German dictator Adolf Hitler’s long-lost collection of artworks has reportedly been discovered in Prague by a Czech historian, and is valued £1.7 million.
Among the artworks, discovered by Jiri Kuchar at a depository of the convent in the small town of Doskany, which lies north of Prague, is a massive painting titled Memories of Stalingrad in the erstwhile Soviet Union.
Depicting wounded German soldiers sheltering in a trench as battle rages around them, it is believed to be one of the Nazi leader’s favourites despite the defeat inflicted on his armies at Stalingrad by the Soviets, the Daily Telegraph said.
As the war neared its end Hitler apparently ordered the paintings, which he had either bought or seized, to be hidden in a monastery in southern Bohemia.
But American forces found them and took them to a central collection point for artefacts looted by the Nazis during the war, but then they disappeared and it remains unclear how they ended up in the convent.
In a statement, the convent said it had no idea of the dark origins of the paintings, but added it intends to keep them after historians said the collection could fetch up to £1.7 million.
Kuchar said: “I’ve got a feeling that many places will be reluctant to admit their favourite works of art have this unfortunate historical blemish.”