While I explained the fate of the caskets and cultural property recovered at Bernterode, I made only a few references to the over Prussian regimental flags found in the mine. I did not explain what ultimately became of them.
Over the past years, on several occasions, I have been asked the question, what did the U. Army do with the Prussian regimental flags found at Bernterode? This post answers that question. During March , the German Army placed the caskets of the four notables in the mine at Bernterode, in the northern reaches of the Thuringian Forest, about 18 miles southwest of Nordhausen. Regimental flags were hung above the coffins, and others were placed in a room hanging unfurled from specially built racks.
Still others were stacked beside the casket of Frederick the Great. There were over German regimental flags in all, some painted and some embroidered, dating from the early Prussian wars and including many of the WWI-era. Many of the older ones were torn and mounted upon netting. The entrances of the cache holding the caskets, flags, art works, and other items, were sealed with brick and mortar on April 2.
The items were not concealed for long. By the end of April the mine treasure would be in American hands and not long afterwards the caskets, paintings, and flags would be stored in Marburg, awaiting political decisions as to what to do with them. From May 4 to May 7, the contents of the mine were packed and hoisted from the mine. On May 8, they were loaded on seven 2-and-half ton trucks and the next day a convoy took the contents of the mine to Marburg, some miles to the southwest.
The four caskets were deposited in a room on the ground floor of Schloss [Castle] Marburg. In his report on the recovery, transport, and storage of the contents of the mine, Capt. Army and director of the Marburg Central Collecting Point, suggested the removal from Germany of the flags found in the mine might be considered. Army about the items brought from the mine at Bernterode. Army that the regimental flags be transported to the United States, either as trophies of war or held in custody for future disposition.
