunnels have remained inaccessible to the researchers 
  • This has now raised hopes that they were used to store valuable items 

By Ed Wight and Stuart Dowell In Warsaw, Poland For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

Nazi tunnels inside an old volcano could be hiding top secret Gestapo documents, say a group of historical researchers in Poland.

The Association of Lovers of Upper Lusatia say they discovered a document in a local archive which is a blueprint for the tunnels in the town of Luban in southern Poland.

But although several attempts have been made to explore the tunnels with expeditions revealing several shafts going down into the inactive volcano, many have remained inaccessible.

This has now raised hopes that they were used to store valuable items.

Nazi tunnels inside an old volcano could be hiding top secret Gestapo documents, say a group of historical researchers in Poland. Pictured: People walk through the tunnels

Nazi tunnels inside an old volcano could be hiding top secret Gestapo documents, say a group of historical researchers in Poland. Pictured: People walk through the tunnels

The group’s Sebastian Terenda told The First News: ‘On the sketch it is marked as an air-raid shelter, but the tunnels are 3 by 3 metres, and air-raid shelters were normally 1.6 by 1.8 metres.

‘It’s height and width make it excellent for storage.’

The possible existence of the documents known as the Kraków Gestapo Archive comes from the testimony of a Gestapo officer called Kurt Heinemeyer.

Although several attempts have been made to explore the tunnels with expeditions revealing several shafts going down into the inactive volcano, many have remained inaccessible

Although several attempts have been made to explore the tunnels with expeditions revealing several shafts going down into the inactive volcano, many have remained inaccessible

The Association of Lovers of Upper Lusatia say they discovered a document in a local archive which is a blueprint for the tunnels in the town of Luban in southern Poland (pictured)

The Association of Lovers of Upper Lusatia say they discovered a document in a local archive which is a blueprint for the tunnels in the town of Luban in southern Poland (pictured)

Pictured: Hans Frank, governor of occupied Poland, who ordered the archive to be destroyed or hidden
Pictured: Gestapo HQ in Krakow during WWII

Left: Hans Frank, governor of occupied Poland, who ordered the archive to be destroyed or hidden. Right: The Gestapo HQ in Krakow during WWII

Based in the city of Krakow from January 1940 to 18 January 1945, following his arrest by the Allies he told interrogators that the Gestapo documents were taken on the orders of Hans Frank, the governor of occupied Poland, to a nearby town called Czerwona Woda, and partially destroyed.

But the exploration group says it is possible that some of the documents ended up in Lubań, just over 11 miles away and were hidden inside the volcano.

He said: ‘Why would they drive all the way from Kraków to Czerwona Woda to burn the archive?

Pictured: The historical exploration group, that says it is possible that some of the documents ended up in Lubań, just over 11 miles away and were hidden inside the volcano

Pictured: The historical exploration group, that says it is possible that some of the documents ended up in Lubań, just over 11 miles away and were hidden inside the volcano

Hopes have been raised that the tunnels (pictured) were used to store valuable items

Hopes have been raised that the tunnels (pictured) were used to store valuable items

Although the Nazis built many tunnel complexes in mountains in the region, the complex at Kamienna Góra is the only known case of the Nazis building inside a volcano

Although the Nazis built many tunnel complexes in mountains in the region, the complex at Kamienna Góra is the only known case of the Nazis building inside a volcano

‘They left the metal rings of the files to be found. Maybe it was a diversion to make people believe that the whole archive had been burned.’

Although the Nazis built many tunnel complexes in mountains in the region, the complex at Kamienna Góra is the only known case of the Nazis building inside a volcano.

With one section of the tunnels being cut off from the rest, and built for reinforced materials, the group think that the Germans may have hidden valuable items inside.

With one section of the tunnels being cut off from the rest, and built for reinforced materials, the group think that the Germans may have hidden valuable items inside

With one section of the tunnels being cut off from the rest, and built for reinforced materials, the group think that the Germans may have hidden valuable items inside

The group is now looking to start drilling into the 30-metre-deep cave and says it will hopefully start in July after raising enough cash for equipment

The group is now looking to start drilling into the 30-metre-deep cave and says it will hopefully start in July after raising enough cash for equipment

Terenda said: ‘You can only get to it from one of the four entrances, so it looks like they planned it as a storage area.

‘Basalt is one of the hardest stones. Why did they go to so much trouble to drill tunnels into such tough material?’

The group is now looking to start drilling into the 30-metre-deep cave and says it will hopefully start in July after raising enough cash for equipment.

Of the 40,000 they need, they have so far raised half from mining giant KGHM. 

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