Men claim $1 billion in gold on Nazi train in Poland

WROCLAW , Poland, Aug. 20 (UPI) -- Two men claim to know the location of a mysterious Nazi train, lost somewhere in Poland at the end of World War II, with $1 billion in gold aboard.

A law firm representing the two unidentified men, a Pole and a German, recently contacted the Walbrzych, Poland, District Council, seeking assurances they would receive 10 percent of the value of the cargo of gold, precious stones and weapons, if they came forward with the information.

Trains commonly hauled stolen valuables from Eastern Europe to Berlin during World War II, and the story of the missing train, presumably abandoned as Soviet forces marched through Poland on their way to Germany at the close of the war, is the stuff of local legend. The mystery train is believed to be in an abandoned tunnel near Ksiaz Castle, in southwestern Poland.

Marika Tokarska, a Walbrzych government official, said the claim is being taken seriously. "Lawyers, the army, the police and the fire brigade are dealing with this. The area has never been excavated before and we don't know what we might find," she said, adding, "I am sure that the (claimants') law office, before deciding to take this case, made sure that is not a joke and informed them about the consequences if it is not true."

Although unconfirmed, 300 tons of gold are allegedly aboard the train, a $1.09 billion hoard at current market prices.