Lutze

Like Lutze before them, neither man reacted discernibly at the mention of the brotherhood of knights.

HITLER’S HOLY RELICS Sidney D. Kirkpatrick 2010

“Dr. Liebel wanted some containers built,” Lutze said.

HITLER’S HOLY RELICS Sidney D. Kirkpatrick 2010

Heinrich Himmler, Adolf Hitler, and Victor Lutze head of the Nazi Party “storm trooper” division leave Nürnberg stadium in 1934.

HITLER’S HOLY RELICS Sidney D. Kirkpatrick 2010

Yet to hear Lutze describe it, he was doing Poland a favor.

HITLER’S HOLY RELICS Sidney D. Kirkpatrick 2010

Lutze admitted without apology that he and Heinz Schmeissner arrived in Cracow by train and, with help from twenty or so members of a special SS Ahnenerbe unit and under the direction of Dr. Peter Paulson from the University of Berlin, dismantled the altar piece by piece for shipment to Germany, where, as Lutze said, it could be better protected.

HITLER’S HOLY RELICS Sidney D. Kirkpatrick 2010

The rest of what Lutze knew came from remarks the mayor made during a final inspection tour of the facility a month before the invasion.

HITLER’S HOLY RELICS Sidney D. Kirkpatrick 2010

Lutze had no direct knowledge of what behind-the-scenes negotiations had taken place, but he was aware that Göring fancied having some or all of the treasures for himself.

HITLER’S HOLY RELICS Sidney D. Kirkpatrick 2010

According to Lutze, Baum was a noted metalworker whom museum curators routinely hired to manufacture specialty display cases.

HITLER’S HOLY RELICS Sidney D. Kirkpatrick 2010

The mayor, Lutze said, told him that a team of SS officers had visited the bunker just after Baum delivered the containers.

HITLER’S HOLY RELICS Sidney D. Kirkpatrick 2010

It had been the subject of much discussion among the Germanic Museum staff, and he urged Horn to query Lutze about it.

HITLER’S HOLY RELICS Sidney D. Kirkpatrick 2010